Few sneakers embody the rebellious edge of sport like the Nike Air Tech Challenge 2. Designed by the legendary Tinker Hatfield, this iconic silhouette made its debut in 1989, created specifically for tennis superstar Andre Agassi. While tennis had traditionally been a clean-cut, conservative sport, the Air Tech Challenge 2 flipped that narrative with bold colorways and an unapologetically loud presence.
Agassi’s most famous colorway, the Hot Lava, became an instant classic—bursting with hot pink energy that matched his aggressive style of play. Yet, Agassi wasn’t the only tennis great to rock the Tech Challenge 2. John McEnroe, another icon known for breaking tennis traditions, also laced them up—most notably the Clay Blue and Stone Blue versions. Together, Agassi, McEnroe, and the Air Tech Challenge formed a trio that redefined tennis’s visual identity, making it edgy, vibrant, and unmistakably cool.
This sneaker wasn’t just a court favorite—it made serious waves in pop culture. It was worn by 41st U.S. President George H.W. Bush during his time in office, and even rocked onstage by Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine. After a successful run, the silhouette was shelved, only to make a grand return in 2008 with the re-release of the Hot Lava and Clay Blue editions.
Now in 2025, Nike continues to tap into the legacy of this silhouette with a fresh take: the Air Tech Challenge 2 “Tart and Stone Blue”. Building off the momentum of this year’s Racer Pink release, this new drop is a mid-cut version featuring all the performance and style that made the original legendary.
The upper is a textured white leather trifecta—smooth on the top, perforated along the toe box and sidewalls, and tumbled leather beneath the padded collar. A stone blue heel panel is topped with white-stitched Nike Air branding, giving it a classic finish. Bright orange details punch through on the tongue branding and outsole accents, delivering that retro pop the Air Tech line is famous for.
The mudguard features deep blue overlays against a white base, leading into a cracked blue-and-white pattern that adds visual movement. Underfoot, a sail-colored midsole houses a visible Air unit, and the entire sneaker sits atop a blue herringbone outsole marked with an orange Nike logo for grip and flair.
And yes—it comes with that iconic orange Nike hang tag, a must for true collectors.
The Air Tech Challenge 2 “Tart and Stone Blue” is scheduled to drop on June 27th, retailing at $155 in men’s sizes. You can grab a pair first-come, first-served via the SNKRS app, JD Sports, and Hibbett, while Feature will be offering the drop through a raffle draw.
Resale heads beware—this is more of a personal wear pickup than a flip. Currently, prices are hovering only $40 over retail on platforms like GOAT and StockX, and based on the Racer Pink version’s current market (you can snag a size 10.5 for $100 on GOAT), you might even catch this one on sale in a few months.
Whether you’re looking to relive the Agassi era or add a piece of rebellious tennis history to your rotation, the Air Tech Challenge 2 “Tart and Stone Blue” serves aces in both style and heritage. For more sneaker new check out this week’s sneaker release rundown.
