Nike’s strikingly minimalist foam slide is not quite the antithesis of the Yeezy competition, yet there is something alluring about it. Is that why they are sold out here?

Nike has put out quite a few attractive foam slides this year, but one that is creating a zero-stock situation islandwide is the unisex Calm slides (women, who find them too quiet could consider the more angular Jordan Hex slide). These are rather unlike the still-popular Yeezy Slide (the go-to open-toe that sneakerheads cannot distance themselves from) and the crazy Yeezy 450s that are so endoskeletal that they could be mistaken for imitation fossils. A pair of Calm looks like modern sampans for feet, and we don’t mean that in a bad way. This is simplicity that is going to be endearing.

It is not clear why Nike calls this pair of slides Calm. If that also means the footwear is low-key and comfortable, then they might really be on to something. The fit of the Calm is quite unlike, say, the Victori. The proof is in the walking (in a pair). With the Calm, the fit is comfy and snug. Or, as Nike describes it, the slide “cradles your feet to help keep them in place.” The foam base is quite dense, but it still provide cushiony support (although, admittedly, not as much as the Crocs ‘Echo’ slides). Just the slide to slip into after a game in which you are likely wearing more restrictive footwear. Definitely not only for the poolside.

Update (22 August 2023, 09:00). Expect more Calm offerings. Nike has announced more colours in the upcoming release of the Calm slides. Apart from those, the Calm family will also be expanded to include Calm slippers and mules. We’re definitely watching out for the latter.

Nike Calm slide, $75, is currently sold out in Nike stores and online. Limited pairs are still available at Limited Edt. If you get a chance to cross the causeway, they can still be found in select Nike stores or the peninsula’s JD Sports. Photo: Zhao Xiangji