Nike Air Max Portal in Black/Anthracite: A Blacked-Out Platform Sneaker for NYC Wardrobes

Nike's Air Max Portal is a women's lifestyle sneaker, and this release is the all-black Black/Anthracite colorway, style HF3053-007. Nike describes the shoe as a blend of chunky and sleek: a platform sole in the spirit of the 2000s under the minimalist upper of a more contemporary design.

The sole is the centerpiece. Nike gave the Portal an oval-shaped midsole with what it calls cloud-like cushioning, made from thick foam. In the heel, a visible Nike Air unit adds what the brand describes as just enough height. In the official product photos, the Air bubble shows through a window on the heel's side, set into a sculpted, curved section of the sole.

The upper is quilted, which Nike says feels plush while still looking sleek. Those quilted lines, along with the tread pattern, take their cues from Nike's '00s running models. In this colorway the shoe is black with anthracite accents, so the Swoosh and the sole's contours read as subtle shifts in tone rather than contrast. A tonal pull tab sits at the heel, and the laces are black to match.

Other listed details are an embroidered Swoosh logo, a heel pull tab, a foam midsole and a rubber outsole that Nike says provides durable traction. Nike positions the look as something to wear every day.

The Air Max Portal is listed at $160 on Nike's online store; the official page we consulted is Nike's Australian site, which shows the price as $160. For New Yorkers shopping for a black sneaker, it offers the oversized platform silhouette without a loud color.