Skip to main content
SoleFeedSF
Buyer's Guide

Nike Attack Review & Sizing Guide

Published Updated

Nike Attack is a clean tennis retro with sharper archive appeal than many basic court shoes, carrying the 1984 Mac Attack heritage. It is best in simple colorways and at retail or below.

Shop all

Key facts

Popularity
Cult-following pair, but mainstream buzz cooled after relaunch.
Comfort
Firm, low-profile ride; comfort is acceptable for casual days.
Fit
Commonly narrow through forefoot; many go half-size up.
Value
Frequently found below retail, improving overall buy case.
Use case
Best for casual rotation, light walking, and collecting.

Full breakdown

The Attack revives the lineage of the 1984 Mac Attack, the tennis shoe Nike built for John McEnroe at the height of his brash, racket-smashing fame. Its checkerboard tongue and low mesh-and-leather build were a court answer to the era's Wimbledon-white conformity. Long overshadowed by the Air Trainer and McEnroe's later signatures, it resurfaced through 2020s archive reissues that traded on that rebellious tennis backstory.

FAQ

Does Attack fit true to size?

Attack needs a half size up if your feet are wide or tall through the forefoot. It has a narrow, low-profile tennis shape, so true to size is safer only for regular feet that do not need much toe-box volume how the sizing runs.

Is Attack comfortable?

Attack is fine for casual walking but not modern-running-shoe comfortable. The firm EVA ride and dated court build make it wearable for errands, collecting, and light walking rather than long standing, so plan it as a short-wear shoe owner wear impressions.

Why choose Attack over Nike Air Ship?

Choose Attack over the Air Ship when the John McEnroe tennis story and checkerboard tongue matter more than basketball heritage. The Air Ship has broader comfort praise, while Attack carries the 1984 Mac Attack archive appeal in a slimmer package, so pick by which backstory you actually want on foot.

How is Attack different from New Balance 550?

Attack is a sharper tennis retro, while New Balance 550 is a chunkier basketball retro. Attack styles better with straight denim, track pants, and quieter court outfits, whereas the 550 is the easier pick if you want a more familiar mainstream sneaker shape and a roomier fit collector takes on the pair.