Nike Air Max

Air Max is a revolutionary footwear cushioning technology created by sports athletics brand Nike. The idea of encapsulating Air into a midsole was first thought up by Marion Frank Rudy, an aerospace engineer. He presented his idea to Nike founder Phil Knight in 1977, who was very intrigued by the idea after testing a prototype running shoe. Air cushioning was used in Nike running footwear as far back as 1978 with the Air Tailwind running shoe. However, the Air was not visible as it was embedded into the sole.

Air Max didn’t come into the picture until 1987. Footwear designer Tinker Hatfield introduced the idea of making the Air cushioning visible to the eye, doing so on the Air Max 1 running shoe. At the time, running footwear was extremely plain, so he chose to do something completely different to align with the changing times of pop culture. Since then, a long history of running shoes have released, many named after the year they were released. These shoes are considered extremely important to sneaker culture as many collectors searched far and wide for limited editions and collaborations with Parra, Sean Wotherspoon, and atmos.

Since its inception, the visible Air revolution has expanded beyond running models – including sports like basketball. Many sneakers with a visible Nike Air bubble can be considered “Air Max,” but modified versions of the technology from over the years have launched with different names. The most popular retro Air Max sneakers are the AM 1, the Air Max 90, and Air Max 95. In recent history, newer models like the Air Max 270 have helped the Swoosh dominate the footwear scene. Most of Nike Running’s marquee performance shoes no longer rely on the revolutionary technology, opting for a combination of responsive foams, full-length Air units, and Zoom Air bubbles.

Nike’s modern offerings are more lifestyle-focused than before, leaving original designs from the game-changing family to enjoy proper retros, limited editions, and special collaborations.

Nike Air Max

Dynamic Motion Defines The Nike Chapter Of Air Max

Can walking on air be perfected? Ever since Air cushioning first came into the play in 1979, Nike’s been on a mission to accomplish exactly...

By John Kim February 1, 2024
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The Nike Air Max 1 “King’s Day” Has Hidden Stow Pockets

Updated March 6th, 2024: Official photos of the Air Max 1 “King’s Day” have landed. Crucially, compared with our first looks, the new photos showcase...

By Andrew Rizzo January 31, 2024
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Official Images Of The Nike Air Max DN “All Night”

After an official leak back in October of last year, the Nike Air Max Dn is poised for its grand debut on Air Max Day...

By Sneaker News January 31, 2024
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Nike’s Obsession With Pink Air Max 1s Continues

Not all pinks are the same. While this style of Air Max 1 may look all too familiar, this shade of “Playful Pink” used in...

By Sneaker News January 30, 2024
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The Nike Air Max 95 Goes Into Stealth Mode

Updated February 27th, 2024: Official images of the Nike Air Max 95 has been updated. Aside from an upcoming Maniere Air Max 95 collaboration, Nike’s...

By Andrew Rizzo January 30, 2024
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Nike Helps Steelers Fans Ease The Pain With The Air Max 90

The Pittsburgh Steelers ended the regular season on a three game win streak but ultimately fell short in the playoffs, eliminated by Josh Allen’s Buffalo...

By Andrew Rizzo January 29, 2024
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The Nike Air Max 90 Keeps It Classy In “Dark Team Red”

Nike continues to flood retailers with a wide variety of Air Max 90 models, this time touching down with a clean “Dark Team Red” pair...

By Sneaker News January 26, 2024
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Nike Baseball’s “Jackie Robinson” Pack Releases On April 15th

The Nike Air Max 1 ’86 “Jackie Robinson” is scheduled to release on SNKRS and select Nike retailers on April 15th, 2024. Nike continues its...

By Sneaker News January 26, 2024
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Spring-time Multi-Colors Dot The Nike Air Max 90 For Women

We’ve just received product photos of a new colorway of the Air Max 90- slated as part of Nike’s Spring 2023 offerings. Arriving in a...

By staff January 24, 2024
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