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

The Nike Air Max Plus “Orbit” Revolves In Saturn Gold/Red

The Nike Air Max Plus just keeps delivering banger after banger. The model looks poised to surpass the buzz generated for its 25th anniversary last...

By Andrew Rizzo March 21, 2024
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The Unstoppable Run Of The Nike Vapormax Plus Continues

Typically overlooked in the annals of Air Max is 2017’s Vapormax Plus, a top seller for Nike that continues its run with little to no...

By Sneaker News March 21, 2024
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Two Icons Clash In The Nike Air Max Plus Tiempo

Nike’s latest reincarnation of the Air Max Plus pairs the iconic Nike Tiempo football boot with 1998’s Tuned Air icon, but this crossover is a...

By Sneaker News March 21, 2024
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The Nike Air Max 90 “Iron Grey” Takes A Low-Key Approach

Shades of grey define Nike’s upcoming Air Max 90 drops. Images of an upcoming “Photon Dust” pair surfaced just days ago, and now we’re learning...

By Andrew Rizzo March 20, 2024
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The Nike Air Max 1 Presses On In “Sail/Coconut Milk”

The Nike Air Max 1 will once again play a huge role come Air Max Day on March 26th, but Nike continues to prepare more...

By Andrew Rizzo March 20, 2024
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The Nike Air Max Plus Embraces “Firecracker” Coloring In Pink/Blue

Tuned Air design language has already made a big impression on Nike’s 2024 release calendar. While the Air Max Dn looks to honor the its...

By Andrew Rizzo March 20, 2024
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Paris Saint-Germain Rides The Nike Air Max Plus Wave

Signing a long-time extension with the Swoosh in 2019, Paris Saint-Germain has one of the most lucrative sponsorship deals in the sport’s history. This fruitful...

By Sneaker News March 20, 2024
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2009’s Nike Air Max 1 “Grand Piano” Is Returning In 2024

Nike continues to stroll down memory lane with Air Max 1 collaborations, this time reviving the 2009 “Grand Piano” that dropped exclusively at Taiwan’s PHANTACi....

By Sneaker News March 19, 2024
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The Nike Air Max 1 Golf Receives A Total Orange Makeover

As golf remasters have taken seemingly every Air Jordan silhouette, Nike hasn’t turned down any opportunities to give their tentpole silos the same treatment. The...

By Matt Varga March 18, 2024
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