Nike Adds A New “97” Detail To This Popular Air Max Model

Coming in hot off the tails of Nike’s collaborative venture with Off-White for the U.S. Open, the highly popular Nike Air Max 97 returns in a blend of blue tones with a splash of red. Sporting bold Air Max lettering on the heel of the full-length cushioning system, the branding takes a not-so-subtle nod towards the maximalist design language found in Virgil Abloh and Nike’s The Ten collection. Absent are the iconic reflective elements found on most versions of this classic, but rather a mesh base with a ribbed tongue texture gives this upcoming release more of that lifestyle flair. Of course the most surprising elements are the AIR MAX print on the Max unit itself, the “97” on the tongue, and the bare heel-strip that no longer features any detailing. This Air Max 97 is set to drop in men’s sizes later this year.