“Black Cat” Pounces On The Nike Air Max 1 ’86

MJ's alter ego influences another new pair.

Matt Varga April 29th, 2025 (updated)

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You know it, you love it: the “Black Cat” colorway. After the Air Jordan 4 of that same name unexpectedly became a grail-level shoe sometime in 2021, the attention paid to darkened editions of shoes across the Beaverton catalog has been higher than ever. Generally, Jordan Brand has meted out the tonal treatment on a limited basis: only the Spi’zike Low and Jordan 4 RM have officially arrived with the title since that seminal 2020 release (though the Halloween Jordan 1 Low took the idea in a new direction.)

Across the hall, we’ve seen a far higher willingness to plant black-on-black on silhouettes far and wide. Is that a continuation of the dominant “Triple Black” colorway that’s lined the catalog for years, or a genuine response to the look’s trendiness? We’ll leave that up to you to decide, but the Air Max 1 ’86 is the latest to tackle the moniker.

Naturally, jet black covers the model from heel-to-toe, only interrupted by a sepia-tinted translucent window in the sole. For the uninitiated, that’s where the model’s subhead is derived, with the “Big Bubble” aimed at replicating the AM1’s look from when it first touched down in 1986.

The Nike Air Max 1 ’86 “Black Cat” doesn’t have a concrete release date, but we’re expecting it to tee off towards the start of next year. With previous ’86 cuts releasing via SNKRS, anticipate the same for this edition, retailing in the $150 range.

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WHERE TO BUY

Mens Nike Air Max 1 '86 OG

SKU: FZ3007-001

RETAIL PRICE: $150

RELEASE DATE: 2026

US 2026

Retailer	Release type	Status
Nikestore	Standard	Check Site
Concepts	Standard	Check Site

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Written by

Matt Varga, Junior Editor

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.