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 sneakers under the line are the AM 1, the Air Max 90, and Air Max 95. 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. In 2024 the Nike Air Max Dn joined the family, receiving a massive spotlight in the first half of the year as it made its official debut. For 2025, “Dynamic Air” will loom large once again via the Air Max DN8, an extension of the Dn’s full-length Air chambers and an expected star of Air Max Day alongside the Air Max Muse.

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

This Leopard-Printed Nike Air Max 90 Continues The Exotics Movement

From Black Cat 4s to Year Of The Snake Jordans, exotic animal prints and patterns have crossed over into the world of sneakers with buttery...

By Sneaker News 2 hours
210

The Nike Air Max 90 Drift Reaches For Eclectic Light Blue And Brown

Nike has never been to precious about their most beloved models. In fact, it’s almost the opposite; the more popular a silhouette, the more likely...

By Matt Varga January 16, 2025
430

A “Reflective Swoosh” Pops On The Nike Air Max 90

New Air Max 90s have been one of the dominant storylines as we’ve entered 2025 — nearly a dozen looks have hit the newswire since...

By Matt Varga January 16, 2025
774

The Nike Air Max DN8 Borrows Iconic “Hyper Blue” From The Tn

As we shift from the 2025 Jordan Releases calendar into Beaverton’s efforts, the full-court press around bring-backs and highly-anticipated retros belies similar energy towards innovation...

By Matt Varga January 16, 2025
2097

Nike Adds “University Gold” To The Air Max 90 “Camo Pack”

If you’re fond of the atmos x Air Max 90 “Duck Camo” and its subsequent inverse colorway, you’ll be pleased with what the Beaverton brand...

By Andrew Rizzo January 16, 2025
968

The Nike Air Max Plus Sports “Lakers” Colors

Tuned Air aficionados know that the best Air Max Plus colorways are ones that stick to the basics. Gradient treatments and tasteful pops of color...

By Andrew Rizzo January 16, 2025
463

The Nike Air Max 90 “Lyon Blue” Features An Oval Mudguard Pattern

Spring 2025 is rife with unique Air Max 90s, including a camo pack, racing-inspired releases, and this “Lyon Blue” colorway featuring subtle oval detailing. The...

By Andrew Rizzo January 15, 2025
1415

The Nike Air Max Plus 3 Is Back In Black For Spring 2025

The Air Max Plus 3 went from obscure cult classic to inline staple in 2019, with Nike reviving the model and assuming a steady release...

By Andrew Rizzo January 15, 2025
773

“Batman” Descends On The Nike Air Max 90

Nike and DC Comics have never come together for an official collaboration, yet the Caped Crusader has more ties to Beaverton than you might think....

By Matt Varga January 15, 2025
42134