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, two new models entered the family with the Nike Air Max Plus Drift and Nike Air Max Dn, the latter silhouette receiving a massive spotlight in the first half of the year as it made its official debut.
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 90 Essential Arrives In Black And White
Never a stranger to black and white color schemes, the Air Max 90 Essential has returned in this stately outfit that hinges on textured underlays....
Go Triple Pink With The Nike Air Max 90 Essential
There’s nothing quite like a bold and bright pair of hot pink kicks. They’re overtly loud, extremely fun, eye-catching, and head-turning — and have been...
Where To Buy The Off-White x Nike Air Max 90 In Black
Virgil Abloh’s collaborative efforts with Nike have sprung about quite a few adventurous designs to icons that have remained largely contemporary in the years prior....
The Off-White x Nike Air Max 90 Is Releasing In Little Kids/Toddlers Sizes
Just like Virgil Abloh’s last Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 collection from December, his duo of co-created Air Max 90s is set to release...
Where To Buy The Off-White x Nike Air Max 90 “Desert Ore”
Virgil Abloh’s sneaker industry shifting deluge of Off-White x Nike creations is reportedly coming to an end, at least for now. But before the Louis...
Another Nike Air Max 90 Is Coming In All-Red
Throughout the glorious history of the Air Max 90, one of its most revered aesthetics released in June of 2013 by way of the three-piece...
This Nike Air Max 90 Boasts Crisp Colorblocking Of Blue And Yellow
In an effort to carry over its garnered momentum, one of the first Air Max 90 creations of 2019 combines attractive hits of Indigo Storm...
Nike Air Max 90 “Grape” Is Releasing In February 2019
When Nike’s classic Air Max 90 arrived to market in 1990, it kicked off a decade full of wild colors and legendary designs in the...
Hot Habanero Accents Hit The Nike Air Max 90
With its masterful mixture of materials and instantly recognizable style, Nike’s classic Air Max 90 has enjoyed a long, fruitful, and firmly established place towards...