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

Victor Wembanyama And CeeDee Lamb Debut The Nike Air Max DN8 In Paris

All eyes are on Paris again, a convergence of Fashion Week and the NBA’s international series, a doubleheader between the Spurs and Pacers spread across...

By Matt Varga 1 hour
284

Nike Coats The Air Max Plus Drift In Storied “Bred”

The lifespan of the Nike Air Max Plus Drift continues on. After somewhat disappearing from the newswire in the back half of 2024, our confirmation...

By Matt Varga January 20, 2025
734

The Nike Air Max Muse “Light Bone” Comes With Subtle Distressing

The women’s Air Max Muse is ready to cement a spot in the Nike catalog in 2025. After debuting in late 2024 by way of...

By Andrew Rizzo January 20, 2025
476

This “Hyper Royal” Nike Air Max 1 Goes Into Dark-Mode

The Air Max 1 might not be a focal point for Nike in 2025, overshadowed in part by the Air Max 95 and Air Max...

By Andrew Rizzo January 20, 2025
883

The Nike Air Max Sunder Premium “Hemp” Drops Nylon For Brown Leather

Nike’s decision to bring back the Air Max Sunder in 2024 was a wise one. The OG “Canyon Gold” colorway was met with plenty of...

By Andrew Rizzo January 20, 2025
434

Experience The Sunset On This Nike Air Max Plus Drift

Derived from Sean McDowell’s Air Max Plus, the modern-day Air Max Plus Drift has done well by channeling colorways of the parent model’s past. This...

By Sneaker News January 19, 2025
1204

Nike Celebrates The 35th Anniversary Of The Air Max 90 With “Dusty Cactus”

The signature bright blueish-teal tone emerges once again on an Air Max classic as the 1990 year model appears clad in one of cleanest GR...

By Sneaker News January 19, 2025
1343

Nike Weaves Carbon Fiber Into The Air Max 90 “Reverse Infrared”

Originally designed for speed on the track, the Air Max 90 undergoes some phases of weight reduction as Nike weaves carbon fiber into the build...

By Sneaker News January 19, 2025
2473

The Nike Pegasus Premium “Atmosphere” Launches This Spring

Nike wields its magic wand the best when it creates a piece of sports equipment that looks so good that it needs to be worn...

By Sneaker News January 18, 2025
7446