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

Nike Swaps Logos On This Air Max 95 Essential

This year has surely been a busy one for Nike’s Air Max 95, as it has become a trending canvas on which many popular brands...

By Michael Le October 28, 2018
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Up Close With The Nike Air Max 95/90 Designed By Patta

Amsterdam’s Patta has spent years working its way toward the top of Nike’s collaborative partner ranks, pulling off co-designed efforts that are amongst the greatest...

By Ben Felderstein October 22, 2018
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Nike Just Dropped A Full “Wheat” Pack For Fall

Fall means wheat sneakers, and nobody does wheat sneakers quite like the Swoosh Brand. Each year when leaves turn from green to yellow and orange...

By Ross Dwyer September 26, 2018
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The Nike Air Max 95 Sneakerboot Returns This Winter In “Dark Russet”

With warm summer afternoons giving way to chilly and wet autumn evenings, many a sneakerhead is forced to re-evaluate their rotation as the seasons change....

By Ross Dwyer September 25, 2018
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The Nike Air Max 95 Ultra SE Gets A “Silver Bullet” Spin

The updated silhouette of Nike’s storied Air Max sneaker from 1995 returns with a remixed version of the classic “Silver Bullet” colorway. In addition to...

By Sneaker News September 20, 2018
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First Look At The Nike Air Max 95 “Snakeskin”

Nike’s beloved Air Max 95 silhouette has seen itself done up in a bevy of unique aesthetics this year, from the whimsically-designed atmos “Animal Pack”...

By Ben Felderstein September 10, 2018
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An Artistic Take On The Nike Air Max 95 Is Available Now

After returning to market in the much-loved OG “Solar Red” colorway mid-July, the Nike Air Max 95 has returned again, this time adorned with artistic...

By Ross Dwyer July 26, 2018
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The Nike Air Max 95 Calls Upon Violet For This Summer-Ready Aesthetic

While Nike Sportswear continues innovating its classic models by way of new logos and materials, sometimes iconic silhouettes the likes of the Air Max 95...

By Ben Felderstein July 26, 2018
1992

Nike Adds Light Blue And White To This Summer-Ready Air Max 95

While the Air Max 95 is three years removed from celebrating any sort of anniversary, the Swoosh Brand has been releasing the admired silhouette as...

By Ben Felderstein July 20, 2018
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