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 Vapormax Flyknit 3 Arrives In Sunset Tint

A popular silhouette for lifestyle wear and athletic endeavors alike, Nike’s Vapormax Flyknit 3 has enjoyed a strong run on the market since it debuted...

By Ross Dwyer September 10, 2019
12149

This Women’s Nike Vapormax 2019 Features A “South Beach”-Style Colorway

Bridging the gap between lifestyle aesthetics and performance construction, the Nike Vapormax 2019 presents a compelling look, and it’s also arrived in many a striking...

By Ross Dwyer July 7, 2019
5775

Multi-Color Returns To The Nike Vapormax Flyknit 3

Among Nike’s wide swath of Flyknit color schemes, a “Multi-Color” makeup is unquestionably among the most popular, and now it’s returned yet again, this time...

By Ross Dwyer May 30, 2019
26969

Nike Doubles The Vapormax On This Upcoming Women’s 2019 Silhouette

There’s nothing in the world of footwear that’s quite like a Nike Vapormax unit, and the Swoosh Brand is now taking the podular full-foot cushioning...

By Ross Dwyer May 25, 2019
22524

The Nike Vapormax Flyknit 3 Arrives In Time With Easter Tones

Easter is right around the corner, and Nike is joining in on the annual springtime celebration with a seasonally appropriate women’s-only take on the new...

By Ross Dwyer April 12, 2019
75598

The Nike Vapormax Flyknit 3 Scoops Up The Sherbet Colorway

Few things scream warm weather and sunny summer days quite like a refreshing cup of brightly colored sherbet, so Nike has scooped up bold fuchsia...

By Ross Dwyer April 8, 2019
56493

Shimmering Metallic Silver Arrives On Nike’s Vapormax Flyknit 3.0

As the release of Nike’s highly anticipated Vapormax Flyknit 3.0 draws closer and closer, more color combos continue to surface — and the latest impressive...

By Ross Dwyer March 6, 2019
32339

The Nike Vapormax 2019 “Teal Tint” Is Coming Soon

Boasting an entirely new construction but still retaining the premium cushioning and futuristic look that made the technology so popular in the first place, Nike’s...

By Ross Dwyer December 12, 2018
9545

Nike Vapormax Moc 2 “University Gold” Drops This Friday

Nike’s rollout of bright-colored, ladies-only iterations of their new Vapormax Moc 2 continues as this bright “University Gold” colorway is set to drop this week....

By Ross Dwyer May 6, 2018
15944