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 SB Air Max 95 Releasing In 2025

2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the Nike, Inc. brand. Not only is it marking some significant milestones for a number...

By Sneaker News June 5, 2024
23279

Nike Calls For A Pittsburgh Pirates Colored Air Max 90

You could make a strong case that no shoe evokes unofficial design themes with more frequency than the Nike Air Max 90. The Tinker Hatfield-designed...

By Andrew Rizzo June 5, 2024
1978

“Vapor Green” Dots A Greyscale Nike Air Max 95

Don’t look now, but Nike’s slowly starting to bring the Air Max 95 back into the fold ahead of the shoe’s 30th anniversary next year....

By Andrew Rizzo May 24, 2024
2657

The Nike Air Max 95 Works In “Safety Orange” Accents

Aside from collaborations with Corteiz, the Nike Air Max 95 has had a relatively quiet run in recent years. However, there’s a huge milestone on...

By Andrew Rizzo May 17, 2024
3495

Nike Stays True To The OG Grey With The Air Max 95 “Baltic Blue”

Of all the 1990s-era Nike Air Max classics, Sergio Lozano’s 1995 model seems to be getting the least amount of attention, making way for its...

By Sneaker News May 14, 2024
12545

The Nike Air Max 90 Drift Gets A “Triple Black” Colorway

Nike’s modern Air Max strategy centers around futuristic re-imaginations of the line’s most iconic silhouettes, all in an effort to appeal to a younger generation...

By Andrew Rizzo May 14, 2024
8953

Nike Is Dropping An “Infrared” Air Max 90 Look-alike

Not too far off on the color wheel, Nike’s latest women’s Air Max 90 “Aster Pink” might get confused for the model’s original “Infrared” colorway...

By Andrew Rizzo May 3, 2024
1539

This “Ice Blue” Nike Air Max 90 Sends Chills Down Your Spine

With Tinker Hatfield’s birthday just passing by a few days ago, you might’ve taken some time to reflect on some of the sneaker architect’s most...

By Sneaker News May 2, 2024
25164

“Malachite” Touches Up A Black Nike Air Max 90

Throw a dart a color wheel and no matter what you land on, there’s probably a Nike Air Max 90 colorway similar to it. The...

By Andrew Rizzo April 25, 2024
1220