Nike Air Max 97

The Nike Air Max 97 is a running sneaker from North American sportswear behemoth, NIKE, Inc. As its name suggests, the silhouette debuted in 1997.

Designed by Christian Tresser, the low-top model has historically been marketed as inspired by Japan’s bullet trains. And while partially true, the Air Max 96‘s successor drew cues from the ripples Tresser witnessed in ponds. Furthermore, the sneaker’s original “Metallic Silver” colorway took after one of the designer’s life-long interests: mountain biking. Throughout the ’90s, most equipment and accessories for the sport were clad in titanium and silver colors, which paired well with the Air Max 97’s wavy upper.

Despite featuring a top-half that visually deviated from other running sneakers in Nike’s catalog, the shoe’s most defining detail was the full-length visible Airbag underfoot. The company’s modern-day ventures have landed on silhouettes like the Air Max 720, which up the fully-exposed cushioning ante, but Tresser’s efforts had few-to-no predecessors to consult. Early sketches have depicted the pair with tooling reminiscent of what landed on the Air Max Uptempo ’97: a pod-like sole unit would deliver stability that had been difficult to achieve with an exposed Airbag.

Although the silhouette was better-received than its direct predecessor, it’s popularity paled in comparison to the Air Max 95 designed by Sergio Lozano two years earlier. Nike’s quick turnaround with following Air Max propositions also stole some spotlight from Tresser’s design, but the pair enjoyed immense admiration in Italy early on in its lifecycle. A stark contrast to the well-established, traditional visual language promoted and perpetuated by fashion destinations like Milan, the Air Max 97 was adopted by DJ and other creative subcultures as a lifestyle sneaker. The Swoosh tasked Tresser with creating the next chapter in its revolutionary running series, but it never fathomed that the outcome would symbolize rebellion to youth in Italy. Because of its inaugural look, the pair garnered a “Le Silver” moniker that rumbled throughout Rome and Naples before spreading to smaller towns in the European nation. For the shoe’s 10th anniversary, Nike retroed the sneaker across Italy and in NikeTown locales with notable Italian foot traffic; the AM 97’s 20th anniversary in 2017 saw the global return of the “Silver Bullet” pair.

Throughout the last 26 years, the Swoosh has tapped the likes of Undefeated, Skepta and Off-White for collaborations. (The most latter included Tresser’s design in its “The Ten” collection from 2017.) Yet, the pair has enjoyed a quieter retro cycle than its Air Max 90 counterpart. Even as the model surpassed its 25th anniversary, Nike continues to draw attention to the 1997-design via collaborations, special editions and general releases.

Pricing for the sneaker arrives at $170 USD (adults) and $155 USD (big kids). Limited iterations of the Air Max 97 usually have a $5-$10 USD higher price tag.

Nike Air Max 97

The Nike Air Max 97 GS Appears In Textured Bronze Uppers

Among the many historic pieces that make up the legacy of the Air Max 97, its metallic finishes atop the iconic Silver Bullet and succeeding...

By Michael Le May 22, 2019
8986

Nike Sportswear Reveals Collaborative Collection With Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, And De’Aaron Fox

De’Aaron Fox, Devin Booker, and Jayson Tatum have two things in common: they’re all part of the NBA’s fresh crop of rising stars, and they’re...

By Ross Dwyer May 22, 2019
70844

The Nike Air Max 97 “Monsoon Blue” Is Available Now

Among Beaverton’s many reoccurring palettes, grey and blue seems to find the most consistent use with icons both new and old taking it on at...

By Sneaker News May 20, 2019
65862

A Mix Of Ratatouille Colors Appears On The Nike Air Max 97

The one connecting factor between all people, food, continues to bleeds its way into the many Nike colorways with the latest Air Max 97 taking...

By Michael Le May 16, 2019
20489

Strong Seahawks Vibes Surface On This Nike Air Max 97

Seattle Seahawks fans have to be feeling good after the team signed Russell Wilson to a massive four-year extension in April, and now they’ve got...

By Ross Dwyer May 14, 2019
12777

Nike Is Releasing An Air Max 97 Inspired By The Air Foamposite One

Borrowing the likeness of the pair with which it shares its originating year, the Air Max 97 arrives in an armored out tooling akin to...

By Michael Le May 14, 2019
105771

Nike Air Max 97 Appears In Hyper Royal And Cool Grey

If you’re looking for a shoe that’s clean and classic with just enough standout flair to draw attention, Nike’s Air Max 97 just might be...

By Ross Dwyer May 13, 2019
93022

The Nike Air Max 97 Ultra Appears In Infrared And Court Purple

A slightly streamlined take on the already-sleek Nike Air Max 97, the Nike Air Max 97 Ultra offers an alternate style to one of the...

By Ross Dwyer May 8, 2019
12234

This Women’s Exclusive Nike Air Max 97 Adds Another Seasonal Touch To The Rotation

With much of the Summer season being characterized by bright colors and soft palettes, Beaverton is creating quite the homage to its sun-filled days with...

By Michael Le May 7, 2019
17611