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

The Nike Air Max 90 Slips Into Leather On This Purple Women’s Colorway

The Nike Air Max 90 is revisiting its original color blocking with a fresh “Neutral Grey/White/Black/Purple” option for women. If you recall the rollout of...

By Andrew Rizzo 13 hours
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First Look At The Worksout x Nike Air Max 95 In Black

South Korea’s Worksout really got the chatter going upon the first look reveal of their Air Max 95 OG collaboration with Nike. The radically changed...

By John Kim 19 hours
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The Nike Air Max 95 OG “Bright Mandarin” Releases On June 6th

The Nike Air Max 95 is in the midst of one of the most well-rounded milestone years we’ve seen in recent memory. Collaborations, retro releases,...

By Andrew Rizzo May 13, 2025
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Veneda Carter Teases Nike Air Max Muse Collaboration

Jewelry designer and stylist to the stars Veneda Carter is about to enter the Swoosh’s collaborative canon. In an Instagram teaser shot, she made news...

By Matt Varga May 12, 2025
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Worksout x Nike Air Max 95 Limited To 3,000 Pairs

After a creative teaser that connected the dots between their current state and their earliest beginnings, South Korea’s Worksout is ready to roll with their...

By John Kim May 12, 2025
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Gradient Uppers Continue To Shine On The Nike Air Max Sunder “Deep Night”

Nike rolled out the red carpet for the Air Max Sunder’s grand revival last Summer, delivering the original “Canyon Gold” colorway as the point-man for...

By Sneaker News May 9, 2025
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The Nike Air Max Craze Continues Its Retro Run In “Midnight Navy”

With “Laser Orange” and “Bright Citrus” colorways already checked off, the first ever retro run of the Nike Air Max Craze is officially underway. Much...

By Andrew Rizzo May 9, 2025
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SHOCK DROP: Corteiz x Nike Air Max 95 “Honey Blacks”

Updated May 8th, 2025: The Corteiz x Air Max 95 “Honey Black” just SHOCK DROPPED on SNKRS here. Updated May 8th, 2025: The Corteiz x...

By Sneaker News May 9, 2025
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First Look At The Nike Air Max 95 “Sundial/Playful Pink”

The 30th anniversary of the Nike Air Max 95 has already seen a handful of sought-after retro releases; the “Neon” and “Pink Foam” chief among...

By Andrew Rizzo May 8, 2025
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