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 Flips The Women’s Original “Laser Pink” For The Air Max 90
With the recent return of the distinguished Nike Air Max 90 “Infrared”, Nike continues to retro, reference, and revive OG colorways. For the ladies, Nike is...
Nike Adds “Red Bronze” Heel Panels To This Women’s Air Max 95
As its 25th Anniversary approaches an end, the Nike Air Max 95 is prefacing its turn to “Volt” form with a number of impressive colorways....
The Women’s Nike Air Max 90 “Dark Concord” Arrives Soon
The Nike Air Max 90 is just moments away from assuming it original “Infrared” colorway, but before doing so, it’s emerged in “Dark Concord”-accented ensemble...
The Nike Air Max 97 Dresses Up In Pink And Purple
The Nike Air Max 97 has dressed up in dozens of impressive women’s-exclusive ensembles throughout 2020. The latest features muted pink and purple tones. As...
Nike Pours Out A Women’s Colorway Of Water-Based Air Max 2090
Nike’s “current shoe of the future,” the Air Max 2090, has dressed up in dozens of colorways inspired by the cities of its namesake year....
This Women’s Nike Air Max 90 Gets Accents Of Solar Flare And Atomic Pink
In the coming months, Nike will be dropping an onslaught of Air Max 90 offerings in an effort to make the most of the last...
Soft Pastels Balance Out This Fall-Friendly Nike Air Max 90 For Women
As the year, and therefore its 30th Anniversary, winds down, the Nike Air Max 90 has begun transitioning from vibrant palettes appropriate for summer to...
Nike Covers This Women’s Air Max 95 In Fall “Wheat” Tones
With the Fall season in full effect, the Swoosh team has appropriately turned to seasonal palettes as a source of inspiration for their footwear colorways,...
The Sequined Nike Air Max 97 For Women Appears In Red And Black
First seen back in May, the women’s Nike Air Max 97 with sequins has emerged in new photos ahead of a possible release date. Although...