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

Nike Decks Out The Air Max DN8 In “Triple Brown”

While it isn’t queued up directly for Air Max Day 2025, Nike is nonetheless rolling out the red carpet for the Air Max DN8, making...

By Matt Varga February 19, 2025
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Nike Says Its New $100 Air Max Shoe Is Fire

Though spotlighted product like the Nike Air Max DN8 steals the headlines, Beaverton has continually updated the Air Max line with a litany of more...

By Matt Varga February 19, 2025
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Is This Nike Air Max 1 Low Poly Inspired By Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider?

Updated February 21st, 2025: Nike has revealed additional information surrounding the Air Max 1 Low Poly “Adventure”. On 2/24 at 10 AM PST, .SWOOSH will...

By Sneaker News February 17, 2025
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The Nike Air Max DN8 Shimmers In “Rose Gold”

With the inaugural “Hyper Pink” Air Max DN8 worn by Victor Wembanyama and CeeDee Lamb in the rear-view mirror, the model is continuing to surface...

By Andrew Rizzo February 17, 2025
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First Look At The Supreme x Nike Air Max 1

Supreme’s Nike collaborations typically lean towards the obscure and unappreciated. The luxury street/skate brand deserves credit for putting the masses on some lesser known silhouettes,...

By Sneaker News February 17, 2025
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Official Images Of The Nike Air Max TL 2.5 “Playful Pink”

Updated February 15th, 2025: Official images of the Air Max TL 2.5 “Playful Pink” have surfaced; these are expected to arrive on Nike.com this Spring/Summer...

By Andrew Rizzo February 15, 2025
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The Nike Air Max 95 GS “Cool Grey” Shifts Back To A Standard Build

2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Air Max 95, and with how seriously Nike takes birthdays, it’s set to be a massive celebration. That’ll...

By Matt Varga February 14, 2025
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Official Images Of The Nike Air Max TL 2.5 “Citron”

Updated February 13th, 2025: Official images of the Air Max TL 2.5 “Black/Citron” have been uploaded. These are already available via select EU retailers and...

By Andrew Rizzo February 13, 2025
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Nike Adds Reflective Uppers To The Air Max Sunder

Nike is expanding the breadth of the Air Max Sunder by thinking outside-the-box when it comes to materials, particularly on the top portion that makes...

By Andrew Rizzo February 12, 2025
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