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 Air Max sneakers are the AM 1, the Air Max 90, and Air Max 95. In recent history, newer models like the Air Max 270 have helped the Swoosh dominate the footwear scene. 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.

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 1 Golf Receives A Total Orange Makeover

As golf remasters have taken seemingly every Air Jordan silhouette, Nike hasn’t turned down any opportunities to give their tentpole silos the same treatment. The...

By Matt Varga March 18, 2024
301

Nike Air Max 95 “Retro Logo” In Black/Volt Returns Holiday 2024

The Nike Air Max 95 could very well prove to be the most significant Air Max model of 2024 behind the new Air Max Dn....

By Andrew Rizzo March 18, 2024
697

Sunny Details Break Up The Nike Air Max 90 “Photon Dust”

While “Triple White” and “Triple Black” would be expectedly dominant if you thumbed through the Nike catalog, the sneaker giant has never shied away from...

By Matt Varga March 18, 2024
252

Easter-Ready Multi-Colors Treat This Nike Air Max 1

For the eleventh straight year, the Air Max 1 is leading the charge for the Air Max Day 2024 festivities as an endless buffet of...

By Sneaker News March 18, 2024
375

Nike Is Releasing An Air Max 1 Wallet For Air Max Day

This Air Max Day, Nike is going for your wallet — literally. Ahead of the big holiday on March 26th, Nike has prepared smorgasbord of...

By Sneaker News March 18, 2024
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The Utility-Grade Nike Air Max Plus Hiker Set To Debut In “Patina”

Be it the multitudes of remodels that the Air Jordan 1 has received, or the “Futura” line that made the Nike Air Max 97 or...

By Matt Varga March 18, 2024
1378

The Nike Air Max Plus Drift “Midnight Navy/Dusty Cactus” Dives Into Retro Aesthetics

Nike’s Air Max Day 2024 build up has been defined by the emergence of two new models; the Air Max Dn and Air Max Plus...

By Andrew Rizzo March 18, 2024
1163

The Nike Air Max 90 “Velcro” Comes With Volt and Infrared Heel Patches

The Nike Air Max Dn and Air Max 1 have commanded the most attention among Air Max shoes in recent weeks, the former gearing up...

By Andrew Rizzo March 15, 2024
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The Nike Air Max 1 “Field Purple” Is A Poor Man’s Patta Collab

Despite Nike’s laser focus on the re-crafted ’86 model, the familiar ’87 version is still the Air Max 1 of choice for many enthusiasts. Those...

By Sneaker News March 15, 2024
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