

Nike has plans to continue producing new Air Max models for lifestyle/casual wear, while the older models will continue to be the focus of special editions, collaborations, re-issues, and more. Air Max, as a cushion, has been mostly phased out of running footwear, but it is still in use in basketball and training. Nike continues to make newer models such as the Air Max 270 and Air Max 2090. The most popular Air Max sneakers are the Air Max 1, the Air Max 90, Air Max 95, and Air Max 97. Any sneaker with a visible Air bubble is considered “Air Max”, however it is more appropriately used to refer to running sneakers. The midsole contains lightweight dual density foam for maximum comfort, and the rubber outsole provides traction and durability. Visible Air was used across all sports models such as basketball, training, and much more. Get the most Air yet The Nike Air Max 270 features 270 degrees of visible Max Air Unit in the heel, which gives you premium cushioning. Air Maxes are considered to be extremely important to sneaker culture as many collectors searched far and wide for limited editions and collaborations with Parra, Sean Wotherspoon, and atmos.Īir Max is certainly not specifically for running shoes. Since then, a long history of Air Max running shoes have released, each named after the year it was released. So, the Air Max 1, the first sneaker with visible Air, debuted in 1987. 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.

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. However, the Air was not visible as it was embedded into the sole.Īir Max didn’t come into the picture until 1987. Air cushioning was used in Nike running footwear as far back as 1978 with the Air Tailwind running shoe. He presented his idea to Nike founder Phil Knight in 1977, who was very intrigued by the idea after testing a prototype running shoe. The idea of encapsulating Air into a cushion was first thought up by Marion Franklin Rudy, an aerospace engineer. Air Max is a revolutionary footwear cushioning created by sports athletics brand Nike.
