The Story behind the most iconic shoe line of the last three decades
AirMax 1
The AirMax one was initially released in 1987 and to this day remains one of the most distinctive and recognizable shoe silhouettes around, a laid back and cruisy profile made combined with the distinctive Nike Bubble make it the perfect everyday shoe for any occasion. In fact, these are one of the few Nike classic shoes to remain in Nike's current product line - A true original.
AirMax 90
Next up was the AirMax 90, Released in strangely enough ... 1990 the shoe sported a chunkier and more aggressive profile with a larger air cushion located midsole. Again this shoe remains part of the the exclusive club of Nike shoes to never leave the current product line. An excellent entry level shoe, they are highly durable and can cop a real beating over the years.
AirMax 180
The AirMax 180 was released in 1991 and featured a sleeker and higher profile than the 90, the tongue of the shoe was made larger and sported an uninterrupted air bubble along the whole sole with no tread underneath. Whilst looking the goods, unfortunately they were prone to popping due to the lack of tread protecting the air bubble.
AirMax 93
The AirMax 93 (released 1993) was superficially quite similar to the AirMax 90 but featured a much larger wraparound bubble covering the entire heel.
AirMax 95
The AirMax 95 was dropped in 1995 and to this day remains one of the most pivotal shoes to ever be dropped in the history of the brand. The term “game changer” falls short when describing this shoe. Featuring a layered pattern on the midsole and multiple air bubbles spaced evenly along front and back of the shoe (a first of its kind) – this iconic shoe was discontinued in production around the early 2000’s. Demand for this shoe has gotten so high that Nike has in fact brought it back into production.
AirMax 97
The AirMax 97 (surprisingly from 1997) was the first Nike to feature a full-length air bubble stretching over the entire sole. Additionally, expanding on and refining the layered midsole concept from the 1995, the 97 was another shoe to benefit from a revival and return to the current product line.
AirMax Plus
The AirMax Plus (1998), Colloquially known as the “TN” or “Nike Tuned” took the concept of the Nike95 and took it completely radical, featuring a hyper-aggressive and streamlined profile, they were originally highly unpopular and did not sell well. However their popularity amongst elements of urban subculture has lead to it becoming one of the most popular Nikes on the market, with them finding their way into many private collections and achieving a near legendary status.
AirMax 360
The AirMax 360 followed was released 8 years after the Nike tuned in 2006, It Featured a honeycomb style sole that was mostly air cushion with foam rims wrapping around the outside of the soles.
AirMax 2015
The AirMax 2015 featured a bold departure from the traditional silhouette and air profile and features no foam on the sole whatsoever, it is the first Nike to use a full air cushion for the sole.
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