Nike Air Max is a line of shoes first released by Nike, Inc. in 1987. The shoe
was originally designed by Tinker Hatfield, who started out working for
Nike as an architect designing shops; he also designed many of the Air Jordan
models. Overview
The Nike Air Max shoe uses a large air cushioning unit at the heel which is
visible from the side of the midsole in most models. Types of Air Max cushioning
include: 180 Air in the early 1990s which was
visible through the bottom of the shoe "Air Max2" which does not have the holes
in the cushioning unit and is of high pressure,
"Tube Air" which is visible in several small circles on the midsole of the
shoe, "Total Air" which is another word for
full Air Max cushioning, "Tuned Air," which is a system of
individual pods tuned to different areas of the foot.
History Models include:
Air Max - 1987 Air Stab - 1988
Air Max II - 1989 Air Max III - 1990
Air Max IV - 1991 Air Structure Triax 91 - 1991
Air Max 180 - 1991 Air Max ST - 1992
Air Tailwind 92 - 1992 Air Max 93 - 1993
Air Max 2 - 1994 Air Max 2 Charles Barkley 34 - 1994
Air Max Triax 94 - 1994 Air Max Light 2 - 1994
Air Max 95 - 1995 Air Max Racer - 1995
Air Max 96 - 1996 Air Max 96 II
Air Max 97 Air Max 98
Air Max 98 II Air Max 99
Air Max Pillar Air Max Posterize SL
Air Max Deluxe Air Max 2000
Air Max Plus Air Max Ltd - 2002
Air Max 2003 Air Max 2004
Air Max Destined - 2006 Air Max 360 - 2006
Air Max 180 - 2006 Air Max 360 - 2007
Air Max 180 II - 2008 Air Max Elite
Air Max 180 III - 2008 Air Max T-Zone - 2009
Air Max Skyline Air Max 2009
Air Max 90 Current - 2009 Air Maxim - 2009
Air Max BW Gen II - 2010 Air Max 2010
Air Max Tailwind+ 2 Air Max Trainer 1
Air Max Trainer 1+ Air Max Turbulence - 2010
Air Max 2011 "Air Max Command
Air Max 24/7 Air Max+ 2012
Air Max+ 2013 Air Max Defy Run
"Air Max Minot "Air Max Motion
Air Max+ 2014 "Air Max Direct
Flyknit Air Max "Fingertrap Max
"Nike Air Foampostie Pro" 2015 September 15
The 1993 model was the first to have the fully visible heel Air unit that was
visible in the back as well as on the sides, and the 1995 model was the first
to feature visible forefoot Air. The 1997 model was the first to include a
full length Air bag. Culture and fashion
The line of sneakers is popular amongst many subcultures, for example Hip Hop,
Gabber and the working class. In the mid-1990s the line, especially
the Air Max 95 model, experienced such a surge of popularity in Japan that it led
to a phenomenon known as "Air Max hunting". The extremely inflated prices
of the shoes led to a rash of muggings in the normally-peaceful country wherein
Air Max wearers were attacked and their shoes were stolen. Even used shoes were
in demand, and fakes also became a serious problem.
Air Max Light Released in 1989 as the Air Max II, the
Air Max Light is a running shoe, a successor to the Air Max. It weighed
less than the original, achieved by replacing the forefoot polyurethane
midsole with one made of EVA foam. Re-released in 2007, the Nike has
continued to release additional colorways.
Air Max 90 Known as the Air Max III until 2000,
when it was reissued taking its name from the year of its launch year. The
original colourway of whitecool grey with infrared was chosen to exaggerate
the thickness of the sole air cushion. Nike specially designed a pair of Nike
Air Max 90s for President George H.W. Bush. Images of the customized sneakers
have been seen around the Department of Nike Archives, and feature AIR PRES
branding along with what appears to be an entirely unique colorway.
Air Max 95 The visual design of the Air Max 95 was
created by Sergio Lozano who based the design of the Air Max 95 on the human
anatomy, with the spine of the shoe resembling the human spine and the
materials intended to represent skin, ribs, and tendons. The Air Max 95 was
the first pair in the line to utilize two air cushions in the forefoot and
used air pressure technology to fit the curvature of the wearer's forefoot.
According to a 2007 tabloid newspaper study of the UK Forensic Science
Service's database of footwear, the Nike Air Max 95 was "criminals' number one
choice" in footwear. The product was referenced in the hip
hop song "Hate It or Love It" by The Game, which was a worldwide top 10 hit
in 2005. Also referenced by rappers Gucci Mane in the hit single "Bricks"
and Waka Flocka Flame on the track "Head First" in his 2009 mixtape, "Lebron
Flocka James". The rapper Eminem designed a limited-edition range of Air
Maxes sold for charity. Air Max 360
On 21 January 2006 Nike launched the Air Max 360, a new shoe design that utilized
Max Air throughout the shoes midsole. In September 2006 Nike introduced a
special 'one time only pack' which fused the 360 model with three classics. The
three shoes used were the Air Max 90, Air Max 95, and Air Max 97. For this
special release, the design of the 360 sole was used in place of the normal
sole of the three classics. The shoes were released in the three original
colors: red for the Air Max 90, green/yellow for the Air Max 95, and
grey/silver for the Air Max 97. Like other Air Max releases, deluxe editions
were also produced. These deluxe editions lasted for about 500 miles
before their shock absorbing properties deteriorated. The use of '360' of air
cushioning is meant to ensure the shoes longevity.
Advertising The shoes were initially advertised in
1987 with a TV campaign that used the Beatles' song "Revolution", the first
time a Beatles song had been used in a TV commercial. The following year, Nike
used the Just Do It slogan. They were also endorsed by Bo Jackson in exchange
for a $100,000 fee, with advertising agency Wieden and Kennedy coming up with
the slogan "Bo knows...". References
External links Official website .