Air Max (87) - White / Pink
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. Different types of
Air Max cushioning include "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 basically just another word for full Air Max
cushioning, "Tuned Air," which is a system of individual pods
supposedly "tuned" to different areas of the foot. Air in the early
1990s which was visible through the bottom of the shoe (although smaller
portions of Air units are visible through the bottom of many Air Max models) and
another type of Air cushioning is the low profile and very responsive "Zoom
Air."
Especially sought after models (according to Nike's History of Air
advertising) include:
- Air Max I - 1987
- Air Max II (commonly known as Air Max Light) - 1989
- Air Max III (commonly known as Air Max 90) - 1990
- Air Max IV (commonly known as Air Max BW or Air Max
Classic) - 1991
- Air 180 - 1991
- Air Max 270 (commonly known as Air Max 93) - 1993
- Air Max 2 Charles Barkley 94 (commonly known as Air Max CB 94)
- 1994
- Air Total Max (commonly known as Air Max 95) - 1995
- Air Max 96 - 1996
- Air Max 97
- Air Max 98
- Air Max Plus (commonly known as Air Max TN)
- Air Max Ltd - 2002
- Air Max 2003
- Air Max 2004
- Air Max 360 - 2006
- Air Max 360 - 2007
- Air Max Elite
- Air Max 2009
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. There is also new 2008 edition of the Air
Max 180.
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 white/black/cool
grey was chosen to exaggerate the thickness of the sole air unit. The AM90 is
especially popular in Europe. In a report it was seen that reebok outsold nike.
Air Max 90
The Air Max 95 was based on the human anatomy. With the spine of the shoe resembling the human spine and the original materials to represent skin etc. Although stores were reluctant to stock this shoe because of its high technology and hence high price tag, they took a chance and it became the first shoe to be more than £100.00 sold in JD Sports. However they are often replicated and sold on the Internet for a small fraction of cost.
According to a new police database, the footwear of choice for criminals are Nikes with Nike Air Max 95s being the most popular Daily Mirror. Air Max cushioning has been used in shoes for almost all sports by now including basketball, cross training, golf, casual shoes, sandals, tennis, etc.; however the
"Nike Air Max" is always a running shoe. An example of a basketball shoe would be "Air Max
Uptempo."
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
(800 km) before their shock absorbing properties deteriorated. The use of
'360' of air cushioning is meant to ensure the shoes longevity.
