Nike Air Max
The Nike Air Max was the first Nike shoe to showcase the Nike Air cushioning system via the clear plastic window on the shoe's heel. This wndow turned the shoe into an icon for the company and contributed greatly to its success. Since releasing the original Air Max in 1987, Nike has followed up with a number of updates to the classic shoe. Each version of the shoe was released in a wide variety of colors and materials, so today their is a huge number of Air Max styles out there.
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Nike Air Max 1
The original Nike Air Max 1 featured an upper made of nylon mesh and synthetic suede. The shoe was reissued for the first time in 1992, with a few design modifications. The midsole and outsole used in this reissue were taken from the Air Max 90, and the all the Air Max 1s in this reissue were leather. Then, in 1995 Nike reissued the shoe with nylon. In 1996, the design was further modified by making the Nike swoosh smaller.
Nike Air Max 90
The Nike Air Max 90 was called the Air Max 3 until its reissue in 2000. At that point the shoe took on the name Air Max 90, after its 1990 release year. The original Air Max 90 coloway was white/black/cool grey/red. The shoe's upper was made of a material called synthetic suede, synthetic leather, and a material called Duromesh. Right away the sneaker was a big hit, due to its attractive lines and distinctive colors. There have been many limited edition Air Max 90s, and some have become exceedingly rare and desired.
Nike Air Max 180
The Nike Air Max 180 was released in the spring of 1991. This shoe stood out from the previous Air Max models with both its unique style and the fact that it contained 50 percent more air than any previous model. Nike pushed the Air Max 180 hard, with a nationwide ad campaign. Despite this campaign, the shoe never really took off, and it was only made by Nike for about a year. During this one year of production, a variety of coloways were produced, and the shoe was even worn by Charles Barkley in the 1992 Olympics. The Air Max 180 has recently had a well-received re-release.
Air Max 93
The Nike Air Max 93 was originally released in 1993 (hence the name), and its most distinctive feature was the 270-degree Nike Air Unit. This shoe was the first to have a colored Air Unit, and the first to have an Air Unit that wrapped all the way around the heel. The shoe also different from previous Air Max models in that its upper was sock-like, similar to the upper in the Nike Air Huarache.
Air Max 95
In 1995, the Nike Air Max 95 burst onto the sneaker scene. The original black/neon yellow/white coloway made the shoe stand out from its predecessors, but this was not the only reason the shoe stood out. The 95s featured prominent Air Units, including a unit in the shoe's forefoot. These Air Units, as well as the sneaker's overall aesthetic gave runner's the impression that this was a serious running shoe, and it sold accordingly. Since their original release, the Air Max 95s have been produced in over 150 unique colorways, which has contributed to the shoe's immense success.
Air Max 97
The Nike Air Max 97 was released in 1997 and boasted a futuristic, space-age look. The design for this sneaker was inspired by the Japanese Bullet train, and this inspiration was clear in the original metalic silver colorway. The Air Max 97s also featured a Nike Air Unit that spanned the whole length of the shoe - designed for maximum impact protection.
Air Max Plus
The Nike Air Max Plus was released in 1998. It was the first Nike shoe to feature the company's Tuned Air system, which utilizes Air Units that are individually tuned to support specific areas of the foot. As the first to utlize this technology, the Air Max Plus is often refereed to as the Air TN. Since their release, Nike has released several variations of the shoe, including the Air Max Plus 2, 3, 4, and 5, as well as a slip-on model. However, none of these variations were very popular, and the shoe never gained much traction outside of London.
Air Max 2003
In '03 the Air Max was updated yet again with the release of the Nike Air Max 2003. This version kept the full-length air unit but had none of the polyurethane that was featured in earlier models. The 2003 was the first Nike Air Max that could be customized on the NikeId website.
Air Max 360
The Nike Air Max 360 was released in 2006. This Air technology used in this sneaker was different from that used by Nike in their previous Air Max lines. In this model, the Nike Air Unit wrapped 360 degrees around the shoe's midsole. This advancement was meant to lengthen the life of the support and postpone the degredation of the shoe's cushioning system.