The Nike Air Max is among the most recognizable sneakers ever made; the exposed air pockets are as evocative as the Jumpman logo is to the Air Jordan. If you’re under 30, you’ve known the Air Max your entire life, and you’re probably able to triangulate its many iterations with landmarks in pop culture, or in your own life. However, the now-ubiquitous Nike Air Max design was once the daring, controversial vision of a pole vaulter-turned-architect who traces his roots back to the storied track coach Bill Bowerman and Steve Prefontaine-era Oregon Track and Field.
The Nike Air Max’s original designer, Tinker Hatfield, drew his inspiration from the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris, which he saw as an inside-out building; without exterior walls, its innards are on full display. According to a 2006 documentary, he widened the air pocket of an existing shoe, the Tailwind, and removed some encapsulating heel foam to reveal the air cushion—an inside-out shoe. The Air Max 1 was born a chunky sneaker with a window to Nike’s bigger-than-ever air cushion, and although the company has increased the size of the air pocket over the years, the new Nike Air Max shoes use the same basic design and materials as the originals.
Pop Culture Inspiration
Air Maxes are no longer the go-to running shoe, but the shoe’s performance obsolescence is overshadowed by its massive presence in the worlds of music, fashion, and celebrity. They’re some of the hottest and most sought-after sneakers around. The Nike Air Max 1 debuted the same year as Public Enemy’s first album, and a recent collaboration with U.K. rapper Skepta sold out in minutes. Designers Patta, Foot Patrol, and Supreme are frequent Air Max collaborators, and the shoes appear on the Instagram’d feet of the world’s Hadids and Jenners.
The shoes that saw the most success during their original releases—the Air Max 1, 90, 95, and 97—have received myriad remakes from outside designers and Nike’s own creative team, and new technologies like VaporMax and Flyknit extend the shoe’s penchant for originality into the future. We’ll continuously update this list to reflect the latest, most inspired Nike Air Maxes at the best price.
Air Max News and Releases
Air Max 90
Arguably the most iconic model in the Air Max lineup, the Air Max 90 celebrated its 30th anniversary last fall. To mark the occasion, Nike re-released the longtime favorite in its original “Infrared” colorway, with bright red accents on a white mesh upper with grey suede and black leather features. The modern version is faithful to its heritage in both look and form, with plush padding and a thick air cushion in the midsole. You can also grab it in another vintage shade—the electric-yellow Volt.
Nike Vapormax 2020 Flyknit
Sure, Nike Air shoes have been around since the ’70s, but that doesn’t mean the company isn’t continuing to innovate. Launched in summer 2020, the Vapormax 2020 Flyknit takes the brand’s air-bubble-soled Vapormax, and transforms it into the most sustainable shoe to exist in Nike’s lineup. By weight, at least 50 percent of the shoe was made from recycled material, including an upper made from repurposed yarn. We love this multicolored version in particular, with bright polyester thread woven throughout and an Air unit made from more than 75 percent recycled TPU.
Nike Air Max 2090
The Air Max 2090 launched in spring 2020 as a reimagined, futuristic version of the Air Max 90, designed for all-day comfort. Nike says the shoe was inspired by the future of transportation—specifically, a far-off time when electric and solar-powered vehicles crowd the roads, which can be seen in coloring at the toe and heel that gives the impression of headlights and taillights. At the midsole, an oversize Air unit is 200 percent more visible than traditional Air Max 90 models. The upper features opaque color blocking influenced by modern electric cars. But there are some traditional features, too: The Air Max 2090 shares the 90’s mudguard, cassette, and heel logo.
Nike Air VaporMax Plus
The Air Max lineup is all about retro-futurism—and bringing the past and future together in innovative ways. Nowhere is that more evident than in this techy-looking hybrid sneaker, which brings together two Nike designs: the plastic-overlayed caged upper of 1998’s Air Max Plus, and the podded, cloud-like sole of 2017’s VaporMax. This year the shoe came out in a bold new University Red/Black colorway.
Nike Air Max Plus x Supreme
The Air Max Plus introduced this wavy upper aesthetic and a “Tuned Air” sole in 1998. Essentially, the latter means that rubber “hemispheres” have been placed to reduce air pressure in the heel, while adding cushioning at the forefoot for an overall softer ride. This has made it a favorite for overall comfort and stability. Now the shoe is out in a crossover model with streetwear label Supreme, featuring an all-white shoe with Supreme branding on the tongue.
Nike Air Max Deluxe
First released in 1998 and reintroduced in 2018, the Air Max Deluxe has long been considered ahead of its time. Rather than layering waves for the Air Max Deluxe’s upper, Nike welds a single piece of mesh to a TPU overlay that envelopes the shoe’s heel. The upper gradients feature contrasting and stunning colors, making the Deluxe among the most futuristic of all Air Max designs.
Nike Air Max 270
Nike debuted the Air Max 270 in 2018, and it has since become highly popular among sneakerheads. At the midsole, it sports what was at the time the highest Air Max unit ever made, designed for everyday “lifestyle” comfort and not for running. This year Nike has toned down its formerly bold colorways in favor of solid color models in all white or all black, or small pops of color on monochrome.
Nike Air Max 720
The two-year-old Air Max 720 was made from 75 percent recycled materials and comes with Nike’s tallest Air unit ever, taking the crown off the 270. With exceptional springiness thanks to a 38mm Air unit that was named for its ability to be seen from every angle—360 degrees horizontally and vertically—the shoe promises exceptional cushion and energy return. But with colorways as wild as these, we doubt you’ll want to risk scuffing them on a run.
Nike Air Max Tailwind IV
Nike has released a number of new Tailwind colorways with throwback styling, including a collaboration with streetwear titan Supreme for a striking red-and-white version. We like this triple-black version, as well, which brings some clean, understated style to an otherwise chunky-looking shoe.
Undefeated x Nike Air Max 97
The original Air Max 97 took inspiration from Japanese Bullet trains, with wavy speed lines added to create a futuristic, aerodynamic aesthetic. Twenty years later, the shoe was re-released as a cross-training and casual shoe, with an upper made from a mix of leather and foam and a full-length visible Air midsole underfoot. Nike has dropped dozens of new colorways since the re-release; we especially liked the black and gold models from 2020’s crossover with Undefeated, an L.A.-based lifestyle brand and sneaker store.
Nike Air Max 1 N7
Last fall the Classic Air 1 got a striking earth-toned makeover on a soft, suede upper for Native American Heritage Month. Nike says the shoe was inspired by the bright colors and heritage stars woven into a quilt NBA player Kyrie Irving received when he reconnected with his Lakota-Sioux roots while supporting protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The shoe features the iconic Max 1 profile, with a rubber waffle outsole and upper made from recycled canvas fabric and suede, paired with a design created in collaboration with the N7 fund, which raises money for youth in Indigenous communities across North America.
Nike Air Max 3 Archetype
Sporting the instantly recognizable original design of the Air Max 90, the Air Max 3 is a pure throwback shoe that faithfully recreates its heritage in suede and mesh. Nike just released the shoe in two ’90s-inspired colorways for women and this “Archetype” colorway, which approximates the shoe’s OG “Infrared” shade. Once considered a dedicated running shoe, now we just love it for its casual retro vibe.
Best Air Max Deals
Nike Air Max 2090
MSRP: $150
On Sale For: $75
Nike Air Max 270 React
MSRP: $131
On Sale For: $160
Nike Air Max III
MSRP: $140
On Sale For: $90
Nike Air Max 98
MSRP: $160
On Sale For: $108
A former Division 1 runner, Dan grew up riding fixies and mountain bikes and now reviews everything from performance running shoes to road and cross bikes, to the latest tech for runners and cyclists at Bicycling and Runner’s World.
Michael is a freelance writer with years of experience covering gear and the outdoors for Runner's World and other publications; when he's not writing, he's usually biking, hiking, and running in the mountains around Los Angeles, where he lives.
