Every time we wear an Air Max 90, we carry around a piece of engineering and technology history, even if we are cheerfully unaware of it.
In this editorial we will briefly tell you about its history, made up of randomness and almost magical timing, while also trying to answer some questions related to its model.
In 1977, an ambitious aeronautical engineer named Frank Rudy had the insane idea of inserting a “bubble” of compressed air inside running shoes to facilitate the shoe’s performance when pulling with the ground.
Rudy knocked several companies with his incredible patent, but they had all refused for fear of having to change the whole process of making the shoes they produced. Until he landed in Beaverton, that is.
Here, the young engineer’s proposal was enthusiastically accepted, and based on his innovative sole, the Nike AIR Tailwind model was created as early as the following year, although for the addition of the MAX we must wait until 1987 with the Air Max 1.
The two Air Max models are the same thing despite having different names, a factor that has generated some confusion over the years.
In 1987, as we mentioned, the Air Max Unit was born thanks to a designer and former runner named Tinker Hatfield, who literally takes the air unit and makes it visible in order to give the shoe dynamism and movement. The gimmick turns out to be brilliant.
The 1990s arrived and the Air Max model was a steadily growing success, so the brand decided to launch another model in the line, expanding the Air Unit from the previous one.
After the Air Max 1 and the Air Max 2, which featured an EVA foam midsole, Hatfield christens the Air Max 3 with a larger “slot” in the sole that allows the Air Unit to be better seen; a detail that makes it the star of the shoe’s entire design.
To differentiate it from the other two previous ones, fans of the begin to identify and call it by the name of the year of release, although this will remain an unofficial nickname until 2002, the year of the remake of the model and Nike‘s officialization of the name Air Max 90.
Thus we have two names for the same sneaker: Air Max 3 and Air Max 90, and we can differentiate the different generations based on how they identify the shoe.
To differentiate it from the other two previous ones, fans of the start identifying and calling it by the name of the year of release, although this will remain an unofficial nickname until 2002, the year of the remake of the model and Nike‘s making the name Air Max 90 official.
Thus we have two names for the same shoes: Air Max 3 and Air Max 90, and we can differentiate the different generations based on how they identify the shoe.
Whatever you want to call it, the sneaker has survived 30 years of trends, retrogressions, booms and busts in the sneaker world. Few shoes have stood the test of time like this silhouette, and few colorways have remained as untouchable as the Infrared, one of the Air Max 90’s most iconic colorways.
What differentiates are:
Since the first release in 1990, as many as 40 variations of the same model have been made.
The first release featured mesh and synthetic suede workmanship and two colorways:
Hyvent Orange, currently known as Infrared and Laser Blue, both colors featured a ribbed paneled airbag, a durable outsole, and a large airbag located in the heel.
Today, Nike’s creative designers mix colorways and textures to create novel versions, from those in premium materials to high-performance hi-tech ones.
Among the latest models is the 2022 Air Max 90 Futura.
This new Air Max 90 features a suede upper with serrated forefoot edge, as well as technical details such as molded plastic on the heel and eyelets. The embossed Swoosh creates a contemporary look while the ultralight midsole provides unrivaled comfort.
The Terrascape version puts the sole in the forefront thanks to the semi-transparent Nike Grind “cage” that wraps around the visible Air Unit and joins the Crater foam midsole.
The design of the Air Max 90 Terrascape is bolder than its predecessors, in addition, it is made with at least 20% of its specific weight.
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