“Money, is it the shoes? Money, it’s gotta be the shoes.”
That’s what Mars Blackmon, aka Spike Lee, kept asking Micahel Jordan, the then up-and-coming Chicago Bulls superstar in that famous Nike commercial.
Blackmon (Lee) wanted to know how Jordan seemed to fly through the air like no other man.
That was 1984-85. When the original Nike Air Jordan’s were released. Fast forward to 1987 and you have the Nike Air Max. If you want to learn a brief history of the Nike Air Max, keep reading for this iconic shoe review.
1987
In 1987, Nike released a spin-off or sister version of the original Air Jordan’s. These were more like running shoes than typical tennis shoes. The Air Max release was revolutionary, in a sense.
They had a sleek design not yet seen before. They were known for their midsoles with urethane pouches that were flexible and contained pressurized gas.
You could see the pouch from the outside and it gave you the feeling of walking on air, “like Mike.”
These shoes were lighter than previous tennis shoes and if you ask anybody who wore them, the running shoes gave you an extra couple inches of vertical.
The original Air Max are now referred to as Air Max 1.
Air Max II
The Air Max II, or originally known as the Air Max Light, were released in 1989. They got their namesake because they were lighter than the original Air Max.
Nike achieved this by replacing the polyurethane midsole with one made out of EVA foam. When you wore these, you were ballin’. You might have even gained a half-step or two.
Air Max III
The Air Max III’s were released in 1990. These tennis shoes had a dope design that used infrared to exaggerate the thickness of the air cushion and the sole.
The Air Max III’s had synthetic leather and felt. Nike even sent a model to then-president George H.W. Bush, which they personally made for him.
This model was re-released in the year 2000 and is now referred to as Air Max 90.
Air Max 180
Nike released an “upgraded” version of the Air Max III’s or ’90s which were the same but had a bigger air pocket through the sole.
Air Max 270
The Air Max 270’s had a colored air unit and a 270-degree unit as well. The upper part of the shoe had a more rounded, sock-like fit. The 270’s are often referred to as the Air Max 93’s.
Air Max 95
Air Max 95, or Nike Air Max 95 Premium could probably be the cream of the crop. The design of these shoes was based on human anatomy and people loved it.
Neon yellow was used with black to emphasize the multiple air pockets. The Air Max 95’s were the first shoe to use a smaller Nike swoosh.
Air Max 95’s were embraced by hip-hop culture, being “shouted out” by “The Game” in a song; Eminem even designed a version for charity.
There’s More
There’s more to the Air Max Evolution. From the Air Max 97’s to the Air Max 720’s released in 2019.
Air Max Shoe Review
Since Nike came onto the scene with “Money it’s gotta be the shoes.” to the Air Max 95’s and beyond, there’s no other shoe review that compares to this one.
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