 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 98 II
- Air Max 99
- Air Max Deluxe
- Air Max 2000
- 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. |
