Sneakers You Need to Know: Nike Air Max 1
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By Stadium Goods |Sneakers You Need to Know: Nike Air Max 1
Get educated on the most iconic Nike running shoe of all time with a guide to its history, colorways, collaborations, sizing info and more.
Matt DeSciora
The mid-to-late 1980s were an interesting time in Nike’s history. On one hand, the company was reaping the rewards of having signed Michael Jordan, the NBA’s brightest young star, to a signature shoe contract in ‘85. Air Jordan sneakers were so popular at the time that you couldn’t find a basketball court in the country, maybe the world, that didn’t have at least one Jordan shoe on it. But on the other hand, the company’s sales as a whole were dwindling due to adidas and Reebok cutting into its market share during the workout footwear boom.
Indeed, the ‘80s were transformative years for Nike. In order to see its way out of the decade, let alone realize its potential as a one billion dollar company as it was forecasted to be at the beginning of the ‘80s, Nike would have to get creative. It would have to tap into something new to differentiate itself from its competitors. As it turned out, the newness Nike needed would come in the form of one individual: Tinker Hatfield.
Hatfield, an architect who was initially brought on to design buildings on its Oregon campus, eventually (actually, pretty quickly) became the most respected sneaker designer of all time, creating most of the iconic late-80s and early-90s designs that propelled the brand to its current status.
Had it not been for Tinker Hatfield and his Nike Air Max 1, there’s a good chance the company would’ve never turned into the $207.53 billion dollar conglomerate it is today.
To be clear, we’re not saying that the Air Max 1 is solely responsible for Nike’s commercial success. But the retro running shoe is by far the most innovative and groundbreaking sneaker ever released by Nike, and its debut coincides with Nike’s ascension. It’s also a shoe that almost immediately transcended its purpose in a way that not even the Air Force 1 or Dunk had back in the day.
Why was the Air Max 1 so popular not only with runners, but other athletes, entertainers, sneaker collectors, and more, upon its release in 1987? The Air Max 1 features something no other Nike shoe had before it: visible Air technology.
Originally released back on March 26th, 1987, the Air Max 1 was the first Nike shoe to expose the brand’s proprietary Air cushioning. Prior to the Air Max 1—or just the Air Max, as it was originally known as—Nike had concealed the bubble units, its Air technology, inside the soles.
If you’ve ever come across the Air Max 1, and maybe you have only recently due to Nike’s Air Max Day celebration, and wanted to know more about its design origins, some of its most popular colorways and collaborations, sizing information, and more, then you’ve come to the right place.
This is everything you need to know about the Nike Air Max 1.
The Air Max 1’s Unique Design
As mentioned before, the Air Max 1 is the first Nike shoe with a visible Air bubble in its midsole, a design feature that not even the Air Force 1 or Air Jordan 1 can lay claim to having had a part of their respective designs. Tinker Hatfield’s decision to expose the Air unit was inspired by a trip to Paris, where he saw one of the city’s most unusual buildings: the Centre Georges Pompidou. The Pompidou’s “inside-out” appearance, which exposes its staircases and hallways, gave Hatfield the idea to remove a portion of the Air Max 1’s midsole to reveal the shoe’s cushioning system.
The Air Max 1’s Colorways
The original Air Max 1 was released in just a handful of colorways (a stark contrast to the large amount of colors you see appearing on new silhouettes today) for men and women, headlined by the two most iconic looks: “University Red” and “Royal.” The color blocking was the same on both: a white mesh base with each pair featuring its primary colors respectively on the mudguard and “Nike Air” and Swoosh branding. More recently, the Air Max 1 has been featured in styles like the “Anniversary Pack” that honor its legacy with classic two-tone color blocks, the new “Treeline,” that references the iconic Nike SB Dunk High “Skunk,” and many, many more.
Concepts x Nike Air Max 1 “Heavy” from the 2022 Collaboration
The Air Max 1’s Collaborations
The Air Max 1 has a long, legendary history of collaborations with the world’s top sneaker boutiques and many notable artists. Here are just a few.
Nike Air Max 1 “Elephant 2017”
In 2003, Atmos, the Japanese sneaker boutique, created the Air Max 1 “Elephant,” which was later re-released again in 2017. Atmos has also worked on “Animal Pack” and “Safari” colorways, too. Edison Chen’s Clot streetwear brand has a “Kiss of Death” colorway, and Patta recently co-created several popular Air Max 1s like the “Monarch.”
Patta x Nike Air Max 1 “Monarch” and “Noise Aqua”
In 2017, vintage curator and footwear designer Sean Wotherspoon juxtaposed the Air Max 1’s sole with the Nike Air Max 97’s upper for a hybrid shoe called the Air Max 1/97 that was launched on Air Max Day. Parra, the famed Dutch street artist, has also collaborated with Nike on numerous Air Max 1s over the years, as well.
Sean Wotherspoon x Nike Air Max 1/97
Nike Air Max 1 “Martian Sunrise” On Foot
How Do Air Max 1s Fit?
Of course, since footwear manufacturers don’t use a universal last—the mechanical form shaped like a human foot—when producing shoes, sizing can vary from brand-to-brand and shoe-to-shoe. With that said, in our experience, the Air Max 1 fits true to size—or “TTS” in sneaker parlance. Just go with your normal athletic shoe size and you should be golden.
Original (And Spooky) Air Max 1 Commercial from 1987
The Air Max 1’s History…And Future
The Air Max 1 never appeared on a basketball court, a football field or a baseball diamond, but that didn’t mean the shoe was marketed any less than an athlete’s signature shoe like, say, Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan 3 or Bo Jackson’s Nike Air Trainer 1. The Air Max 1 was promoted heavily by Nike in TV commercials and print ads, which in turn helped make people look at the Air Max 1—and other performance footwear of the time—as more than something that was worn with the sole purpose of protecting your feet. With its flashy design, head-turning visible technology, and then-high price tag, the Air Max 1 became a status symbol back in the late ‘80s. It remains one to this day, 35 years later, and we don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon.