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Everything You Need to Know About the Air Max Plus Drift

Expert Advice

Everything You Need to Know About the Air Max Plus Drift

Feb 28, 2024

Looking for a fresh new sneaker style that plays upon an enduring heritage? Introduced last year — the 25th anniversary of Air Max Plus — the Nike Air Max Plus Drift capitalizes on this need for “new” and “revolutionary” with its encapsulated tech, its retro-meets-futuristic style and its must-cop colorways. Here’s what you need to know about this latest Air Max Plus Drift silhouette, along with its predecessor, the Air Max Plus.

Building on the Air Max Plus OG

Building on the Air Max Plus OG

Designed by young Nike designer, Sean McDowell, the Air Max Plus first introduced the Swoosh’s Tuned Air into the sneaker lexicon back in 1998. What’s the difference between Tuned vs. “regular” Air-Sole units? Rather than the traditional pillars, Tuned Air features solid half-spheres inserted into the Air unit to reduce pressure in the heel and add more cushioning and support throughout.

The Max Plus also featured distinctly beach-style design cues, like an airy mesh upper featuring gradient sunset-esque colorways. A plastic cage along the upper undulated like ocean waves and swaying palm trees of coastal Florida. A pronounced midfoot shank plate along the foot’s arch mimicked the shape of a whale’s tail. A Tn Air logo played along the heel and outsole of the Air Max Plus.


As a runner himself, McDowell also incorporated reflective embellishments along the front of the shoe. Prior to that, the prevailing “wisdom” had been to add reflective detailing on the back of a sneaker. But McDowell knew it made more sense for oncoming cars to see runners coming at them.


Sneaker rules were meant to be broken, and that’s what McDowell did, mainly because he was so green at the time. It was a “misstep” that paid off, though. And 25-plus years later, the Air Max Plus and its revolutionary Tuned Air remain firmly cemented in the sneakersphere.

The Air Max Plus Drift: A New Vibe for the Line

The Air Max Plus Drift: A New Vibe for the Line

While some sneakers aim to fit in with a low-key design and pared-down tones, like its predecessor, the Drift was born specifically to stand out. Its design alone packs a punch of bold aesthetics seamlessly blended with classic Air Max Plus appointments.

The Air Max Plus Drift retains the same Tuned Air units incorporated throughout, complete with framed-out windows along the midsole. The Swoosh moves to the back lateral side of the heel for a more modern update, with a minimalist Tuned Air logo on the heel and the original logo making an appearance on the insole and outsole. The Drift loses that structural cage along the upper, instead going with a reconstructed wave pattern sculpted from synthetic materials, with ballistic mesh with the gradient pattern of the OG. The rubber outsole features a varied traction pattern that matches the Plus.


Not only does the Drift retain the DNA of the Plus, it also plays into the ’90s “more is more” aesthetic when it comes to shoe construction. Its chunky base and less-streamlined upper nod to its predecessor, while perfectly conforming to the current “Dad shoe and boyfriend jean” looks that have returned the past few years.

While both Air Max Plus OG and the Drift are built for performance, they’re more suited for casual wear rather than running these days. Find your perfect shoe size, and then experience the comfort, bold stylings and Tuned Air of the Drift. Find them online and in stores at Hibbett, and keep an eye on our sneaker launch calendar for upcoming colorways.

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