What is Nike Air Max Technology?

March is Nike Air Max Month, and whether you were coming of age in the ’90s (hello, Grand Millennials) or you’re a Gen Z’er (aka you hate skinny jeans and side parts), chances are at some point in your life you’ve enjoyed the lightweight comfort of Nike Air Max technology. You’ve probably also peeped the visible Air bubble in a pair of Air Max sneakers, but have you ever wondered… what is Air Max technology exactly?

Well, let the experts at Hibbett | City Gear tell you all about where Nike Air came from, how it works, and why you should have a pair of Nike Air Max kicks in your sneaker collection.

A Brief History of Nike Air Max Technology

Nike’s revolutionary Air journey officially began with Frank Rudy. This aerospace engineer worked for NASA and dreamed up the idea of using pressurized air for sneaker cushioning. Nike took his idea and first integrated it into the Tailwind back in 1978. Now you can’t see the Air in the Tailwind, so in 1987, Tinker Hatfield decided to change that.

Widely considered the architect of the Air Max, Hatfield designed the Air Max 1 to specifically showcase the Air technology. He created a window into the sole — a literal transparent bubble that allowed wearers to see the cushioning beneath their feet.

Now, more than three decades later, things in the sneaker world have changed … a lot. But that foundational technology dreamed up by a man with an eye toward space travel and a Nike architect with grand visions have propelled the Nike brand forward all these decades later.

Behind the Nike Air Max Design

What is Nike Air? It’s exactly that: air. Designers hollow out part of the shoe’s foam midsole and implant a durable, transparent polyurethane membrane — or bag — filled with pressurized air.

With each step you take, the lightweight cushioning compresses and then bounces back, retaining its original shape and volume while absorbing and releasing energy. Over the years, Nike designers have added Air to everything from basketball shoes to casual kicks because the technology is just that good.

The visible Air-Sole unit is called Max Air, found in the shoes you know and love — the Air Max sneakers. Zoom Air is what you find in shoes made for speed, particularly basketball sneakers like versions of Nike KD kicks, the Zoom Freak lineup and LeBron 17s. You’ll often find Zoom Air in the forefoot of the shoe — sometimes visible, sometimes not.

Benefits of Air Max Technology

Here are four ways Air Max technology can benefit adults and kids of all ages:

• It’s versatile. While most of the cushioning is located toward the heel, some Air also gets integrated into the shoe’s forefoot (like the Nike Air Force 1) for sport-specific and lifestyle benefits.
• It’s easy on the joints (and tendons and muscles). Whether on the playground or the paint, running and jumping are much more seamless with Air to cushion your landing.

• It can enhance performance. The lightweight Air technology allows you to move faster and conserve more energy without the added weight of traditional shoe cushioning.
• It’s durable. Using NASA innovation, the pressurized air resides in an extremely well-constructed polyurethane bubble that holds up to the demands of training and playing.

For more than 30 years, Nike Air tech has been featured in dozens upon dozens of sneakers, For a deeper look into the history and evolution of Nike’s Air Max line, ways to wear your Air and more, check out these additional resources:

• The History and Evolution of Nike’s Air Max Line
• How to Style Your Air Max Sneakers
• Which Air Max Sneaker Matches Your Personality?
• Bring the Future to Light – Air Max Month 2021