About Nike Air History

 Nike Air is perhaps the most famous and beloved cushioning system available on the sneaker market. It’s bouncy and responsive and has been featured in many of your favorite Nike sneakers over the years.

Nowadays, we are used to seeing sneakers with plump, translucent plastic bubbles separating the wearer from the floor, but sneakers weren’t always like this. In fact, the actual concept of visible tech was one of the most disruptive innovations in the sneaker market, both from a performance point of view and as a marketing ploy.

In this article, we will break down what Nike Air actually is, it’s history, and what it brings to the table as a performance feature. We’ll also highlight some of the iconic sneakers that carry this tech. Let’s get into it!

Nike started using this revolutionary cushioning system even more during the 1980s. In 1982, one of the most recognizable and successful shoes Nike ever released featured the new Air cushioning: the Nike Air Force 1.

The Air Jordan 1 and the Air Jordan 2 also both featured Air-Sole units in the heel, and the first shoe to have visible Nike Air was the Air Max 1, which was released in 1987.

As simple as having exposed tech might seem, it was a massive stroke of genius. This revolutionary design upgrade was championed by none other than Tinker Hatfield himself. It became an invaluable marketing tool as well as a distinctive aesthetic element for Nike. Consumers could actually see the technology in action. Which is comforting when you’ve just spent hard-earned money on shoes. Visible Nike Air quickly became Nike’s go-to high-end cushioning system and was subsequently featured on the Air Jordan 3 and the Air Jordan 4.

By the time the 90s rolled around, Nike Air had established itself as the premier cushioning system on the market. In 1997, the first full-length visible Air Max unit was introduced in the Air Max 97. Other implementations of Air were also released, such as Tuned and 360. And maybe most importantly, another version of Air, named Zoom, was also released.

From budget models to signature line sneakers, everything Nike was putting out had some sort of Air in it. It has become iconic in the eyes of many. And what’s crazy is that the innovation continues today.

In 2017, Nike released Vapormax, their most ambitious cushioning set up to date. With absolutely no midsole carrier or much of a real outsole, it’s as close as you can get to actually walking on air. They also introduced the 720 Air unit, the largest unit to date, in both lifestyle and basketball shoes.

Nike also has begun to use Nike Air instead of a Strobel board underneath the foot. We’ve seen that in the Nike PG 4, Nike PG 5 and Jordan Zion 1. It’s one of the most effective and comfortable setups currently on the market.

After 30 years, Nike Air is still going strong and showing no signs of letting up.

Encapsulated Nike Air provides a durable and versatile cushioning experience. It can feel subdued when it is not implemented properly, but when it’s encapsulated air can provide a ton of impact protection.

Encapsulated Nike Air comes in the form of heel units, forefoot units and full length units. It can be designed in different shapes and sizes to cater to specific sports and activities, but it tends to be the smallest volume Nike cushioning system.