UNBOXING: NIKE REVOLUTION PACK | AIR MAX DAY

Happy Air Max Day everyone! In  honor of this most glorious of days, we ran a special unboxing feature on all of the new soccer silos inspired by the most iconic Air Max’s. The Tiempo, Magista, Mercurial Superfly and Hypervenom 3 were all given an Air Max makeover, check out our videos below for more in depth look at each boot.


Nike Tiempo X Air Max 1: The very first Air Max featuring the game-changing, exposed air cushion meets Nike’s tried and true Tiempo. Two classics seamlessly unite.


Nike Mercurial Superfly X Air Max 90: The birth of Nike’s classic infared joins the built-for-speed Mercurial in a fitting mash-up of timeless and modern.


HypervenomX X Air Max 95: The revolutionary 95’s brought us mesh, a unique layered upper and the birth of Volt. The equally innovative HypervenomX serves as the perfect canvas for a 95 aesthetic.


Nike Magista X Air Max 97: The 97’s brought us copious amounts of 3M and a sole dominated almost entirely of that trademark air. The Magistas avant-garde ethos aptly suits the 97’s vibe.

Q & A WITH MATT HALFHILL OF NICE KICKS ON EVERYTHING AIR MAX

On the eve of Air Max Day we bring you a special Q and A with our homie, long time influencer in the sneaker game and owner/founder of Nice Kicks, Matt Halfhill. He was kind enough to offer some thoughts and unique insight into everything Air Max, including the new soccer silos and of course the ever growing Air Max Day. Check out what he had to say below.
 
KTTP: You obviously have a close relationship on the ebb and flow of sneaker culture. Can you talk about why Air Max‘s have survived and maintained relevance over the decades?
 
Matt Halfhill: When Nike put their Air cushioning on display with the Nike Air Max 1, they did something no one ever had before. Nike had Air cushioning for 8 years before the Nike Air Max 1 was unveiled, but most consumers live by the notion that seeing is believing.  It was one thing to “say” that there was air in a shoe, but it was another to show it. From that very first model, Nike had adopted a big fan base who was a proponent and supporter of the shoes.  It was also not a hard sell to consumers to stick with the line when year after year they kept getting better and better with innovation and design largely at the hands of Tinker Hatfield.
 
KTTP: What are your thoughts on Air Max Day and how it’s grown into this crazy month long thing?
 
MH: I remember when the first one came about in 2014 and it was a pretty quick and relatively quite push to honor a historic moment in the brand’s history.  In 2015 Nike introduced what would have been the first Air Max shoe, the Nike Air Max Zero, and then in 2016 the brand told the story even further into a live experience with Air Max Con and the Vote Back.  It is no surprise to see the celebration get bigger and bigger because the product and the history of the line is so significant to so many people within the sneaker community or as everyday footwear consumers.
 
KTTP: How do you feel about Nike adding Flyknit to classics?
 
MH: Love it!  I wrote a piece after I wore the Nike Air Max 1 Ultra Flyknit last summer after wearing a pair for 10 days straight.  The shoes officially released in the middle of the Olympic Games with next to no push by the brand and were kind of an underground secret among Air Max heads.  The Flyknit makes the shoes lighter and more breathable and flexible than ever while the dynamic Flywire gives you all the support you could ever ask for.  They upper is much nicer to wear being a one piece rather than multiple layers of mixed materials.  Lastly, the shape is much more like the true shape of the originals.  Getting the shape right with layers of several materials that have to stitch together is virtually impossible, but thanks to technical innovations in the manufacturing process, the Nike Air Max 1 Ultra Flyknit is the greatest update to the original Nike Air Max 1 ever.
 
KTTP: Thoughts on the Vapormax?
 
MH: It’s Nike’s best shoe ever made – ever.  I have easily tried on thousands of Nike shoes since working retail at age 16 through today and the VaporMax is like nothing I have ever put on my feet. Not only is the comfort out of this world, but the usual gripes people have with “big air” shoes are gone.  The shoes are flexible and super lightweight.  Add in the comfort of the Flyknit upper and breathability and you have 360 degrees of the greatest innovation in footwear by Nike.
 
KTTP: Thoughts on the Air Max soccer cleat iterations?
 

MH: Soccer was the first sport I played as a kid and the only one I played all the way to college years. I think the execution is genius to tie two loves together. The colorways that were made famous on the iconic Air Max shoes happened not just because the shoes were incredible design marvels, but so too were the colorways.  Think about the history and significance of each:  the Nike Air Max 1 had this LOUD red and royal mudguard on a running shoe that you never saw prior.  The Infrared Air Max 90 sported a hue that is so bright and vibrant and the Laser Blue was so energetic and electric.  The Ultramarine Air 180 combined two bright shades together to create a beautiful combination.  Air Max 95’s neon with the multiple shades of grey will always stand out to the point that virtually anytime you see that neon color you think of the shoes.  Lastly, the Air Max 97 was an instant classic with its unorthodox design and full length Air Max sole.  

 
KTTP: What are your top 5 Air Max silos and why?
 
MH: This is going to be a tough one.  Not in any particular order:
 
– Nike Air Max 97
– Nike Air Max 1
– Nike Air Max Burst
– Nike Air Max² *
– Nike Air Max IV+ TL *
* never been retroed and need to happen for the culture
 
KTTP: Does Nice Kicks have anything planned for Air Max Day?
 
MH: We sure do.  Check the site on the big day!
 

NIKE SNEAKEASY EVENT: LOS ANGELES

Nike should just change it to Air Max Month. All month long the Swoosh has been murdering the game with releases of retros, flyknit reworks and teasers of new things to come, all in the name of the mighty Air Max. Pop ups have sprouted up worldwide serving as part retail space and Air Max Museums, we were invited to a preview of the one in LA this past weekend. As you’d expect, the space was second to none. Featuring various Air Max installations, like a Nike id station, a timeline of the iconic silos lineage and even a runway where attendees could try out and strut in the new Nike Vapor Max. An open bar, delicious hors d’oeuvres and DJ were the cherry on top. There was also a Q and A with two of the twelve designers hand selected by Nike to compete in a worldwide competition in which the winner would see his or her Air Max design manifested into production. Before the night ended  people were urged to vote for their favorite design on an onsite photo booth.

For more on the Air Max vote go HERE

 

NIKE AIR MAX POP-UP: UNDEFEATED LA BREA

Remember when “Air Max Day” was just one day? Everyone’s favorite pseudo holiday is now like that friend that celebrates their birthday all month long. Unlike you’re annoying friend however, “Air Max Day” actually provides us with new drops from one Nike’s most iconic silhouettes old and new. This year Los Angeles sneaker staple Undefeated will play host to a month long pop-up leading up to 3/26 AKA “Air Max Day.” As you’d expect Nike swagged out the La Brea flagship with unique Air Max branding, artwork and installations. For more on schedule of drops check out the flyer below.   

 

NIKE UNVEIL “AIR MAX DAY” COLECTION

On March 26th Nike will once again observe “Air Max Day.” In honor of said glorious fake holiday Nike will also drop the “Air Max Day” Collection. The mix of retros, revamps and even the much anticipated VaporMax will release throughout the month of March leading up to the 25th when Nike will likely have some sort of installation or party for the big day. We’re personally hyped on those Flyknit 90’s and atmos 1’s.

For a cool timeline on every Air Max iteration go to Nike.com and for a schedule of releases check out the NIKE+SNKRS