Air Max Day 2023: The Untold Story of the Nike Air Max 1 OG '86 Is Finally Revealed

The Nike Air Max 1 is one of the most legendary sneakers of all time, and there aren’t many colourways as iconic as the OG “University Red” variant. Launched all the way back in 1987, the silhouette has truly stood the test of time, and remains a fan-favourite for sneakerheads even today, who will be delighted to hear that the sneaker is returning once again for Air Max Day 2023, but not as we know it. Back when Tinker Hatfield designed the AM1 in the late ‘80s, the designer’s original sketches actually differed significantly from the final product, and there were plenty of prototypes along the way.

One year before the official launch of the AM1, in 1986, a small number of production pairs hit the market that offered a slightly-different look to the later ‘87 model, although they were quickly recalled, with production halted too, due to the fact that the Air unit was so big it literally burst in cold temperatures. Now known as the Air Max 1 ‘86, or the “Big Bubble”, collectors have yearned after this mythical pair for years, and now it’s finally set to receive a public release.

Launching via the Nike SNKRS app on the 26th March (Air Max Day), the Air Max 1 OG “Big Bubble” offers up the classic red, white and grey colourway that we all know and love, along with the original ‘86 shape, how Tinker intended it to be. The Air unit is as big as the original, although it no longer bursts, and the pair will come complete in special-edition packaging.

Head on over to the Nike SNKRS app today to learn more about the story of the Air Max 1 “Big Bubble”, and be sure to stay locked in right here at The Sole Supplier for all the latest sneaker news and updates as they happen. While you’re with us, check out the rest of our site for other awesome stories like the NYC-exclusive Corteiz x Nike Air Max 95 “Pink Beam”!