The 25 Best Nike Air Max 95 Colorways of All Time

The Nike Air Max 95, a shoe so timeless that we're still obsessed with it more than 25 years after it first released. During those early days, there was criticism and controversy over such a radical design. It's hardly suprising given it was one of the first major releases to follow on from the much-loved Tinker Hatfield-designed Air Max 1 and Air Max 90. But Tinker chose to retire as an Air Max creator back in 1994 and the insurmountable task of creating something new was left to a young designer by the name of Sergio Lozano. No pressure then.

But you’d be wrong if you thought Sergio was about to let his predecessor’s achievements get to him. In fact, maybe it was the pressure to deliver something even more unique that spawned Sergio’s greatest creation, the Nike Air Max 95.

The legacy of this future icon can be traced right back to the "Neon" – a colourway which has since released no less than 10 times. It seems we can’t get enough of this Nike staple – the first of its kind to showcase Air Units not only in the heel but in the forefoot too. And so a new and highly prized Air Max was born, one that would captivate everyone from the ultra-cool to the ultra-chavvy. Few trainers switch between the two so effortlessly and that’s what makes the AM95 so damn impressive.

More than two and half decades after it first released, we're taking a look at the 25 best Nike Air Max 95s of all time!

Unlike any of the other atmos collaborations, the atmos x Nike Air Max 95 "We Love Nike" is stamped with repeated Air Max branding throughout. Arriving just at a time when on-show logos were all the rage, these were seriously popular and for good reason too. Not only does that unique graphic stretch across the upper but they featured exclusive insoles and these also arrived in a limited edition shoebox.

The military-inspired Nike Air Max 95 "Country Camo" not only went heavy on the camo treatment but also sported an innovative use of tech. The usual mesh and suede uppers were replaced in favour of Nike’s Hyperfuse technology. It meant these not only looked great but are amongst the more hard-wearing from Nike’s Air Max range.

The Nike Air Max 95 "Grape" is another of the many OGs that opted for simplicity over radical colours or unique materials. Instead, all the emphasis is placed on that wavy construct where layers of premium suede sit alongside leather and mesh. The subtle use of purple, or grape, sets these apart as a summer classic. Although the OG was a womens release, these have re-launched several times – thankfully, in mens sizing too.

It was a year after their first collaboration on a safari-inspired Air Max 1 that Japanese retailer atmos unveiled the “Viotech” collection. Another frenzied release meant that the atmos x Nike Air Max 95 "Viotech" were painfully difficult to cop with both the Air Max 1 and Air Max 95 now commanding over £1,000 on resell sites. Despite retaining similar materials to the OG, with suede and mesh uppers, this pair opts for a totally unique colourway of earthy tones alongside vibrant hits of purple.

No definitive Air Max 95 guide would be complete without mention of this totally bizarre newcomer that launched in 2001 - the Nike Air Max 95 "Z". For the first time, Nike chose to add a zip, possibly to improve durability but more than likely, this was just a fashion statement. Love it or hate it, this is a part of the Air Max 95s legacy.

Of all the camo-covered 95s, only a few are considered true grails. Take for example the Nike Air Max 95 “ERDL Party” which utilises camo patterning developed by the US. Army’s Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (ERDL) from way back in the '40s. Both the white and black pair are considered amongst 2018s top selling Air Max releases.

How could Parra and Nike possibly follow on from the Air Max 1 “Amsterdam” and Air Max 1 “Cherrywood”?! Sure, that collaboration from 2005 was an instant hit but so too was the Parra x Nike Air Max 95 "The Running Man" when it showed up three years later in Parra’s signature colours. As a nod to the city of Amsterdam, this pair is both eye-catching and laid-back all at once.

UK retailer size? is no stranger to an exclusive Air Max release but the size? x Nike Air Max 95 “Air Max Day” from 2020 might just be the most unique. Arriving to celebrate Nike’s annual Air Max Day, a variety of iconic themes make an appearance from a speckled coated midsole to that much loved safari print. It’s said to honour 20 different Air Max 95s as a nod to the 20 years that size? has been in business.

Another one of the forgotten debut styles from 1995 is arguably one of the most underrated too. With clean hits of white contrasting against grey panels and vibrant red detailing, the Nike Air Max 95 “Comet Red” is the ultimate summer sneaker. Nicknamed "Japan", these were one of the rarest 95s ever made, but thankfully they re-released in 2021 so everyone who didn't manage to secure their size were finally able to.

Carhartt’s classic workwear theme has made an appearance on almost a dozen Nike collaborations; it was only a matter of time before the Carhartt x Nike Air Max 95 “WIP Camo” showed up. Unlike many of the others which featured tonal canvas uppers, this 2018 collaboration is covered in a duck camo print. A vibrant splash of orange makes an appearance underfoot, also featuring to a mini-Swoosh on the sidewall. The look is finished off with Carhartt’s distinctive logo patch which is stamped to the tongue.

Arriving as part of the 25th anniversary, fans couldn’t get enough of the Nike Air Max 95 “Pink Foam” from 2020, otherwise known as the “Gunsmoke Pink”. Famously, when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West officially divorced she was seen rocking a pair of these in the wild. Data showed that searches for the term "Air Max 95" increased by 210% just fifteen minutes after Kim K posted. At the same time, searches for "Pink Air Max 95" rose by a whopping 2,400%!

Who doesn’t appreciate a speckled midsole?! Believe it or not, this was the first time that it had featured to the Air Max 95. As one of many Nike collaborations at the hands of New York graffiti artist Stash, the Nike Air Max 95 “Stash remains a highly prized resell commodity. It’s hardly surprising given the instantly recognisable theme. Layers of blue and grey depict the night sky as it transitions to morning. For the graffiti artist, this is a familiar sight and it makes for a unique theme across this pair.

What's there not to love about 2021's Kim Jones x Nike Air Max 95 "Total Orange"? Made in collaboration with Dior Homme Creative Director Kim Jones, this was his next Swoosh project after the ground-breaking, industry-shaking, and breathtaking Dior Air Jordan 1 which singlehandedly shifted the culture in one fell swoop. While these definitely weren't as hyped as the AJ1s, they still deserve a spot on this list.

Can you feel the love with the all-red Nike Air Max 95 “Valentines from 2006?! It was a massive hit with the ladies and who can blame them, this was about as eye-catching as it gets. It’s also one of the few 95s to showcase such a heavy use of red.

Each year Nike unveils a collection of footwear whereby all the proceeds go to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland. What’s even more amazing about this project is that the shoes get designed by kids receiving treatment at the hospital. With over 100 shoes released since it first began almost two decades ago, there’s been no shortage of incredible and meaningful designs. But the Mike Armstrong x Nike Air Max 95 "Doernbecher" is surely amongst the best. This patriotic rendition was actually a nod to Mike’s brother who was serving in Irag at the time.

Admittedly, it’s not the most original but everyone loves a triple black colourway! The Nike Air Max 95 Essential “Triple Black” is no exception, a staple for most of us, especially during the winter months. There’s been a re-released almost every year - we don’t expect this to stop anytime soon.

In a theme not dissimilar to Sean Wotherspoon’s smash hit Air Max 97/1 hybrid, the Nike Air Max 95 “Have A Nike Day” from 2019 is all about good vibes and funky colours. It also features velvet crafted material, translucent outsoles and a smiley emoji which gets stamped across the tongue!

Who would have thought that the iconic theme that looked so good on the Air Max 97 also looks flawless on the 95 too! Just like the OG “Silver Bullet”, a metallic fabric is utilised throughout the Nike Air Max 95 “Silver Bullet” along with hits of red to the mini-Swoosh and branding.

When it comes to Halloween-inspired sneakers, the Swoosh always kills it - pun intended. The king of creepy creps and spooky sneaks, the Beaverton brand delighted A Nightmare on Elm Street fans in 2020 with the release of the Nike Air Max 95 “Freggy Kreuger”. Arriving in the Springwood Slasher's signature red and brown colour scheme, trying to secure a pair of these was quite literally a living nightmare.

If there was a colourway that embodies the vibrant era of the '90s it would be the striking Nike Air Max 95 “Solar Red” from 1995. This was such a defining colourway for the range that it even got a shout out in the hit song “Hate It Or Love It” by The Game. There have been several re-releases over the years, each one just as sought-after as the last.

No one does a collaboration quite like Supreme, and that was most certainly the case with 2019's Supreme x Nike Air Max 95 Lux "University Red". As premium as it gets, these were crafted in Italy from the finest of leathers, resulting in a pretty hefty price tag. With that said, that didn't stop it from being sold out almost in an instant.

Not quite as hyped as you’d expect but don’t be fooled, most sneakerheads will probably be kicking themselves years from now for not copping a pair. Featuring deconstructed layers of rough-edged fabric stretched across the upper, while the three-pack included "Triple Black" and "Triple White" options, the COMME des GARÇONS x Nike Air Max 95 "Black Grey" was, hands down, the hottest of the bunch.

The legendary Air Max BW “Persian Violet” inspires 2016's Nike Air Max 95 “Persian Violet” which showed up in a similar theme of black and purple. If that wasn’t striking enough, a 3M reflective panel travels the full length of the shoe. A reversed theme which featured more white fabric released a year later but sneakerheads were clearly more impressed with this pair.

Almost every animal print and fur imaginable features to the safari-inspired atmos x Nike Air Max 95 “Animal Pack”. Not content with just one print, the Japanese retailer uses no less than 6 materials from pony fur featuring zebra stripes and leopard spots to the vibrant pink of a flamingo! Arguably the most eye-catching Air Max 95 to ever release, atmos chose to follow up with a similar animal-inspired rendition in 2018.

Dialling it right back to where it all started, the OG Nike Air Max 95 "Neon" was the very first Air Max 95 to release. According to the designer Sergio Lozano, the shoe is inspired by human anatomy; laces depicting a set of ribs, the midsole acting as a spine and that supple mesh and leather inspired by muscle fibres. Completely bizarre but somehow it works! Despite some initial controversy, the Nike Air Max 95 is now known as one of the greatest trainers in existence!