The Sole Womens' Top Nike Air Max Silhouettes of All Time

With Air Max Day fast approaching, we thought we'd take a deep dive into some of our favourite Air Max silhouettes and colourways of all time. First developed in 1978, seven years after Nike was born, Air technology has been around for the entirety of the sneaker scene's evolution from a strictly sportswear-based fandom, to somewhat of a niche collector hobby, to the worldwide, cultural phenomenon it is today. During this time, Nike revolutionised running trainers by taking on a fresh, technological approach to their silhouettes, and at the same time, reached a new fashion market and therefore a whole new audience.

Despite being around since 1978 (it was first used in the Air Tailwind), the Nike Air Max 1 was the first sneaker to show off Nike's Air bubble as a visible unit in the midsole. This didn't happen until 1987 - nine years later. The first colourway released was the ever-popular "White/University Red" iteration; a combination that's been revisited many times on many styles since the launch in the '80s.

The 1990s saw terrific change for the Swoosh Brand once again. Another one of our favourite silhouettes is the Air Max 90, which was originally known as the Air Max 3 until 2000. The unique waffle outsole on the AM 90 delivered something new to Nike's audience once again, whilst still providing comfort that's unrivalled to this day. The first colourway of the Nike Air Max 90 was the "Infrared" iteration; thought to be one of the best of all time.

Next up, we have the 'Big Window' Nike Air Max BW. Released in 1991, this silhouette became popular in its "Persian Violet" colouway. The silhouette was named straightforwardly, as its Air unit was bigger than the 90's. The silhouette was adopted by R&B stars in the US and rave scenes in Europe, making it one incredibly popular sneaker.

Four years later, Nike released the ever-popular Air Max 95. Designed by Sergio Lozano, this is definitely one of the most iconic AMs of all time. Inspired by the anatomy of the spine, gradient grey hues dress the overlapping layers on the classic "Neon" colourway, whilst the titular bright tone dresses the mini Swooshes and eyelets on the upper.

Despite the Air Max 95 showing off Air technology across the whole midsole, the Air Max 97 was the first time a full-length Air unit was seen. The Nike Air Max 97 "Silver Bullet" made that all-important shift towards the hip-hop and streetwear scene, and Nike haven't looked back since. It's thought to be restocking this year for the 25th anniversary, too, so set your reminders now!

The final silhouette in our Air Max spotlight is the 1998 Air Max Plus. Also known as the Nike TN Air or Tuned Air, this Sean McDowell-designed silhouette is similar in shape to that of the Air Max 95. First releasing in a "Hyper Blue" colourway, the Air Max Plus often comes with a gradient upper and brandishes bright colours. The City Special Air Max Plus "Atlanta" is one of our favourites.

What's your favourite Air Max silhouette? Let us know over on our Twitter page, and stay locked into Nike SNKRS to hear about all the exciting things happening for Air Max Day 2022.