Nike Air Max 1 OG Big Bubble

The Air Max 1 saw its 35th Anniversary in 2022, with Nike dropping a load of high-heat colourways to celebrate this milestone. Fast forward to 2023 with Air Max Day on the horizon, people are deciding whether or not to add the new “Big Bubble” edition to their collection.

For the first time since 1986, the Air Max 1 will be released with its original four-circle tooling. This was no easy feat for Nike, with the design team stating it took three years of work to achieve the look. The OG ’86 iterations only sat on the shelves for a brief period because of its reported issues. In cold parts of the US, the visible window was having trouble adjusting to the weather as people would return to the shops with cracked Air Units. Unless you somehow managed to bag a pair from before July 1987, chances are you’ve never held the first-ever version of the Air Max. That coupled with the fact that it’s been over five years since the “Anniversary Red” pair from 2017, Air Max heads are sure to be eager for this drop!

First off, the box they arrive in is akin to the Reimagined Air Jordan make-up, with marks and scuffs that give these an aged aesthetic. There is also a Swoosh-shaped cut-out window on top which is similar to the circular cut-outs featured on a select number of off-white collaborations such as the Air Jordan 2 and AJ5. The profile on the Swoosh is thicker than the previous 2017 iteration, while the skinnier laces closely fit ‘80s running tooling. Each shoe’s sizing is printed onto the ankle collar to mimic the way that vintage Nikes were marked, just like what the Swoosh did with its retro version of the Air Max 3/90 in 2020. Towards the back portion of the shoe, Nike has brought back the higher ankle cut, as well as the more sharply angled gradient of the sole, along with its heavier debossed midsole grooves. If you’re a stickler for detail, then you’ll no doubt have fun comparing these to any other OG red editions from the past!

There’s still a bit of a divide in opinions from OG sneakerheads due to the new shape, but come Air Max Day, you can be sure that the hype on these will be real. The Air Max 1 OG Big Bubble will be available on March 26th via SNKRS, as well as being raffled off at select retailers. Stay tuned to The Sole Supplier where we can give you all the knowledge and the best chance of adding this pair to your collection!

For sizing information check out our Nike Air Max 1 size guide.