Sneaker history · Air Max fans and the curious

The History of Nike Air Max and Visible Air

Updated June 2026

Nike Air Max began in 1987 when designer Tinker Hatfield cut a window into the Air Max 1’s midsole to reveal the Air unit for the first time. The line grew through the bold Air Max 90, the visible-forefoot Air Max 95, and the full-length-Air Air Max 97, before the 2018 Air Max 270 brought a tall, lifestyle-focused heel unit. It is now one of Nike’s most iconic families.

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Before 1987, Nike Air was a feature you felt but could not see. Then designer Tinker Hatfield did something radical — he cut a window into the midsole so you could look straight at the Air unit — and the Air Max was born. What followed was decades of bolder windows, fuller units, and ever-more iconic silhouettes, until Air Max became as much a fashion statement as a cushioning system. Here is how the Air Max line evolved from that first visible window to the lifestyle-first shoes of today.

Model	Year	What made it special	Where to buy
Air Max 1	1987	The first visible Air	Check price on Amazon
Air Max 97	1997	Full-length Air, futuristic style	Check price on Amazon
Air Max 270	2018	Tall lifestyle heel unit	Check price on Amazon

Timeline

1987 — Air Max 1

Tinker Hatfield designs the Air Max 1, the first shoe with visible Air through a window in the midsole — reportedly inspired by the inside-out architecture of the Centre Pompidou.
1990 — Air Max 90

A bigger, bolder Air window and the striking “infrared” colourway make the Air Max 90 an enduring favourite.
1995 — Air Max 95

Designer Sergio Lozano adds visible forefoot Air and a layered, anatomy-inspired design, pushing the line in a new direction.
1997 — Air Max 97

Christian Tresser’s Air Max 97 brings full-length visible Air and a rippled, metallic, futuristic look.
2014 — Air Max Day

Nike turns March 26 — the Air Max 1’s anniversary — into Air Max Day, an annual global celebration of the line.
2018 — Air Max 270

The Air Max 270 debuts with a tall heel unit, the first Air Max designed primarily for lifestyle and everyday comfort rather than running.

1987: the window that started it all

The Air Max story begins with a single bold decision. Nike had been using Air cushioning for years, but it was hidden inside the shoe. For the 1987 Air Max 1, designer Tinker Hatfield cut a window into the midsole so the Air unit was visible — a move reportedly inspired by the Centre Pompidou in Paris, a building that wears its inner workings on the outside. Suddenly the technology became a design feature you could see and show off. The Air Max 1 was both a comfortable runner and a statement, and it launched one of the most influential sneaker families ever.

Bigger and bolder: the 90 and 95

Once the window existed, Nike kept enlarging it. The 1990 Air Max 90 grew the visible Air unit and arrived with the now-legendary “infrared” colourway, becoming one of the most beloved Air Max designs. Then the 1995 Air Max 95, designed by Sergio Lozano, broke the mould: it added visible Air in the forefoot as well as the heel and wore a layered, gradient design inspired by human anatomy, with a darker base to hide city grime. Each release pushed the line further from a pure running shoe toward a bold, design-led icon.

1997: full-length Air and the future look

The 1997 Air Max 97, designed by Christian Tresser, was a turning point. It introduced full-length visible Air — cushioning you could see from heel to toe — wrapped in a sleek, rippled silhouette with a metallic, futuristic finish often likened to a bullet train. It was as much a fashion object as a running shoe, and it cemented the idea that an Air Max could be bought purely for its look and head-to-toe comfort. The 97 remains one of the most distinctive and recognisable shoes Nike has ever made.

Air Max Day and the lifestyle turn

By the 2010s, Air Max had become a culture of its own. In 2014, Nike turned March 26 — the anniversary of the original Air Max 1 — into Air Max Day, an annual celebration with special releases and fan events, formal recognition that the line was a phenomenon, not just a product. The shoes increasingly served style and everyday comfort as much as running. The family had completed its journey from performance innovation to fashion institution, with collectors and casual fans alike chasing both the classics and the new drops.

2018 onward: the 270 and lifestyle Air

The 2018 Air Max 270 marked a new chapter: it was the first Air Max built primarily for lifestyle wear rather than running, with a tall 270-degree heel Air unit tuned for soft, springy everyday comfort. It openly embraced what Air Max had become — a casual, comfortable, statement sneaker — and became a huge seller. Today the line spans the clean original 1, the futuristic 97, and the cushy lifestyle 270, letting you pick the era and look you love. From a single window in 1987, Air Max grew into one of Nike’s defining families.

The verdict

Air Max evolved from Tinker Hatfield’s 1987 idea of visible Air into one of Nike’s most iconic families — through the bold 90 and 95, the full-length-Air 97, and the lifestyle-first 270 of 2018. To buy into the line, choose your era: the clean original 1, the futuristic 97, or the cushy everyday 270.

Who should skip this

If you only want to know which Air Max to buy rather than the backstory, skip to the Air Max 270 vs 1 vs 97 comparison and choose by comfort and style. The history is most useful when you want to understand why a model like the 97 or the original 1 carries the cultural weight it does, not just how it feels.

How we chose

A line history based on widely documented Air Max milestones — the 1987 Air Max 1 and Tinker Hatfield’s visible-Air window (and its Centre Pompidou inspiration), the 1990 Air Max 90 and its infrared colourway, Sergio Lozano’s 1995 Air Max 95 with forefoot Air, Christian Tresser’s full-length-Air 1997 Air Max 97, the 2014 launch of Air Max Day, and the lifestyle-focused 2018 Air Max 270. Dates reflect commonly cited records; the shoppable shoes are current catalogue models.

Frequently asked

When did the first Nike Air Max come out?

The first Air Max, the Air Max 1, launched in 1987. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, it was the first shoe to show the Air cushioning unit through a window in the midsole, starting the visible-Air era.

Who designed the Air Max 1?

Tinker Hatfield designed the 1987 Air Max 1. He is often credited with the idea of revealing the Air unit through a window, reportedly inspired by the inside-out architecture of the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

What was the first Air Max with full-length visible Air?

The Air Max 97, released in 1997 and designed by Christian Tresser, introduced full-length visible Air — cushioning visible from heel to toe — along with its rippled, metallic, futuristic look.

What is Air Max Day?

Air Max Day is an annual celebration Nike launched in 2014, held on March 26 to mark the anniversary of the original Air Max 1. It features special releases and fan events, reflecting the line’s cultural status.

What makes the Air Max 270 different from older Air Max shoes?

The 2018 Air Max 270 was the first Air Max designed primarily for lifestyle wear rather than running, with a tall 270-degree heel Air unit tuned for soft, everyday comfort. Earlier models began as performance running shoes that later became style icons.