The extremely inflated prices of the shoes led to a rash of muggings in the normally-peaceful country wherein Air Max wearers were attacked and their shoes were stolen. In the mid-1990s the line, especially the Air Max 95 model, experienced such a surge of popularity in Japan that it led to a phenomenon known as 'Air Max hunting'. The line of sneakers is popular amongst many subcultures, for example hip hop and gabber. Today Air Max is one of the most popular sneakers around the globe. He presented Nike the concept of cushioning midsole while reducing the weight. The size, design, and number of air units varies within the product line the 'retro' Air Max 1 simply includes one small unit under the heel, while in the contemporary Air VaporMax, effectively the entire midsole is composed of air units with no conventional foam present.Ībout 1980, Frank Rudy an aeronautical engineer first captured the high density urethane gas. The effectiveness of the technology for this purpose is disputed nevertheless, the shoes enjoy consistent popularity, especially among sneaker enthusiasts and collectors.

Referred to as 'Air units' or 'airbags,' their stated purpose is to provide superior cushioning to traditional foam while also reducing weight. Air Max IV/BW in its original 'Persian Violet' colorwayĪs the name indicates, all Air Max shoes feature one or more translucent pouches of pressurized gas embedded in the midsole and visible from the outside of the shoe.

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