The defining aspect of Nike’s first Air Max shoe was the removal of midsole foam to give the world a glimpse of its air sole technology. That was in 1987, and although the nike air flow two new colorways for fall went on to become one of the world’s most recognizable shoes, Nike upped the seltene in 2017 with the VaporMax, a shoe that shunned foam altogether. The “running on clouds” design took Nike seven years to develop; the goal was to allow users to feel the air sole more directly by removing the midsole and sock liner.
Air Max 360 1, according to Nike, was to use the air-sprung sole more efficiently: The nitrogen-filled air units pressurize as the successive lugs take the pressure of a footstrike, and the subsequent toe-off releases pressure and offers a progressive cushioning sensation. The weight of a given VaporMax model depends on the upper it’s been paired with, but the VaporMax Flyknit weighs around 9 ounces for the men’s shoe and 8 ounces for the women’s model, which is less than many performance running shoes. They’re also a whole 4 ounces lighter Air Jordan Nike AJ I 1 Retro 4Lab1 Glow.
The VaporMax isn’t one of Nike’s premier run-specific shoes, but we challenge you not to spot a pair at your local gym or jogging trail. You buy the VaporMax not for running performance, but because that aesthetically intriguing air sole offers an underfoot experience that doesn’t exist anywhere else. We’ll keep updating this page with the latest and most captivating VaporMax’s on the market.
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Air VaporMax Plus
Best price: $190
Nike’s Air VaporMax Plus blends yesterday’s and today’s air sole technology. The upper is pulled from the highly recognizable Air Max Plus, which dropped in 1998. The shoe was known for its “Tuned Air” logos, meant to denote the tweaked air pressure in the air sole, and all of those references adorn the VaporMax sole on this hybrid sneaker.
Air VaporMax Flyknit 2 “Midnight Purple”
Best price: $190
The Midnight Purple colorway appears on Nike’s latest VaporMax Flyknit 2. Part of Nike’s Star Gazer shoe collection, this VaporMax features a Flyknit upper with deep purple coloring that fades to black near the top of the shoe.
Air VaporMax 2019
Best price: $190
The Air VaporMax 2019 debuts a totally reworked upper: The shoe is now encased in a translucent TPU shell that overlays an internal cage. The design is meant to provide a lockdown fit without adding bulk; the VaporMax sole appears unchanged.
Nike Air VaporMax Best Deals
Air VaporMax Flyknit MOC 2
MSRP: $200
Nike's Magnigrip for a sticky palm to optimize catching surface: $165
Air VaporMax 97
MSRP: $190
Nike's Magnigrip for a sticky palm to optimize catching surface: $135
Air VaporMax MOC 2 x Acronym
MSRP: $225
Nike's Magnigrip for a sticky palm to optimize catching surface: $140
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Air VaporMax Flyknit Utility
Best price: $225
The Air VaporMax Flyknit Utility is a VaporMax that doesn’t mess around: Slide your foot into the bootie-like Flyknit upper, pull the toggle cord laces tight, and go. A layer of Cushlon foam beefs up the VaporMax sole, and bigger pull tabs help with portability: Stow these in your gym back to flex during your next resistance workout.
Air VaporMax Light II
Best price: $180
If you were a Storm Trooper laying siege to the Rebels, these are the VaporMaxes you’d pick. Nike lopped off the front half of the VaporMax sole in favor of bulky forefoot lugs, and the angular leather overlays on this high-top, women’s only shoe round out a boot that’s sure to turn heads this winter.
Air VaporMax 95
Best price: $190
The Air Max 95 is one of the most storied, oft-reimagined Air Max shoes of all time, so it’s no surprise the wavy silhouette eventually ended up on a VaporMax. The classic shape is perfect for swoosh-logo who want a VaporMax sole but don’t care for the futuristic styling of many VaporMax uppers.
Air VaporMax Run Utility
Best price: $190
Think of this shoe as a weather-resistant VaporMax: Instead of a stretchy, breathable mesh upper, Nike opted for a 360-degree reflective material that repels water. The toggle laces wrap around Flywire that attaches to the VaporMax sole to keep your foot locked in place.
A former Division 1 runner, Dan grew up riding fixies and mountain bikes and now reviews everything from performance running shoes to road and cross bikes, to the latest tech for runners and cyclists at Bicycling and Runner’s World.
