About

Nike Air Max 90

When this model appeared in 1990, it was still called the Air Max III. Only later, when Nike started naming its models by year, it became the 90. That’s more than just name trivia: it shows this was the third step in a series that was still figuring out how much air you could show.

The window got a frame

Where the Air Max 1 had a modest opening in the sole, Tinker Hatfield enlarged the chamber here and put a frame around it. That frame is the difference. It not only makes the air chamber larger but also more pronounced: you don’t look past it, you look at it. It’s the reason this model became the face of the series and not the first.

Panels that overlap

The upper is built from stitched layers that overlap one another, with sturdy plastic parts in the areas that take the most wear. That layering gives the shoe its angular, almost technical appearance — and at the same time ensures that each panel can be done separately, which has made the model one of the most varied in the catalog.

Where it sits in the series

The Air Max 95 then brought air to the forefoot and the Air Max 97 ran the chamber along the full length. The 90 sits exactly at the point where the series found its shape: big enough to stand out, compact enough for daily wear. The full story of the series is on the Nike Air Max page. A beast with a window in the sole.

On this page you can see which versions of the Air Max 90 are currently hottest according to the Hypescore, the prices they’re available from, and how many shops have them in stock.