Nike Air Max 90: A 30-year retrospective of the timeless sneaker

As the jordan retro 11 kids celebrates its 30th birthday this year, we look back to see how the sneaker has evolved over time.
1990 was the year Tinker Hatfield and Nike graced the world with one of their most recognizable creations – the Nike Air Max 90. Originally named the Air Max III, the Air Max 90 was an evolution of the iconic jordan retro 12 boys. The sneaker debuted with huge improvements over the Air Max 1, including the addition of durable fabrics in the upper and a motion-focused design. Undoubtedly, Tinker and Nike created one of the most recognizable and timeless Air Max sneakers to date.
Staying true to Tinker’s aim of creating sneakers that evolve and improve over time, the Air Max 90 has received major updates over the last 30 years. Let’s step back in time and check out how the Air Max 90 has evolved over the years.

The original Air Max 90 was designed as a running sneaker. Its design cues and Air Max midsole were created to provides runners with better performance while keeping them looking fresh. With a combination of leather, mesh and soft plastics, Tinker gave the sneaker a distinctive look that would be appreciated for years to come.

This was the very first hybrid sneaker Nike ever made. It took the classic air jordan 3 retro og “Infrared” upper and placed it atop the Air Max 360 midsole. These dropped as part of the Nike “One Time Only” pack and is still regarded as a grail for many today.

Another hybrid from Nike, the Air Max 90 Current is meant to provide runners with a better cooling system combined with the barefoot feeling of the Nike Free midsole. The forefoot now utilized Nike Free inspired cuts which made it much more flexible and adaptable to each of our unique foot strikes.

The tinker hatfield jordan 3 Flywire brought Flywire tech into the mix. Flywire is Nike’s proprietary set up that enables for a narrower fit, better lockdown and overall lighter construction. It was an improvement that helped the Air Max 90 maintain its status as the choice running sneaker in 2008.