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Nike Air has been one of the Nike’s flagship technologies for decades. But is Nike Air actually comfortable?
Nike Air Is Comfortable
Compared to a basic casual sneaker with zero cushioning technology, Nike Air is comfortable. It lowers the weight of the sneaker and provides support. Compared to newer technologies like React and Boost however, some may find it lacking.
While Nike Air technology has been around since the days of the Air Force 1 and the Air Tailwind before it, it was the Air Max 1 that revealed it to the world. Compared to a basic pair of sneakers with a plain midsole and outsole such as the Nike Blazer, a sneaker with an Air unit offers additional support and reduces the weight of the sneaker, generally speaking.
From the late 70s through the 90s, the technology was one of the most comfortable available. As other brands like Asics and New Balance stepped up their offerings however, the venerated Air unit started to lose its grip on being the top-tier tech. Nike stayed competitive and created many iterations for cushioning technology outside of trusty Nike Air such as Lunar.
When adidas entered the scene with the Ultraboost, it changed how the sneaker world viewed shoe midsole technology. Nike of course has its answer in React.
While newer cushioning systems offer a very comfortable sneaker experience, one could argue that Air tech still has a place. After all, retro sneakers featuring an Air unit are still pumped out by Nike every month. For the average casual user, the feel of an Air unit underfoot will be perfectly comfortable, especially when wearing all day.
What The “Air” Is In Nike Air
Nike Air contains pressurized air in the form of nitrogen. This is encased in a bit of flexible plastic. These “Air units” are located in the midsole of the sneaker.
Why It Is Called Nike Air
Since the inside of the plastic Air unit is comprised of pressurized Nitrogen, the technology is referred to as Nike Air. The actual cushioning is a gas rather than a solid.
The first sneaker to feature Nike Air is the Air Tailwind (known today as the Air Tailwind 79). This is where Nike innovated capturing Nitrogen gas inside a bit of tough yet flexible plastic.
The Air Force 1 took it a step further in the early 80s by increasing the size of the Air unit, resulting a taller midsole. The extra cushioning came in handy for basketball players vs the typical Converse and adidas offerings of the time.
Air Jordans have included Air units since their inception. Similar to the Air Tailwind and Air Force 1, the Air Jordan 1 included an encapsulated Air bag. This means that it’s within the midsole vs exposed. After the advent of the Air Max 1, many sneakers with the tech began showing the bubble from the outside, including the Air Jordan line.
What Nike Airs Are Good For
Nike Air technology cuts down on the weight of a sneaker, replacing solid midsole rubber or foam with an Air unit. Lighter sneakers mean less energy required during physical activity while worn.
Imagine how heavy this shoe would be
without some Air in that thick midsole!
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Air Force 1s are probably among the heaviest sneakers with an Air unit, and help illustrate the benefits of removing a chunk of midsole to reduce weight.
Given the tall midsole and generally leather or suede composition of the upper, the AF1 is not known for being a lightweight sneaker. One could only imagine just how heavy this shoe would be if it were solid rubber underfoot!
So, even though many might comment that they can’t “feel” the Air unit on a pair of Nikes, often times that’s not the point of why the unit is there in the first place. While an Air bag does provide some supportive cushioning, the goal in many cases is simply to cut down on the overall weight of the shoe.
Nike Air Is Good For Walking
Nike Air technology is perfectly suitable for walking. It provides solid support and cuts down on the weight of the midsole. Sneakers with visible Air units may provide some additional flexibility over pairs with encapsulated units.
See related articles on Air Force 1s as walking shoes, and which Air Max are the most comfortable.
Nike Air Is Somewhat Good For Standing All Day
While the typical Nike Air unit does not provide particularly soft cushioning, it does provide solid support underfoot. Sneakers containing Air technology will be as supportive as any other casual sneaker, and more lightweight thanks to the Air in the midsole.
Not known for comfort, but has an
Air unit and provides adequate support
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A good example of this is the Air Jordan 1. This sneaker is not renowned for its comfort levels, yet it contains Nike Air technology.
Underfoot, the AJ1 basically feels like any other casual shoe. In other words, if they didn’t say Nike Air on them, you might not even know that there is an Air unit encapsulated in the midsole.
The Air Jordan 1 is not a particularly heavy shoe either, given it’s typical leather or suede build. Similar to the Air Force 1 example above, the sneaker would be quite a bit heavier if the internals of the midsole did not contain the Air bag.
Overall, Nike Air isn’t the most comfortable tech out there by today’s standards. However, it provides a good amount of support for standing and walking, and helps reduce the amount of weight found in the sneaker. These aspects of the technology give sneakers with Air units an advantage over other casual shoes with no midsole tech.