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The Nike Air Max 1 is an iconic shoe, and I own quite a few pairs! The latest pickup in my collection is the Air Max 1 Chili 2.0!
I’m always on the lookout for new Air Max 1 releases, and they are one of my favorite models from Nike. This article is a general overview on the model, updated at the bottom every time I get a new pair.
When did the Nike Air Max 1 come out?
Tinker Hatfield designed the Air Max 1, which initially released in 1987. It was initially known simply as the Air Max. The design of the Air Max 1 was inspired by the Le Centres George Pompidou in Paris.
is a retro of the original colorway of the Air Max
The sneaker is known for being the first to reveal an Air unit in the midsole. While Air technology had existed in the 80s, Tinker utilized the idea behind the Pompidou Centre’s open design and implanted that onto the Air Max.
Ever since then, the Nike Air Max 1 has released in a plethora of colorways and collaborations. It remains one of the most-retro’d Nike models. While it’s popularity in the among sneaker collectors comes and goes, it is a classic and as such is never “unpopular”.
Air Max 1 OG Colorways
The two original Air Max 1 releases are blue and red. Shades of white mesh and grey suede combine with either color to make the iconic colorways.
is a retro of another OG colorway
Different retros of the OGs have utilized slightly different shades of blue or red, but the effect winds up being similar either way.
The 2017-2018 30th anniversary releases celebrate four iconic OG colorways:
Many colorways have released before and since, and the sneaker is a popular canvas for collaborations and special editions. However, the OG colorways make smart pickups when starting to collect Air Max 1s. The simple blocking and bold colors make these sneakers immediately look good on feet effortlessly.
Nike Air Max 1 Fit & Sizing – Do Air Max 1 run small?
The AM1 fit true to size. This can vary depending on the materials used and the year of release. Generally Air Max 1s provide a slightly narrow fit at true to size.
That said, those with wide feet might want to go up a half size. Part of the appeal of the Air Max 1 is the aggressive pointy shape at the toe. Therefore, the toebox on the model is a bit on the slim side by necessity and any changes to this would change the shape of the sneaker to something unpleasant.
I typically get true to size on AM1s and allow the sneaker to break in. Ultimately, the narrowness should subside as the sneaker conforms to the wearer’s foot shape.
Occasionally, pairs of Air Max 1s are made with stiffer materials while others are just bafflingly small. In these cases, going a half size up should solve any issues of tightness widthwise. A shoe widener can help with break-in as well.
Are Air Max 1 Comfortable?
For casual wear, the Nike Air Max 1 are suitable. Even though the midsole technology is from the 80s, the AM1 remains a relatively comfortable shoe.
While more comfortable shoes have been invented since 1987, amazingly the Air Max 1 hold up rather well. While you won’t be blown away by a soft ride underfoot, the sneaker provides ample cushion for basic wear.
Until a pair is broken in, I’d advise not going on any long walks or participating in any heavy activity. While it was revolutionary when it was first released, the Air Max 1 doesn’t hold up to prolonged wear right out of the box. For maximum comfort in these, consider wearing them for shorter amounts of time until the uppers relax a bit.
Once the AM1 is broken in, it’s as comfy as any casual shoe. The length of break in time varies by material. Thin mesh and felt suede comprise the majority of Air Max 1 releases, and these materials break in within a wear or two. Some pairs have thicker suede or stiffer leather around the toebox. These may take a bit longer with a few more wears before they are suitable to wear at length.
Are Air Max 1 Good For Running?
No. While Air Max technology may have been revolutionary in 1987, there are much better options for modern running shoes. Nike Air Max 1s function best when worn casually.
retro. Originally a women’s colorway!
As mentioned above, Air Max 1s typically need break in time. Meanwhile, most runners want to get a new running shoe, put it on, and be able to run immediately.
Additionally, new running shoes are often made of lightweight yet durable materials and have newer technology in the midsole. As time goes on, shoes designed explicitly for running get better and better functionally.
The catch here is most modern running shoes don’t have the classic aesthetic of a retro runner. So while other shoes will definitely work better for sports, the Air Max 1 will look better on feet. My advice for runners that want to be stylish is to get the best technical shoe to run in that they can afford, and pick up a retro like an Air Max 1 when not actually running.
Where To Buy Air Max 1
The Nike Air Max 1 is usually available in new colorways on Nike’s website, sneaker boutiques and aftermarket websites like eBay.
Shop Nike Air Max 1s on: eBay
See below for reviews of colorways I’ve recently purchased along with links to get each pair:
Nike Air Max 1 Dark Teal Review
Colorway: White / Dark Teal Green
Style Code: DH4059-101
Year of Release: 2021
MSRP: $150
Buy: eBay
This sneaker came out alongside several similar pairs that use the OG color blocking, only the mesh and suede come out and are replaced by leather. Additional features include a mini-swoosh stitched in by the toebox.
The entirely leather upper give these a bit of a snug fit at first, however the sneaker breaks in fairly quickly as the leather used here is soft and pliable. Quality-wise, the materials seem above average for what is essentially a general release, although the retail price and LV8 designation on the box indicates a premium product.
Nike Air Max 1 x Patta Maroon Review
Colorway: Metallic Silver / Rush Maroon
Style Code: DO9549-001
Year of Release: 2021
MSRP: $170
Buy: eBay
The Nike Air Max 1 x Patta in maroon is the third in a series of recent collaborations between the two brands. The main feature of the collab releases is the wavy mudguard. I personally love this element, as it helps the shoe stand out from other AM1s.
Details include the miniswoosh by the toebox, paint fade on the burgundy leather, shiny outline around the swoosh and Patta branding on the insole and tongue. Extras include a special bracelet with Suriname flag symbolizing Patta’s owners birthplace that comes in a branded dustbag and a special box with special print on the paper. These also include a faded maroon pair of laces as well as the darker pair shown.
Patta is apparently an alternate spelling of the Suriname word “pata”, which translates to “shoe”. The sneaker uses smooth leather on the upper which is fairly soft to the touch. I found these to fit comfortably at true to size.
Nike Air Max 1 Ugly Duckling
Colorway: Pecan / Yellow Ochre
Style Code: DZ0482-200
Year of Release: 2022
MSRP: $160
Buy: eBay
These Nike Air Max 1 Ugly Duckling throw back to the Ugly Duckling co.jp Dunk pack from the early 2000s. They released this colorway alongside a pair that resembles the Ceramic Dunks from the pack.
While I had all those old Dunks back in the day, I don’t remember any of them resembling these. However, the concept is the same as far as the buttery suede materials (they’re great and cover the entire upper) and interesting, bright colors. If you are still not convinced, Nike locks the theme in with an embroidered duck on the back of the shoe. These ship with yellow and brown sets of flat laces in a regular orange Nike Sportswear box.
I do recognize this colorway slightly, as they remind me a lot of the Nike SB Dunk Low Vapor from the pink box era. That’s a sneaker I used to have that has the brown and yellow on it, and released around the same time as the Tiffany Dunk Low SB. I always regretted selling those, and now I somewhat have something similar on my hands with these!
Nike Air Max 1 Crepe Hemp
Colorway: Medium Brown / Mint Foam
Style Code: FD5088 200
Year of Release: 2022
MSRP: $180
Buy: eBay
This shoe is roughly based on a release from the early 2000s, but with some changes. While most sneakerheads dislike changes from an OG, in this case there might be some actual improvements happening.
The sneaker gets it’s name from the “crepe” outsole and hemp underlays. These are the most changed from the original version of this colorway. Instead of a darker more burlap-like hemp, we get a tougher, less-likely-to-rip version. And instead of the crepe outsole which tends to get nasty after a few wears outdoors, we get more of a traditional outsole made to look like a crepe sole. Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me, but it feels like the insole is made from a different type of material, at least on top. I still get a bit of that “crepe” feel underfoot as far as softness, although nowhere near the same feeling as an actual crepe sole.
As for the rest of the sneaker, we get a somewhat rough feeling brown suede mudguard, a fairly smooth feeling bit of nubuck on the overlays, and some leather on the swoosh. It seems like another difference here is there is a bit more of the minty accent color utilized on this sneaker compared to the older version. Overall, this sneaker is great looking. I think the original retail price of $180 was off-putting to some. However, this pair is fairly slept on so the price has come down a bit. I was able to snag these directly from Nike for around half retail!
Nike Air Max 1 White/University Gold
Colorway: White / University Gold – Black
Style Code: FD9082-104
Year of Release: 2023
MSRP: $140
Buy: eBay
Here we have a basic, straightforward Air Max 1 colorway. The shoe comes in the classic felt overlay + mesh underlay set up. This is one of my favorite material blocking schemes on the AM1. The felt and mesh combine for a great fit at true to size, breaking in quickly thanks to the flexible composition.
Nike immediately put these on discount when they dropped. I could swear these had been out like a couple days and were marked down $20 right away. Score for me!
These don’t really have a “name” to them so I’m just going by the colorway and calling these University Gold. Although there are other pairs that have that nickname.
The quality on here is basic, but I actually dig it here. This type of felt is not as buttery as some MiUSA New Balance suede, but it’s actually pretty soft, if not a bit synthetic feeling. I like not having to tip toe around every time trying to avoid scuffing up some buttery suede suede. The black mudguard on these helps with that.
The yellow really pops on the swoosh, Air unit, top eyelets and tongue tag. A relatively plain black/white/grey color scheme helps the University Gold color stand out that much more.
This colorway reminds me of the “Chili 2.0” release that just dropped (see below), only swapping out the red for yellow. I think these do a good job of showing how simple, clean color blocking and classic construction with a nice, sloped shape really brings the best out of the Air Max 1!
Nike Air Max 1 Chili 2.0
Colorway: White / University Red
Style Code: FD9082-101
Year of Release: 2023
MSRP: $140
Buy: eBay
This pair is somewhat of a spiritual successor to a colorway that released in 2003, hence the “2.0” in the nickname. The sneaker is very similar to the white / university gold colorway I reviewed above. Just take out the yellow and put red in and you have these!
There are some differences between the OG Chilies and this version. The 2003 release had the tongue tag, Nike Air heel embroidery and front of the outsole in red. This version has a white tag and the embroidery and front of outsole in black. Both versions share the black mudguard, grey overlays, white underlays and red swoosh, top eyelets and Air unit. The grey used on the original version is a bit darker than the newer release.
The materials match up as well. We get felt overlays and mesh underlays. Just like the university gold pair, the felt is fairly soft for what it is. Thanks to the pliable materials, we get a quick break in and I like how these fit at true to size. Some might find the fit on Air Max 1s to be a bit narrow at TTS… if this bothers you try a half size up. Most should be fine with true to size though.
These have a nice bit of solid support underfoot. Air units are more about removing weight than providing cushioning. Still, I find these perfectly fine for walking around in for short-medium lengths of time. Just adjust expectations if you are used to wearing Boost, React or some other cushy modern tech.
I really like this colorway a lot, and I wanted to make sure I snagged a pair. The red hits perfectly against the grey and black. I like this color combo on the AM1! It reminds me of the Live Together, Play Together pair I had back in the day.
