Nike Air Max 96

About

Nike released the Air Max 96 in 1996 as designer Sergio Lozano's follow-up to the Air Max 95, continuing Nike's mission to push Max Air cushioning into a genuinely global lifestyle shoe. Lozano kept the aggressive, sculpted lines that made the 95 a hit but reworked the upper into receding mesh panels that took their shape from ocean waves, giving the shoe a smoother, more fluid silhouette than its predecessor. Underneath, the 96 introduced a newly designed dual-pressure Air unit in the heel paired with a lateral crash pad system, aimed at a more responsive, cushioned ride than earlier Air Max models offered. The upper combined breathable mesh with synthetic leather overlays for durability, a stretchy inner sleeve, and a low-cut padded ankle collar that kept the shoe's profile sleek rather than bulky. Lozano has credited his mentor Tinker Hatfield's insistence on finding a shoe's "story" as a guiding influence on the design. Nike has revisited the silhouette multiple times since, including the modern Air Max 96 II, which borrows the original's wave-panel upper while updating the cushioning setup for current buyers.