Nike Air VaporMax

About

The Nike Air VaporMax launched in 2017 as the first Air Max model to do away with a foam midsole entirely, replacing it with a foam-free Air unit that doubled as both cushioning and outsole. Cushioning innovation designer Zac Elder led development of the shoe, which took eight years, many iterations, and an entirely new manufacturing process to bring the Air cushioning to a point where it could stand on its own, with no midsole between the foot and the Air unit and no outsole between the Air unit and the ground. It was, at the time, the most-tested shoe in Nike's history. The VaporMax unit was paired with a Flyknit upper and debuted as part of Nike's 2017 Air Max Day rollout. Nike also released a rainbow-colored Flyknit 'BeTrue' edition inspired by Pride, the first time a full-length Air unit appeared in multiple colors. Sneaker media hailed it as 'the pinnacle of Air,' and it quickly became a streetwear favorite among sneakerheads and fashion enthusiasts. It retailed at launch for $190.