On March 26, 1987, Nike released the original Air Max 1, a silhouette that's regarded as one of the brand's most iconic sneakers. Created by legendary sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield, the Air Max 1 was the first shoe the Swoosh released that showcased the brand's Air technology with a visible window into the sole.
That single innovative design sparked phenomenons in both performance and fashion. With hundreds of Air Max sneakers released over the last three decades, it's one of Nike's most successful lines of footwear. Whether you're a dedicated sneaker collector or an average consumer, there's a great chance you've owned a pair.
Now, Nike recognizes March 26 as Air Max Day, and there's no better way to celebrate than by adding a new pair to your collection.
As a sneaker collector, I've compiled a list of Air Max sneakers that are worth checking out — including new releases, classics, and the hottest collaborations — along with all of the best places to shop for them.
Nike is the go-to place for the latest Air Max releases. The website features a plethora of Air Max styles, from classic silhouettes like the Air Max 1, Air Max 90, and Air Max 95 to the latest performance runners using the technology.
This year, a new silhouette named the Nike Air Max Pre-Day is being released as a tribute to the brand's early days of making running sneakers. It features a mixture of throwback '70s styling with modern tech and is made from 20% recycled materials.
Additionally, Nike is releasing the Air VaporMax Evo, an updated iteration of the VaporMax.
For sneaker collectors, eBay has long been a quintessential place to shop. The site has the latest releases, those rare gems you've been after for years, and everything else in between. Now, the site is establishing itself as a formal place to buy sneakers with easy-to-shop category pages and sneaker authentication on items priced over $100.
StockX is described as a stock market of things. While you can buy all kinds of collectible items like watches, hand bags, and trading cards, sneakers are definitely the biggest attraction to the site.
The site shows important information like original retail prices and real-time sales data to help you always pay market value for sneakers. Every item is authenticated before it is shipped to you.
For Air Max Day, you can find popular collaborations, general releases, and even select shoes for less than retail.
Foot Locker is the next best place to buy sneakers on the retail market, after Nike.com. Here, you'll have access to almost all of the latest releases and a stacked sales section filled with great deals.
GOAT is a great place to buy new and used sneakers with a verified authentication process that takes place before you receive them.
For Air Max Day, the site has a curated section of all the most popular Nike Air Max sneakers including the latest releases, classics, and collaborations. That way, you can spend less time searching for a cool pair.
Unlike other resale sites that receive and authenticate shoes after they've already been sold, Stadium Goods has all of its consigned products pre-authenticated, in stock, and ready to ship. Their business model gives customers a retail-like shopping experience for exclusive items that that usually sell out quickly.
If you're going for those sold out Air Maxes and don't want to deal with the long wait time that comes with authentication processes, this is the place to shop.
You might think of Nordstrom as a traditional department store, but with the recent opening of the Nike x Nordstrom NYC store, it has put more emphasis on catering to sneaker culture.
Nordstrom stocks some of the most popular sneaker releases, so you won't have to limit yourself to only shopping at dedicated sneaker stores and boutiques. You'll also find great deals on sale items.