Available Now // This Air Max Honors Another Icon from the Class of ’97 — the Nike Air Foamposite One

Release

2019.06.11

Brand

Nike

Model

Air Max 97

SKU

CI5011-400

Color

Game Royal/White/Black

Dropped

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For the Foam Fiends.

1997 was a big year for the Swoosh. Scottie Pippen debuted his first true signature sneaker, the Air Pippen 1, Mike’s Air Jordan 13 was an instant classic, and the annual Air Max release was — and probably still is — the best to date. And then there was the game-changing Nike Air Foamposite.

Never has a sneaker been so ambitious than the Nike Air Foamposite. Sure, we have advanced tech these days with self-lacing sneakers, 4D printed midsoles — only God knows what’s next. But in 1997, things were pretty typical for Basketball shoes. Leather, Mesh and Suede were the go-to fabrics, but Nike decided the hell with that, let’s make an entirely different synthetic material that’s (at the time) lightweight, flexible and doesn’t crease. The material was some space-age shit, and it’s fitting that the sneaker looked alien-like, too. Still, to this day, the material hasn’t died — the sneaker still has a loyal following amongst the sneaker population.

Now, Foam Fiends can get their flex on in a new way, with this Air Max 97 paying tribute to its Class of ’97 college with a very special release. Featuring the OG Foamposite One “Royal” colorway, made famous by Orlando’s Penny Hardaway, the pair sports the iconic Royal Blue across its low-sheen Foamposite-like mudguard, icy outsole, and white mini Swoosh. Its black upper arrives like the OG too, rocking nubuck on the overlays and the unforgettable woven mesh on the tongues. Heel and tongue pulls mimic the Foamposite’s too, but replace straight lines with wavy — an obvious callout to the 97’s overlays. Carbon fiber midfoot plates also arrive in jet black, as do the visible Air Units. Completing the design are Foamposite-like tongue badges and a crisp white midsole.

Take a look at the Nike Air Max 97 “Foamposite” below, and being labeled a QS — or Quickstrike — expect pairs to be limited in availability. A release date was not attached to the images, so keep your eyes locked on our Nike Release Dates page for more updates!

Update 05.31.19

After a handful of small retail releases around the globe, pairs of the Foamposite Nike Air Max 97 have also arrived at select stores like Jimmy Jazz — but there are only a few sizes left, so be quick!

Update 05.31.19

Full size runs of the Nike Air Max 97 “Foamposite” have just landed right here on Nike.com — so head on over ASAP before they all sell out 👀