Just Dropped // Nike Air Max 97 “Safari”

As the Air Max 97begins to ramp up its 25th-anniversary campaign, you’ll begin to see your feed filled with colorways new and old. The next, this winterized Nike Air Max 97 “Safari”, falls into the former category — this one honoring one of the earliest uses of Nike Air in a sneaker; Yes, you guessed it, Tinker Hatfields 1987 Nike Air Safari.

Celebrated on everything from the Foamposite to the Air Max 1, Tinker’s legendary animal-inspired designs have themselves become greater known than the OG itself. Now it’s time for the Air Max 97 to pay homage, and it does so by honoring one of the original colorways through a monochromatic black and sail scheme. Here, the hardened Foamposite-like guards protect in jet black, setting up a solid line for the inverted upper and tongue prints to pop. These are met by streaking white overlays and black liners before a hit of orange is applied to the modified tongue badge and safari-print insoles. By fair the simplest element of the release resides underfoot, with a sail midsole and black rubber outsole hosting black Air supports to complete the design.

Grab an official look at this new Air Max 97 “Safari” here below, and if you’re feeling this fresh new take on the Swoosh staple, then make sure you’ve got your eyes glued to our Twitter account for updates on its impending release, which at this stage is expected to be in 2022 when the sneaker commences its 25th birthday bash.

Nike Air Max 97 “Safari”

Release Date: December 3, 2021

Style Code: DH0559-001
Color: Phantom/Chile Red/Black
Retail: $180