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In the spring of 1991 Nike took Air technology to new limits with the release of one of their most prized silhouettes to date. Featuring a new and improved ‘Max Air’ cushioning system that was 50% bigger than anything they’d ever produced before, the ‘Air 180’ was born and with it followed a new era in ‘Air-volution’.

The origins of the Air 180 date back to the late 1980’s when a crack team of experts from Nike’s research and development lab in Beaverton, Oregon, set out to improve the brands already ground breaking Air technology. Their mission; to showcase how far Nike had come in the progression of footwear design and to further cement their name into the minds of the booming running market.

To achieve their goal, Nike turned to none other than legendary ‘Air-men’ Tinker Hatfield and Bruce Kilgore who joined forces to design a shoe that would best present the lasted and most advanced release in the Air Max series.

Thanks to the use of ‘Max Air’, which allowed the volume of the Air bag to be increased since it didn’t have to be encapsulated in the midsole, Hatfield and Kilgore discovered that they could not only achieve more cushioning but also 180-degrees of visible Air.

To ensure the shoes main feature was its key recognisable element, the pair opted for a clean and simply designed white upper with the addition of bright colour-pops cleverly positioned to compliment and credit their exciting innovation.

Since, the Air 180 has enjoyed a number of reissues and now after a few years absence it returns for 2013 as part of the second instalment in Nike’s Air Max Vintage Collection.

Complete with infamous “Vintage” treatment – which we think Nike have got spot on this time round –this latest incarnation also includes ‘Max’ in the shoes title. Why Nike have chosen until now to finally give the shoe its proper name is besides us but we for one are excited to see the return of an all time classic.

The Nike Air Max 180 OG Vintage will be available from size? stores and online in the coming week or so in sizes 5 – 12 (UK), priced at £97/145€.

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