Nike Air Max is a line of shoes produced by Nike, Inc., with the first model released in 1987. Air Max shoes are identified by their midsoles incorporating flexible urethane pouches filled with pressurized gas, visible from the exterior of the shoe and intended to provide cushioning to the underfoot.

The original shoe's radiant shade of red would later become known as “infrared.” The color remains synonymous with the Air Max 90 today.

In 1987, the Air Max 1 was born, igniting a love for Nike's iconic cushioning system. It would go on to become one of the most iconic designs in Nike history, and Tinker Hatfield would later cement himself as one of the greatest shoe designers in the world.