The air max shoes was rumored to first be named the Air Total Max 3. Its design was inspired by the high-speed Japanese Bullet train. The Nike Air Max 97 was very popular in Europe more than in the US initially. The air max shoes salehas been brought back many times since its original release, but only recently have they been a more common retro Air Max.
Nike has been somewhat daring with the Nike Air Max 2009 sale. They tried releasing a slip on version in the height of the Nike Presto days in 2001; however, the idea was far better than how the shoe looked or sold. Since most Air Max 97 buyers were enthusiasts of the shoe itself, they were turned off by the look and feel of the slip on version. Nike has recently tried putting cement print on the Air Max 90. The Kashima Antlers Edition features the cement print around the shoe, but this shoe has a love/hate relationship with Air Max sneakerheads since traditionally cement print is only found on Air Jordan Shoes.