There are some amazing kicks that for one reason or another, never made it through the ranks to join the likes of Air Max 1s and 90s. It’s intriguing that a lot of work goes into the concept, design and creation of the sneakers, only for them to disappear into the sneaker abyss. I want to bring to light a few I think have been slept on over the years; ones that I think, for whatever reason, maybe missed the mark when they released. And, that if people knew them, or more about them, they would be lining up around the block to cop.
Just 2 Good
Let’s begin with 1994’s Air Max 2. Some of you may read think “I know all about the Air max 2?”… but I’m not talking about the second Air Max release; the Air Max Lite. Nor am I talking about the Air Max Squared or the Air Max 2 Light. The Air Max 2 was a little chunkier than its predecessors, especially in a running shoe market; so I don’t expect it to to be up there with 1s and 90s. However, if you look at the silhouette it would fly off the shelves right? One of the last Air Max models to be designed by the legendary Tinker Hatfield, it heralded some nice colouring: a predominantly white upper, with a speckled dark silver mud guard, and the most beautiful teal swoosh, sock liner, tongue logo and air unit. And like I say, it had a little thickness to it. Perfect for todays chunky-sneaker wearing kids.
Not only did it have a nice mix of materials throughout the sneaker, it was the first time an Air Max featured two different pressure systems with 25 PSI on the outer for increased stability, and 5 PSI in the centre for a little more cushioning. It was ahead of its time in that sense, but maybe the sparkles undid it a little back then. However, I can envision some great colourways and collabs happening with this model, if the chunky dad shoe trend stays around a little longer.
“The Mo colours – The Mo Better.”
Ok… now this is certainly going to divide people, but I like that. Actually that’s quite funny really, as the message of the sneaker is about bringing people together. The Nike Air Raid ‘Urban Jungle Gym’ represents peace; no two ways about it. “If we’re gonna liver together, we gotta play together”; the words of Spike Lee from the original Air Raid ad released in 92/93. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Jungle Gyms mesh together the best of both Air Raids 1 and 2, but with some added colour that throws you right back to Spike Lee’s message of togetherness.
The green interior lining offsets the grey and black upper… but what makes it really hit is all that colour. The use of African-art inspired colours on the sneaker derived from what Spike had filled his “Urban Jungle Gym” with, as two teams of street ballers bad-mouthed each other, and Tim Hardaway hit buckets from all over the court. The Colours really make the sneaker pop, with perfect use across the two straps, the tongue, the midsole and the pull tab. Throw in the embossed “For Outdoor Use Only” on the sole and the heel counter, and you’re on to a winner.
These don’t only look fire, they are great in the colder weather, comfy enough to wear all day, and have enough overall support that the retros could still be worn to play. A little heavy compared to your modern basketball sneakers, but you need something robust for the streets, right?
Get Low
Now, dad shoes have seen a steady incline for a good few years now – and thankfully (as a father of two), I can’t see it slowing down. The Air Cross Trainer Low from 1989 ticks all the boxes when it comes to footwear for fathers. Originally released in the understated colourways of white/grey/navy blue and white/grey/red, they were hardly singing their own praises with their brashness. However, what they lack in colour, they account for in how they used it. I mean, the cool white and grey outsole with a small NIKE in red; super nice, minimalist and beautiful. The top plastic eyelets matching the bottom eyelets; my second favourite feature of the sneaker. The eyelets and the NIKE branding match the sleek lines along the upper half of the midsole. It looks a dream, however, my top feature for this sneaker is the “NIKE CROSS TRAINER” branding in the lateral side vamp. So good. You never see that anymore, and I mean never.
Giving off New Balance 550 Vibes, I think Nike would see some strong sales if they were rereleased. Although the break-up of materials definetly lends itself to creative colourways, I think a retro true to the original would be the way to go.
For One Time Only
To finish off, I just wanted to give a quick nod to a few Nikes that I think are *ahem* rightly under-appreciated. Firstly, the Nike Air Max ‘One Time Only’ was a concept where they took the sole of the Air Max 360 and adapted it to the other models. The original Air Max 360 didn’t look too bad… but once they started putting that sole on other models, things turned sour. And, they released it on quite a few models, from the Air Max 90, to the Air Max 97, and even the Air Max Woven. None of those sneakers deserved that treatment.
A Bit Cagey…
Secondly, the Nike Kukini from 2000. I see what they tried here, but it just didn’t work. It had a futuristic concept, interesting materials, an air unit and definitely stood out… but not for the right reasons. The Laceless look isn’t too bad, it’s the plastic cage encompassing the sneaker that makes these a no-go for me. I’ll give it to them that these do look like they’d possibly be comfortable, but how comfy do they need to be if you’re never going to wear them outside the house anyways?
Dolce and Banana
And lastly, it’s not often you see a sneaker and the image of it is burned in to your retinas. But, this is one such pair. I can’t believe the more I researched them, the more colour ways I kept coming across. I am speaking of course about the 2002’s Air Max Dolce. Wow. Just WOW. What can I say? They look like a mash-up of men’s leather slip on shoes from 1960s Greece, the armour from Michael Keaton’s Batmobile, my dad’s golf shoes from 2001, a clog and a sensible heel. I think that covers it all.
On that note, I’ll round this off by saying that there are a million Nikes that could fit the term ‘under appreciated’ but I tried to think of a few that, if I had them in my collection right now, I’d be super happy. And also, especially with the Air Max 2 and the Cross Trainer, I think if they were released in todays market, they’d sell out, for sure. And as for the rightly under appreciated pairs… That’s just my opinion, of course, what do you think?
Written by: Kieran Coyle
