8 Iconic Nike Sneaker Moments to Get You Pumped for Air Max Day
Here at Men’s Health, our team celebrates cool sneakers every single day. But as we look towards this new normal, finally ready to step out of our homes and give our WFH pajama ‘fits a much needed break, there’s more reason than ever to celebrate exciting new sneaker releases. That’s why this Air Max Day—the annual global holiday that celebrates one of the most iconic Nike lines to ever hit man’s foot—is one sneaker extravaganza to really embrace this year. Over the next few days, the innovative performance brand will be rolling out several new Air Max drops, while also partnering with key footwear retailers to create a fun shopping frenzy for styles that show off Nike’s Air technology. It’s all about celebrating the past and future of the beloved sneaker line, from the OG Air Max 1 that was released 34 years ago and still looks fresh for today, to the highly-anticipated upcoming release of the sleek, new Air Max Pre-Day style.
But as we shake the dust off of our go-to kicks and think about what styles we want to add to our athletic footwear arsenal, did the pandemic change the way select our sneakers? Sure, die-hard sneakerheads continued their never-ending quest to cop the most hyped kicks, some even turning rare resales into a major business, but what about the regular dudes—the guys who love sneakers, but not enough to stand outside Kith for hours to buy a particular style?
I had this thought while scrolling through one of my favorite Instagram sneaker accounts, @TrainerSpotting, run by Sergey Veslin that showcases some of the most popular sneaker styles over the past few decades, donned by models, actors, and musicians. Steve Jobs kicking back in his New Balance 999s, Denzel Washington looking fresh in Reebok Club VC 85s, baby Brad Pitt in Adidas Rivalry His, and LL Cool J flexing Nike Air Crafts—this account has all the best sneaker throwbacks. From TV stills of your favorite shows to memorable red carpet moments and even forgotten paparazzi snaps of yore, Veslin has been curating and identifying iconic kicks since 2018 for sneaker fanatics’ viewing pleasure. With ‘90s style and “dad” sneakers still being very on-trend, it’s a great source for style inspiration, but maybe there might be clues here to figuring out the future of sneakers post-pandemic.
We spoke with Veslin about all-things Air Max Day (including the Air Max Cup 2021 voting polls on his IG account) and the future of sneakers. And while we figure out which new Air Max releases we’re going to add to our spring wardrobes, check out some of the best Air Max pop culture moments on @TrainerSpotting—at the very least, you’ll walk away excited for future sneaker flexes to come.
How did you come up with the idea for your Instagram account Were you surprised by how much people love it?
Trainer Spotting is a result of both personal interest in sneakers and professional involvement in the sneaker/streetwear industry. Over the years I accumulated a vast archive of these “sneaker moment” pictures, and in late 2018, I decided to start sharing them through Instagram. The amount of followers was a surprise for me, of course. I always thought about it as a very niche project.
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How do you find the celebrities and sneaker styles you feature on Trainer Spotting?
I found them all over the Internet: in blogs, forums, editorial archives, fashion magazine archives, etc. Sometimes books and magazines help, too.
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It’s almost Air Max Day! Is there an Air Max style you love the most?
That’s just an impossible question for me to answer. This is one of the reasons I decided to run this Air Max tournament for my followers—I can’t pick the best model by myself, each of them is unique and iconic in its own way.
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Your poll on the Instagram account showed the Air Max 97 is a big contender to win the tournament. How many people voted and why do you think they love the Air Max 97 so much?
Air Max 97 is not the final winner, it just sensationally won over extremely popular Air Max 1 in the Quarterfinal round. There were totally about 15,000 votes, and Air Max 97 was only 2% ahead. They are both very strong classic models, each has its own unique design language and big fan base. The reason AM97 got the advantage, I suppose, is because neutral voters tend to vote for underdogs.
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What do you think are the most iconic Air Max sneakers you’ve featured on your Instagram and why?
The most iconic Air Max picture I posted is for sure Iggy Pop wearing Air Max 1 in 1990. The photo was taken by Allen Ginsberg, the beat poet, which makes it even more significant.
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In this new normal we're living in, what sneakers do you think men will gravitate towards? What are your predictions for the future of sneakers?
I clearly notice a shift towards more simple, laid-back silhouettes, as compared to high-tech pre-pandemic trends. And when you go for inspiration for simplicity in sneakers, you can’t avoid '70s-era jogging boom models which were as simple as it gets. So I believe '70s silhouettes are back for the near future, both reissued and reimagined in a more modern way.
Also I personally hope that pandemic will play its role in popularizing a more comfortable approach to sneaker design, like Nike FlyEase easy-entry technology, or fasteners/slip-on designs instead of laces. Laces are so last century—it's about time to get through with them finally.
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Any advice for our readers on how to pick out the best sneaker for their lifestyle?
Don’t believe the hype!
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