Shoes are an essential part of our everyday attire as well as fashion. The basic idea is to protect our feet from the different elements of nature, now there are various types of shoes like flats, heels, sneakers, boots, and many more.
One of the major shoe retailers is Nike, an American multinational corporation.
There are numerous models and types of shoes to choose from at Nike, and they exclusively specialize in sport’s shoes.
These include the Air Force collection, which is one of its most popular sales and they have also collaborated with various athletics in styling these shoes.
Another shoe offered by Nike which has a similar sporty, functional as well as fashionable look is the Nike Air Max.
Key Takeaways
- Nike Air Max is a line of shoes that uses air cushioning to provide support and comfort to the feet, while Nike Air Force is a basketball shoe originally introduced in 1982.
- Air Max shoes are more suitable for running and jogging, while Air Force shoes are best for playing basketball and other sports.
- Air Max shoes are available in various colors and designs, whereas Air Force shoes are known for their classic white and black colorways.
Nike Air Max vs Air Force
The difference between Nike Air Max and Air Force in their appearance although both of them have “airbags”, however, in the Air Force the middle sole is not exposed.
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Comparison Table
Parameters of Comparison | Nike Air Max | Nike Air Force |
---|---|---|
Design | The mid-sole is generally exposed. | Nike Air Force the mid-sole is not exposed giving it a sleeker look. |
Usage | Not just athletics but normal people as well, especially singers and rappers. | Mostly athletics. |
Colorways | Comparatively lesser. | Has more colorways. |
Durability | Relatively less. | More durable, as per most users. |
What is Nike Air Max?
The Nike Air designed in 1979 was made especially for sports enthusiasts, sports fans, and fanatics and is recognized by its midsole pouches filled with compressed air which is intended for providing a cushioning effect.
Ever since the release of the first Air Max, there have been quite a few models including the Air Max Light, Air Max 90, Air Max 270, and Air Max 720.
The Air Max 1 was the pioneer model that had nylon and synthetic felt and had one airbag to reduce pressure on the feet without weighing them down.
It was targeted at runners and still continues to be enjoyed by many sneaker enthusiasts. The Air Max 90 came in next, which were so popular that Nike had even made one specifically for President Bush.
They had a grey/white color story with neons and had a synthetic leather felt.
The VapourMax which came out in 2017 was the first model that had no foam or rubber in the midsole or outsole instead had several hollow air pouches not connected to one another.
The Max 270 which came the following year was inspired by older models like the 93 and 180 and was named after its design which enabled 270-degree visibility of air.
The Air 720 is the latest by Nike and is designed both for everyday lifestyle and few special ones which are made for basketball and similar sports.
However, even with these facilities, there are a few cons like durability and the sole even has started to peel off after a few weeks.
What is the Nike Air Force?
These are specific athletic shoes targeted to a similar demographic and was the first basketball shoe which used the Nike Air technology.
There are five styles of the Air Force which include low, mid, superlow, high, and super high.
When it was released back in 1983, the high top Air Force 1s were worn by the major six NBA players of the time and they still remain a cult favorite.
Though they come in different color schemes, the solid on solid colors are the most appealing ones and among them “white on white” has a solid base of fan following.
During the 2000s, these became a favorite of rappers and singers and thus gained even more popularity even outside the United States.
Air Force 1 is the most well-known Air force even though there are other models like the Air Force 2, 3, Air Force STS, Air Force 5, Air Force XXV, and Air Force 09.
Now even though they are breathable, with excellent grip, Affordability, and much more there are few cons like difficulty to wash and heavy for some users.
Main Difference Between Nike Air Max and Air Force
- The Air Force is said to have better durability than the Air Max by some users.
- In Nike Air Force the mid-sole is not exposed giving it a sleeker and more aesthetic look.
- Most of the models in the Air Force have a better colorway as compared to their Air Max counterparts, which makes them more appealing too.
- The placement of the Nike swoosh is different in them, for example, the in the Air Max seen above the air bubble and near the toe cap while in the Air Force it is seen near the upper ankle area, protruding outward.
- The Air Max is now a part of things more than just the athletic biosphere, however, the Air Force is mostly seen among athletics though there are exceptions.
- https://www.ropella.com/staging/pdf/Nike-Materials-Developer-Cushioning-Technology-OMP.pdf
- http://apria.artez.nl/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/APRIA-Issue-0-Print-Out-V05_compressed-1.pdf#page=56
Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.