Airmax 360: Nike air cushioning shoe

23 Jan '06

4 min read

Instead of traditional blow molding, in which a polyurethane bladder is injected with Nike Air to create a circular or tube-shaped unit, thermoforming allows more freedom in shaping.

So now the unit can include contours for the foot and can work in conjunction with the surrounding plastic cage to be modified for sport-specific activities.

“Thermoforming allows them to get to that holy grail of a foamless midsole,” says Tom Hartge, Creative Director for Advanced Initiatives in Footwear.

“They can create flex grooves and other features that they used to make with foam shapes.

The Air Sole unit is no longer just a component of the midsole, it is the entire midsole.”

And with no foam midsole, consumers will be running on Nike Air – just Nike Air.

And they all know from employee orientation that Nike Air offers superior cushioning.

It doesn't break down like foam cushioning, and without the additional midsole materials, the shoe is lighter.

The Air Max 360 shoe also offers better forefoot flexibility than previous full-length Air Max shoes, thanks to the placement of the pillars inside the Air-Sole unit, the flex grooves, a more minimal outsole, and an upper designed to allow the foot to move more freely.

It all adds up to a better ride for runners, one of the many takeaways from an estimated 45,000 miles of wear testing, involving more than 180 runners.

“They've probably never tested anything this much in the history of the brand,” says Lozano, who designed the Air Max '03 shoe.

More Nike News... More Information Technology News - United States Of America...