Nike Are ‘On Air’ For Paris 2024
is just around the corner and have pulled out all the stops to display the innovations that athletes will be wearing for the upcoming . , the tech that’s been around since the late 70s, is the focus for this year’s product offering, and Sneaker Freaker were on the ground in Paris for Team Swoosh’s ‘On Air’ spectacular. The Palais Brongniart was decked out in an immersive Air experience, with a full archive showing the innovative journey of Nike’s tech and a selection of past high-heat collaborations. However, the star of the show was the fresh product destined for the Olympics. An array of gear was debuted, including the new , and boots, all harnessing the power of Air.
Speaking with Matt Nurse from Nike’s Sports Research Lab, he told us that some of the research for this collection began in COVID: ‘We were getting creative’. They ‘moved the lab into a parking garage to keep work going, during the pandemic just to keep innovation moving’. Although he does add that it’s been ‘40 years of research, and we are always building, and we borrow from other sports. If you look at the AlphaFly it began with the work that led to the original , the 4%’.
Within the collection are over ten pieces of footwear that mark a new innovative era for Team Swoosh, with some of our highlights being the new Pegasus family members and the fresh light-weight Zoom injected Mercurial boots. All the kits were revealed, including a Futura-designed collection for breakdancers.
Running on Air
The star of the show was without a doubt the running catalogue, but the belle of the ball had to be the Nike Pegasus Premium. It’s been given the ‘Premium’ moniker for a reason, as this model is the first of its kind, boasting a full-length Zoom Air package. In addition to the sandwiched Air, ReactX and ZoomX foam have been added to the midsole. The next evolution of the reliable Pegasus was also present, with the debut of the Pegasus 41, which had signature touches from Swoosh legend Mark Parker who was consulted on the design. Of course, the next evolution of the infamous Alphafly was on show, with the third iteration holding the record as the lightest marathon running shoe to host Nike’s Zoom Air. Spike’s were also debuted, including the Air Victory 2, Air Maxfly 2, Air Dragonfly 2 and DragonFly Elite. Following on was the React Infinity Run 4, which was tested with female runners and boasts an upper consisting of Team Swoosh’s legendary Flyknit, this time updated with lightweight materials.
Slam Dunk
Nike’s not coming to Paris 2024 without some basketball heat on deck. Kicking off their offering is the GT Hustle 3, which hosts a fresh-out-the-lab Zoom Air system. Next up, Nike came with the anticipated GT Cut 3, and for the first time ever in basketball history, it hosts ZoomX foam. Further reinforcement comes through from Team Swoosh’s signature Flywire technology and herringbone pods.
Football Frenzy
The Nike 'On Air’ event had us in a football frenzy with the latest version of the Mercurial. A fan-favourite for almost three decades, this will be the Mercurial’s first time hosting Air, with a Zoom Air unit packed into the sole. The upper had its layers reduced from five to three, allowing the boot to mould to your feet, meaning a more natural feel on the pitch.
Break Dancing Fever
If you weren’t already excited enough for the epic addition of breakdancing to the Olympics, it was announced at Nike 'On Air’ that Futura had designed the kits! Korea and the USA teams both received their own designs, with team North America donning the artist's signature logos throughout the tracksuit set and the Korean team's kits hosting atom logo emblazoned on the chest. Team Swoosh also unveiled the Jam model, built especially for breakdancing and made in partnership with the Nike Sports Research Lab. This marks Nike’s first foray into the sport, and it was developed with the help of elite breakdancing athletes. Read more on the Nike Jam and breakdancing kits .
'On Air' Live
Nike’s ‘On Air’ extravaganza culminated in a live show hosting a plethora of Olympic athletes donning their country’s kits, including Sha’Carri Richardson and Eliud Kipchoge. They then entered the future, rocking wild modernised Nike outfits, including athletes such as soccer star Sam Kerr and skateboarder Chloe Covell. The finale was a display of the AI Air prototypes made for athletes like Victor Wembanyama and Sha’Carri Richardson.
Stay locked to Sneaker Freaker while we continue to unpack the sneaker tech being debuted for Paris 2024.