Where to Buy the Nike Air Max 1 ’86 ‘Big Bubble’

News on this release was first published March 28, 2022.

Update March 20, 2023: Air Max Day is less than a week away, and tonnes of retailers have announced they’ll be stocked!

Update March 14, 2023: Some retailers have now announced they’ll stock the Nike Air Max 1 ’86 ‘Big Bubble’ for March 26. Find the list of retailers below.

Update March 3, 2023: The official images of the Nike Air Max 1 ‘86 ‘Big Bubble’! Peruse the shots above, and stay locked for a Where to Buy guide closer to Air Max Day.

Update March 1, 2023: @iceberg.og has shared some crisp shots of the latest Air Max 1 retro. Check out the pics above.

Update February 20, 2022: Following early leaks from last year, @tommy_triggah has provided another in-hand look at the Nike Air Max 1 ‘86 ‘Big Bubble’. How do you feel about them? A release date is still slated for close to Air Max Day, so stay locked for more details.

Last Friday, ahead of Air Max Day, Nike took to a SNKRS Live stream to address rumours that they were bringing back the Air Max 1 in its 1986 configuration with big bubbles. They are indeed returning, and there was even a sample to show off ahead of its official release sometime in 2023.

Stream host DJ Sneakerhead invited Air Max product line manager Jamie Paige and footwear designer Jon Kosenick to explain the process behind the revamped AM1. The team remarked it was a painstaking process that took over three years to develop, as they wanted to recreate the vintage configuration while using modern manufacturing techniques. Which, in the long run, is probably a good thing for the model.

ICYMI, the 1986 version of the Air Max 1 with its big bubble was prone to cracking at the edges of the sole, so it was replaced with a slightly smaller bubble in 1987. Hopefully, with 2022 technology and quality control, these issues will get left in the past.

Nike are yet to announce a hard release date for the new OG AM1 – officially known as the Air Max 1 ’86 ‘Big Bubble’ – but have provided a ballpark by stating they’ll drop in 2023.