Nike Air Max 1s with Big Air Units Might Actually Be Happening

The rumour mill was momentarily set ablaze when word spread that Nike were planning to release an Air Max 1 retro with extra big Air units. Clued-up Airheads will recall this larger bubble was a short-lived feature on the original production run back in 1986, but cracking issues caused the design to be remade with smaller units. In the years since, Air unit size has been debated and measured but, until now, that big bubble remained deflated.

These new pictures of a women’s sample all but confirm the existence of the new AM1 with more Air. According to the tag, this Black/Black-Anthracite combo is slated for a Fall 2022 release – contrary to previous reports of 2023 – and the actual pair appears to have been manufactured all the way back in April 2021. That’s certainly a larger unit, and Nike have replicated the curved seams too. However, purists will consider the rough midsole paint and bulbous shape as leaving a lot to be desired, especially for a sneaker of this significance.

That being said, samples are just that, and not all of them make it off the production line. Could Nike still be encountering cracking issues? Considering that they have been making unsupported full-length Vapormax for years, it’s unlikely that’ll present a roadblock. But, stranger things have happened.