Nike Are Dropping Four New Air Max 1 ’86 Big Bubble Colourways

News on this release was first published on March 3, 2023.

Update April 18, 2023: Nike are continuing their partnership with Kids of Immigrants to release the four latest colourways of the Air Max 1 ’86 Big Bubble! Coming correct in ‘Dark Team Red’, ‘Light Silver’, ‘Smokey Mauve’ and ‘Light Armoury Blue’, the pairs are set to arrive at Dover Street Market London and LA on April 21. Coinciding with the launch, DSM London will be hosting a Kids of Immigrants x Nike installation, as well as a panel featuring its founders Daniel Buezo, Weleh Dennis and Iretidayo ‘Ireti’ Zaccheaus of Street Souk.

Update April 14, 2023: Official images of the Air Max 1 ‘Smokey Mauve’ have arrived, meaning they’ll be seeing a release in the coming weeks. Unlike the gifted pairs, this run won’t feature individually numbered midsoles.

Update April 4, 2023: Turns out all of the recent Air Max 1 ‘Big Bubble’ leaks were real. Four exclusive colourways of the sought-after silhouette now exist, including the ‘Smokey mauve’ that was limited to 1986 pairs. They were all given out to vendors of the Black Market Flea through a partnership between Nike and LA clothing label Kids of Immigrants. Whether these will actually release is currently unknown, but we’ll keep you updated if and when we hear more.

Everyone has ‘Big Bubble’ fever following the release of the mythical Air Max 1 ’86, which reverted the legendary silhouette to its original 1986 shape. The most significant change to the ’86 version is the Air unit in the midsole, which has been made larger to replicate the first-ever AM1s. Back in the 80s, the original window was too big, so it had to be revised because of potential cracking.

Nike resurrected the pair for Air Max Day 2023, and ever since, rumours have flooded the internet suggesting a ‘Royal’ iteration, among others, is on the way. Finally, early leaked imagery has surfaced via @HORHEAD_Sales of another make-up set to cover the ‘Big Bubble’.

This fresh new Air Max 1 ’86 comes in a Smokey Mauve/Dark Team Red/Mauve Fume/ EQ Rouge colourway, boasting materials similar to the Air Max Day pair. The base layer has been placed in mesh, with suede overlays, Nike Air branding, white midsole and that big ol’ bubble.

We said it here, but it’s unlikely Nike would have totally reworked the AM1 only to release a single colourway, so while we’ll remain speculative, we can’t discount these leaks just yet!

No official confirmation has come through for this Nike Air Max 1 ’86 ‘Big Bubble’, obviously, but stay locked to Sneaker Freaker for updates if and when they surface.