Big Sneaker affects us all. Take the Nike Tn Air Max Plus. For a brief time, it was the trainer. A Nineties throwback that enjoyed a second wind, its exoskeletal design made millennials feel relevant and comfortable all at once. This was the trainer of their childhood, but just cooler, and newer. Then, actual children started wearing them. The final nail in the coffin was sealed by TikTok: "tell me you’re a UK teenager without telling me you're a UK teenager" said the trademark apocalyptic voicebot over a clip of a small phalanx of youths kicking a garden wall, each and every one of them in a pair of Tns.
And look, that's OK! As the biggest player on the field, Nike's vastness allows its many lines to target many different people. We all like Nike. We just don't all have to like the same Nike. There's always a brand new release to keep us on side, too. This time, it's the latest Nike Air Max TW.
Like the Tn, it's an archival release. But this is from the ‘70s, not the ’90s, and pays homage to the seminal 1979 Air Tailwind: a sneaker that was one of the first to enjoy pioneering Air technology by the late engineer Frank Rudy. Bit of history. It also feels a little sportier, and runs closer to its track and field roots than other Nike silhouettes. The upper is made from a fabric specially engineered for added breathability. And rather than try to disguise its functionality to appear more fashion-adjacent, the Air Max TW 1 leans into its technology. It shows off – visible Air pockets included.
The best part is the sneaker's haptic effect. Angular, disintegrating lines give the TW 1 a trippy finish, but in that "Windows ‘97’s crashed again!" sort of way. And if you want to pare it back, there's a black and white colourway alongside a slightly louder racer blue.
Oh, and they're both out today too, priced from £144.95 at nike.com. Big Sneaker's on your side. Until the next millennial doom TikTok, anyway.
