A New Fan-Favorite 97?-The Air Max 97 Grey Thunder

Whether it’s on the courts or on the streets, the Air Max 97 had its time to shine in the early days of its release but over time got overshadowed by its older counterparts, such as the Air Max 90 and Air Max 1. In various regions, however, such as in Europe, the popularity of the silhouette remains high and also produces various artists that consistently keep the 97’s place in sneaker culture enshrined with new concepts and art.

This time, we present another potential future classic in Nike Air Max 97 Grey Thunder. This special silhouette, although not as popular as back in the early 2000s, is still a top seller among Nike’s portfolio. When released in 1997, there was nothing else like it on the market in terms of design and functionality. Its upper and shape reminded people of Japan’s, at the time new, bullet trains but its metallic finishes were actually inspired by mountain bikes. They were also the first to introduce a 180-degree visible Air Max unit which gave it a high-tech look like no other sneaker at the time. This design paved the way for future hits but remains a timeless silhouette, often adopted by many concept artists as a canvas for their work.

This latest 97, dubbed the Air Max 97 Thunder Grey, appears to take inspiration from a few older colorways. The first that comes to mind is the Air Max 97 i-95 Pack that featured a similar black background and green vibrant hits. Uppers feature a mix of what appears to be leather and canvas materials. Black leather covers the smooth mudguards that are disturbed by a vibrant yellow canvas portion with an embroidered black Swoosh. Side panels feature stripes of grey leather. Followed by yellow canvas ending in a yellow canvas throat with matching yellow laces that blend right in and a secondary black lacing system that provides contrast.

The tongues feature black tongue tags with embossed rubber Swooshes, yellow collar linings, and yellow heel pulls that compliments the other thunderous hits. Yellow midsoles feature those same titular hues while exposing a 180-degree Air Max unit for added cushioning and support. Lastly, rugged grey outsoles finish off the design. We don’t usually see many concepts for this timeless silhouette but each time we do, artists have ensured that it’s a treat every time! For more content such as this, stay tuned for more!