Nike VaporMax Plus

Air VaporMax Plus

The Nike VaporMax Plus meshes old-school iconic aesthetics with up-to-date modern technology in a perfect synergy of old and new.

The shoe takes design cues from Nike Air Max Plus, a shoe that was once groundbreaking aesthetically and technically by itself. Its relevance has been secured by gaining a following in European capitals, known as “le requin” or the shark in Paris. The original design was inspired by palm trees represented by a TPU shell that encased the shoe, while a whale-fin inspired shank added to the tropical feel. But it was the vibrant colors that really let the “Tn” tuned air become a statement piece.

On the other side of the chronology, the Air VaporMax Plus takes this 90s aesthetic heritage and fuses it with one of Nike’s most successful, comfortable, soft, and supportive technologies: VaporMax. Far from being the reserve of technical proficiency only, its tubular, bulbous design of the midsole also serves to compliment the unconventional style of the Plus. Thus, Nike has birthed a modern classic.  

 Design-wise, it stays true to the original, keeping the whale-inspired arch in the midsole, utilizing a neoprene upper with debossed details that continue the retro shape. The VaporMax Plus has been given a stronger cage, the swoosh has been relocated and the “Vm air” logo has moved to the back of the shoe. This shoe stays true to Nike’s impeccable habit of modernizing, while respecting their heritage.