Cultivating Roots: History of the Nike Air Max Plus
Inspired by palm trees blowing in the breeze at sunset on a Florida beach, designer Sean McDowell conceived the Nike Air Max Plus in 1997. The concept came about while the shoe designer-turned-creative director was working on a project dubbed "Sky Air" in collaboration with Foot Locker, the brand's largest retailer at the time. The project involved using a new Max Air innovation to evolve its cushioning technology. The Nike Air Max Plus launched in 1998 exclusively at Foot Locker stores, with an initial retail price of $AUD1621*.
A year after the running shoe's debut, Jennifer Lopez wore the Air Max Plus in the music video for her debut single, "If You Had My Love." Other celebrities like Drake, Offset and Khloe Kardashian have been spotted sporting their Nike Air Max Plus kicks.
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*All prices are based on historical eBay data. Actual selling price of items not guaranteed and may vary.
Beginner's Luck: Nike Air Max Plus' Groundbreaking Design
The Nike Air Max Plus (TN) was created to showcase the company's innovative Tuned Air cushioning technology. McDowell drew the shoe's signature aesthetic from observing the Sunshine State's beaches. Warm sunsets inspired the running shoe's gradient upper design, and the distinct shank construction between the sole and the midsole was modelled after a whale's tail.
Surprisingly, several of the shoe's most iconic features were a result of McDowell's unfamiliarity with standard footwear design and company fundamentals. One of the running shoe's most widely recognised elements is the "Tn Air" logo, which wasn't part of the original design. Exclusive characteristics of the Air Max Plus include:
- Reflective detailing on the toe box and tongue rather than on the heel
- Unique "Palm Tree" external architecture
- Slimmer, longer reimagined Nike logo
- Faded ombré colouways
McDowell leveraged his personal experience as a runner to optimise the design. His decision to change the reflective detail placement to the front of the shoe came from knowing that runners should be visible to oncoming traffic.
Tuned Air: Nike Air Max Plus (TN) Construction
To create the shoe's signature external shape, McDowell suggested using three thin TPU welds instead of one, a manufacturing challenge that hadn't been done before. The Nike Air Max Plus was also the company's first running shoe to use Tuned Air technology with a significantly smaller Air unit. Its revolutionary design features "hemispheres" inserted into the sole and Air unit that increases cushioning in the forefoot and reduces pressure in the heel. The overall result is a lightweight, sturdy construction with added stability.
Nike Air Max Plus Collections
Nike Air Max Plus OG Collection
Three colouways were introduced for 1998's Foot Locker launch:
- Hyperblue (Blue/Yellow/Cyber Black) – resale value of $AUD2602*.
- Night Sky (Black/Red/White) – resale value of $AUD2603*.
- Sunset (Orange/Yellow/Black/White) – resale value $AUD260 to $AUD5854*.
These hues offered a great storytelling element, representing the sunset, nightfall and sunrise. Hyperblue and Sunset are the most coveted by collectors.
Nike Air Max Plus TN 2018 Releases
To celebrate two decades of the innovative Tuned Air technology, Hyperblue and Sunset (aka Pimento Orange) were rereleased in 2018. Another popular colourway released that year is Purple Voltage, which initially sold for $AUD2085*
In honour of this 20-year milestone, other highly sought-after colourways debuted, including:
- Alternate Galaxy – resale value of $AUD221 to $AUD9757*.
- Metallic Gold – resale value of $AUD221-$AUD3258*.
Nike Air VaporMax Plus
The Nike Air VaporMax Plus combines the whale tail-inspired upper of the Air Max Plus with a larger VaporMax air unit. Four colourways were released in January 2018:
- Cargo Khaki – resale value of $AUD390 to $AUD6509*.
- Obsidian & Photo Blue – resale value of $AUD455 to $AUD104010*.
- Sunset – resale value of $AUD520 to $AUD1,30011*.
- Triple Black – resale value of $AUD390 to $AUD71512*.
Nike Air Max Plus 3
This third edition was released in November 2019 in three OG-inspired colourways:
- Hyperblue – resale value of $AUD234-$AUD39013*
- Hyper Violet – resale value of $AUD195 to $AUD32514*.
- Wolf Grey – resale value of $AUD208 to $AUD39015*
Other notable Nike Air Max Plus 3 colourways include:
- Parachute
- Tiger
- Deep Royal
- Track Red
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*All prices are based on historical eBay data. Actual selling price of items not guaranteed and may vary.
Air Max Plus Styles with a High Resale Value
Among the most sought-after Nike Air Max Plus models by collectors and sellers is the Air Max Plus TN in the Greedy colourway. It combines hues from the OG Hyperblue and Sunset colourways for a reimagined twist to the running shoe's core aesthetic. The resale value ranges from $AUD234 to $AUD52016*. Other high-value colourways from the La Requin (the shark) pack have resale values ranging from $AUD260 $AUD52017*.
Favourites among running shoe enthusiasts include:
Nike Air Max Plus Sunset OG (1998)
Nike Air Max Plus Hyperblue OG (1998)
Nike Air Max Plus La Requin "Teal" (2016)
Nike Air Max Plus La Requin "France" (2018)
Nike Air Max Plus Greedy (2018)
Nike Air Max Plus Alternate Galaxy (2018)
Nike Air Max Plus Tiger (2019)
Tiger is reminiscent of the OG Sunset colourway and, despite its recent release, has become a scarce model. It's a worthwhile investment for any running shoe aficionado, with a resale value of $AUD390 to $AUD78018*.
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*All prices are based on historical eBay data. Actual selling price of items not guaranteed and may vary.
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