Nike Air Max 2003 // Throwback Thursday

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Maximum minimalism.

Today’s Nice Kicks Throwback Thursday takes us back to the start of the new millennium and pays tribute to one of the more underrated models in the Nike Air Max heritage: the Nike Air Max 2003.

In the early 2000s, Nike running stayed true to its Air Max roots but gravitated towards designing a model that featured superior cushioning for maximum protection while remaining as light as possible.

Enter the Air Max 2K3.

Designed by Sergio Lozano who most famously created the Air Max 95, the 2K3 ushered the Air Max running line into the new millennium and beyond by using a high-tech carbon-based fiber manufactured in Japan that offered both a breathable and waterproof combination for runners. Like earlier Air Max models, the Air Max 2K3 also incorporated a full-length Visible Air Unit with a TPU mid-sole unit for maximum support and stability during foot strike.

Most importantly, Sergio Lozano went for a minimalist approach for this latest rendition of the Air Max running classic. His use of Teijin material, more commonly associated with elite track spikes, was situated on updated Air Max 97 tooling which resulted in a supremely comfortable, aesthetically appealing, lightweight model which was met with positive reviews.

In 2003, Niketown Los Angeles had a grand re-opening which featured a giveaway of a full-size run of limited-edition pairs of the Air Max 2K3 in a burgundy/maroon upper with gold midsole which featured the letters, “NTLA”, a release made available only at NTLA in honor of their grand reopening, not available on Nike ID. Also, that same year, the marketing agency Wieden & Kennedy created a TV commercial called “Recess Time” which debuted in the Netherlands and depicted the Air Max 2K3 as a responsive, lightweight, low-to-the-ground running sneaker.

The Nike Air Max 2K3 was later re-issued as part of the History of Air pack in 2005, available on NikeID, a website where one could make their own pair of custom Nike Air Max 2003s with unique color palates and design templates, serving as one of the most versatile Nike Air Max running shoes in history.

Minimalism, to the Max.