Nike Air Max 97 Release Date

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Last year, when the Nike Air Max 97 retroed for its 20th anniversary, there was a bit of a purist approach to purchasing the vintage sneaker. Those who considered themselves of elevated taste were only buying pairs in OG colorways. And to that end, only buying pairs produced in OG materials.

As the year went on, though, and collaborative pairs with Skepta, Undefeated and Cristiano Ronaldo began to impress, the tide quickly turned. Inline pairs began to move faster and OG pairs were all but impossible to score. Given the balance that was struck throughout 2017, non-traditional pairs carry much greater weight in 2018.

All that said, when this pair that conjures comparisons to the Michigan Wolverines drops on May 1, there will be no reservations about original coloring and materials that mimic OGs from ’97. There will just be registers ringing for $160 plus tax.