The All-Time Greatest Nike Air Max 95s: Part 3
There is a whole lotta heat in the back catalogue of the Nike Air Max 95 – this is part 3 of our All-Time Greatest, after all – but that's not that surprising since we've had 25 years of Sergio Lozano's historic design.
To celebrate two and a half decades, we thought we'd spotlight a few more bangers from the AM95 archive.
Nike Air Max 95 Lux (2001)Nike Air Max 95 Lux (2001)
You know sometimes when you get a crisp new pair, but then it turns out the leather is so stiff and junky it might as well be pleather? Yeah, the Air Max 95 Lux from 2001 is the exact opposite of that.
The Made in Italy crep was swathed in the softest possible hide, and decked-out in black for ultimate wearability. A map of Italy swing tag made clear their luxury provenance, and added the perfect final touch.
For those that missed the 2001 release, Supreme revisited the idea in 2019, adding red and blue iterations.
Nike Air Max 95 'Ekiden' Pack (2013)Nike Air Max 95 'Ekiden' Pack (2013)
The Air Max 95 holds a special place in the Japanese sneaker consciousness, so releases paying tribute to the scene are no surprise. The 'Ekiden' pack from 2013 is one such drop, commemorating the Ekiden race that pits top universities against one another in the gruelling 219-kilometre relay. Josai, Kanagawa, Komazawa, Waseda and Toyo Universities all get their own pair in this subtely coloured, yet top notch, five-strong release.
Dave White x size? x Nike Air Max 95 'Rabbit' and 'Fox' (2016)Dave White x size? x Nike Air Max 95 'Rabbit' and 'Fox' (2016)
The 2016 Air Max 95 'Fox' and 'Rabbit' release was a thoroughly British affair, with artist Dave White joining forces with legendary UK retailer size? for the double drop.
Based on White's Albion series, which explored the native species of his homeland, the two designs saw his dynamic works chopped up and abstractified. No longer a fox and a rabbit, they were now serious sneaker heat.
Parra x Nike Air Max 95 ‘Running Man’ (2008)Parra x Nike Air Max 95 ‘Running Man’ (2008)
Part of a three-strong pack of the same name, Parra's 2008 Air Max 95 'Running Man' joined a Cortez and Air Max 90 in the artist-led collection.
The Dutch artist employed his hallmark bold colours across the 95's waves, which paired with the black muguard and midsole and translucent outsole for a bubble bottom that we're still thinking about 12 years later.
Nike Air Max 95 'Mexico World Cup' (2006)Nike Air Max 95 'Mexico World Cup' (2006)
Part of a pack released in 2006 to commemorate the World Cup in Germany, the 'Mexico' colourway joined others to celebrate their championship bid.
The Max flew the flag for Mexico, with the national colours weaving down its upper, and on the tongue patch. Unfortunately, the celebratory sneak didn't help the team to victory - they bowed out in the round of 16, going down to Argentina, 2-1.
Nike Air Max 95 'Monster' (2001)Nike Air Max 95 'Monster' (2001)
With murky tones and varied textures, it's easy to see why these were nicknamed 'Monsters'.
A favourite in the if-you-know-you-know kind of way, it blends swampy olives and mustards with a plethora of animal scales across the upper to deliver a wild and monstrous crep that is still a Grail 19 years later.
Nike Air Max 95 'Independence Day' (2004)Nike Air Max 95 'Independence Day' (2004)
Look, the ol' red, white and blue is a common trope when it comes to colourways, but it's revisited for a reason: it works.
In 2004, the Swoosh employed the scheme like pros, with white cascading to red, which rested on blue for a super crisp approach to the combo. Fresh enough to appeal to Air heads the world over.
Nike Air Max 95 'Halloween' (2014)Nike Air Max 95 'Halloween' (2014)
Nike unleashed these spooky sneaks back in 2014, with a subtle take on the Halloween theme.
Dialling up the 95's anatomical inspiration, it wears a bloodshot eye on the tongue, while gooey green drips from the eyelets and pools on the outsole. Spooky!
Nike Air Max 95 'Resin' (1998)Nike Air Max 95 'Resin' (1998)
No celebrity co-sign, no big name colab, just a solid colourway and a goddamn MASSIVE bubble.
The fat whack of Air was standard issue in OG and early retro pairs of the 95, but has sadly been done away with in recent releases. RIP big bubbles.
The 'Resin' gets extra points for doing a women's colourway right, with the top notch combination of grey and yellow. Good work, Nike!
Nike Air Max 95 'Bumblebee' (2006)Nike Air Max 95 'Bumblebee' (2006)
The yellow and black 'Bumblebee' motif has been oft-returned to by the Swoosh, but 2006's 95 is one of the best. The colour combo provides bold contrast, helped along with hits of butter yellow and white, but its the detail that elevates these.
And by that, we mean THAT FADE. The colours bleed from black to yellow to white up the throat, giving these more than a little bit of buzz.
