While many of Nike‘s new Air Max releases will enjoy a year or two of being popular and then fade away into the archives, the recent Air Max 270 is a little more unique as it has remained popular ever since its release and there are no signs of this slowing down anytime soon.
While some of this comes down to the aesthetic, marketing and very popular release colourways, a large reason why these shoes are so beloved and have remained as popular as they have is because of how many incredibly unique state-of-the-art features are built into the shoe, with a lot of people in the industry claiming that this shoe was far ahead of its time when it first released.
Here is the full breakdown of the Nike Air Max 270 and why it has remained popular with Air Max fans to this day.
Air Max fans close round the scene in 2017 will remember Nike put a lot of effort into their Air Max 270 marketing leading up to its eventual release on February 2nd 2018. Pushing the shoe as the first shoe designed entirely for the lifestyle division rather than being sportswear focused. While they certainly looked ground breaking, no one could have predicted how popular the Air Max 270 would become, being one of Nike’s fast selling shoes up to that point.
They were the very first Air Max shoe that was designed for lifestyle purposes rather than just running, with many seeing it as the precedent of what the Air Max shoes would become in a few years, making these trainers much more accessible to everyone no matter what they wanted to use them for.
This accessibility, paired with the shoe’s incredibly innovative 270-degree technology built into the Air unit made them very different from really anything Nike was releasing at the time.
However, while their uniqueness may have made them popular upon release, the Air Max 270 enjoyed even more attention as the years went by.
After their initial release in 2018, the Air Max 270 only grew in sales, even overtaking the Air Force 1 Low in 2021 to be Nike’s best-selling shoe of that year. This is a ground-breaking statistic for Nike, who see the majority of their Air Max sales coming from 90s based designs like the Air Max 90, Air Max 95 and the Nike TN and there are a few reasons why this shoe has topped many of its competitors each year in sales. Here are some of the biggest reasons why the Air Max 270 has remained so popular.
The Air Max 270 manages to have a very vintage and retro feel to it while still looking incredibly modern thanks to its sleek and shiny design and fairly chunky soles with an air-heel at the back.
After all, Nike themselves have stated that the general aesthetic and design of the Air Max 270 is based on the Air Max 93 and the Nike Air Max 180, both being ground breaking shoes of the 1990s which were incredibly popular because of their premium designs and built-in technology. You can see specifically the Air Max 270 has borrowed the 180 degree visible air unit from the Air Max 93 and taken the shape of the upper and midsole design from the Air Max 180.
Nike decided to take some of the best parts from classic 90s shoes in the archive and re-design it completely with a few modern additions to create one of the best-commercially successful shoes they have ever released.
The Air Max 270 was known for its new and unique Air unit that made it so iconic when they first came out, and they’re still as comfortable to wear today having the biggest heel volume displacement out of any Air Max before the emergence of the Nike Air Max 720 or the Nike Air Max Scorpion, making them feel incredibly bouncy as they are able to absorb more weight to alleviate any stress from the wearer’s legs while jogging or walking, making you feel as light as air.
While Air Max’s are known for their heel volume, the Air Max 270 really is known for having one of very best Air Max units in this department, whilst some disqualify the shoe because they have had issues with the Air Max bubble popping, the majority of reviews are positive, allowing the wearer to walk with confidence with a very comfortable step.
Alongside the heel volume, another feature that makes the Air Max 270 feel so comfortable is its breathability, meaning no matter if you’re simply walking around in them, or you plan to keep them on during a lengthy and sweaty gym session, you can be sure these shoes will continue to feel light on your feet without any odours building up.
This is all thanks to the premium flyknit and mesh material that the shoes are designed with which are thin enough to let air through to your feet while still being fairly sturdy so that they remain comfortable and are well protected against harsh weather conditions, with this added comfortability being another huge reason why the shoes have remained so popular.
No matter how you prefer your shoes to look, whether it’s bright and vibrant or dark and sleek, there are many different colour options you can choose from when picking up a fresh pair of Air Max 270s.
Many of the different variants will have the heel be a different colour from the rest of the shoe, creating an eye-catching contrast that you can customise in so many ways to fit your preferred taste.
This also means that you can edit the shoes to fit a specific purpose, so if you want to use them for exercise and feel like making them a little brighter, or if you want something a little more streamlined and darker in its appearance for a more casual fit, you have that choice, with this freedom making them incredibly accessible.
Nike also released the Nike Air Max 270 React in 2019, a follow up to the classic which also was very well received by the community until production was stopped in 2022. We’re hoping the Nike Air Max 270 React will make a return soon!
Despite being released with new and innovative technology that Nike hadn’t yet used in their other shoes, the Nike Air Max 270 has remained at £140 since their release, putting them on the more affordable side when it comes to new release Air Max.
Nowadays, new Air Max shoes will often have a price range between £150 and £220 depending on how premium their design is and how many features are built into the shoe, however, the Air Max 270 has consistently retained its lower price point, despite the fact that it has only grown in popularity.
This has made it one of the more attractive shoes for older and newer Nike fans alike who are just looking for a comfortable pair of well-designed Air Max shoes which they know will last them a long time and that won’t end up costing them a fortune.
If you’re looking for a pair under retail, we always recommend having a look over at Nike UK for the biggest range and most often, the biggest discounts.
While the Air Force 1 Low may be one of the most recognisable Air Max shoes Nike has put out in recent years, the Air Max 270s have become just as popular as this classic. This is all due to their design, their inspiration, and how they incorporate some of the best Air Unit technologies you can find when it comes to Nike Air Max shoes.
With new colour schemes and variants of this shoe coming out fairly regularly, it’s never a bad time to pick up a pair, no matter what you’re planning to use them for.
We recommend shopping for Nike Air Max 270 from the following retailers.
Nike – SHOP HERE
JD Sports – SHOP HERE
Foot Locker – SHOP HERE
For further reading, you many want to check out the following articles:
What Can I Do If My Nike Air Max Bubble Pops?
