Meet VaporMax, Nike’s new running shoe –

For the first time, Nike managed to develop a running shoe with a 100% Air sole (technology that looks like an air bubble): the VaporMax. “After many years of study and 15 prototypes, we created shoes without rubber or foam, which guarantees more lightness and durability”, says Andrea Corradini, director of the American brand, during the launch event in Seoul, capital of South Korea, in which was present.

As it is inside a kind of capsule, the air does not lose its cushioning capacity throughout use, unlike the foam, which, by expanding in the midsole, ends up having less durability. Weighing just 249 grams, the shoe – which has a futuristic design – is suitable for short runs and even marathons.

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One of the main challenges for the brand’s engineers was to reduce the number of layers in the midsole and create a structure in which the foot would be in direct contact with the Air material. “This time, the support base is flat, which gives stability to the step”, says Andrea. Already the leather (the upper part that wraps the foot) comes with Flyknit technology, a kind of seamless mesh.

GOOD FORM TESTED

“At the invitation of the brand, I traveled to South Korea for the VaporMax launch and was able to test it during a 5 kilometer run through the streets of Seoul. In comparison to the Nike LunarEpic Fliknit 2, sneakers with a foam midsole, the new model seemed to have a more stable cushioning (the foot does not sink with the step).

The impression that I would easily twist my ankle (the transparent midsole and the sole full of reliefs gave me that feeling at first sight!) soon disappeared in the initial minutes of running, thanks to the base for the completely flat insole and the structure that embraces the whole the feet. Even walking along sidewalks and rough terrain (we went through parks with pebbles on the ground), the Nike Air VaporMax proved to be comfortable and safe – the sole comes with some small squares that improve friction with the ground.

Although many friends have said that the release looks like it came out of the 2000s, for me, its design earns an extra point. The model comes in four versions: gray and white, gray and red, black and a green and gold edition featuring Australian designer Marc Newson.”