Nike unveils next-gen sneaker 'Air Liquid Max'

Nike is gearing to launch a new silhouette called the ‘Air Liquid Max’ on 26 March, bringing the next Air Max technology to a new generation.

Described as “a new sportswear innovation that merges superior comfort with four decades of Air Max learnings and heritage”, the new sneaker features a futuristic upper inspired by the poison dart frog.

Andy Caine, VP, Creative Director at Nike Sportswear, said: “The Air Liquid Max is a testament to Nike design excellence and tenacity - and a reminder that when we enhance and improve the Air experience, we also get to inspire Nike designers to deliver something entirely new.”

Challenging themselves to come as close to the feeling of walking on air as possible, Nike designers have engineered a contoured Air unit that’s flexible and intentionally low to the ground. It becomes ‘point-loaded Air’, situated only where needed underfoot and surrounded by cored-out areas of negative space, eliminating excess material and weight while lending the Liquid Max its unique geometry. The result is “a soft, smooth and stable ride that supports a fluid transition with every step”.

Tae Yong Lee, Nike Sportswear Senior Director, Speed Footwear Product Design, said: “The Nike Air Liquid Max connects science to art, creating a kind of irreverence and telling an amazing story of function and aesthetics.

“With this shoe, we’re cutting through the noise and inviting today’s generation to experience a new evolution of Air Max, created with Nike’s latest innovations and our most beautiful materials and colours.”

The latest Air Max innovation features a futuristic, low-profile mesh upper crafted with three-layer textured printing to add both critical support and visual complexity - forming a look unlike any other in the storied lineage of Air Max footwear.

Nike Sportswear Lead Material Designer, Marya Chan, said: “The Nike Air Liquid Max rethinks everything about how we add distinction through colour and materials.

“From far away, the upper looks very unified. But as you get closer, you see the three layers of printing at various heights, adding a lot of tactility that’s surprising to the touch.”

The vibrant ‘nanoprint’ takes cues from the poison dart frog, one of nature’s smallest and most dangerous amphibians, which uses colour as a warning system and whose toe pads also inspired the design.

That inspiration comes to life in the launch colourway, which features dramatic green hues accentuated by a chrome Swoosh - a shiny, seamless finish with a tinted, translucent rubber outsole.

Nike Sportswear Lead Colour Designer, Mike McCoy, said: “For the poison dart frog, colour is confidence and boldness is protection. We built the Nike Air Liquid Max in this image, as a silhouette that feels a little dangerous, a little mysterious - a complete break from the past, built for today’s generation.”

The Nike Air Liquid Max will be available from 26 March across SNKRS and select Nike retail partners. Customers can visit SNKRS to set launch notifications and watch a design exploration video about Nike’s latest Air Max innovation.