All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Footwear News may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
As retro sneakers continue to be the prevailing trend, Nike is readying the return of a fan-favorite model that is poised to cap off the summer season in style.
Originally released in 1999, the Nike Air SNDR Max (formerly known as the Air Sunder Max) was a performance cross-training shoe that arrived during an experimental period of the brand’s design. Sneakers of the late ‘90s are often associated with elements such as vibrant colors, unique constructions and heaps of reflectivity — all of which the Air SNDR Max boasts in droves.
For starters, the Air SNDR Max’s stretchy spandex upper combines both traditional shoelaces with a zippered shroud, a feature also seen on popular shoes of that era including the Zoom Flight ’98 The Glove and the Air Flightposite. During its ’99 launch, there were a handful of subtle colorways, but it was the brighter variations in styles like “Deep Ocean” and “Heaven” that are most fondly remembered. For the upcoming retro, Nike will lean into those highlighter-like looks, with several bold make ups already confirmed to release later in 2024.
It looks like the first of the Air SNDR Max reissues to arrive will be the “Canyon Gold” iteration featured here. Nearly identical to the original “Deep Ocean” style from ’99, the pair features a gradient orange fade across its upper. The side paneling is adorned with large reflective squares, and the sneaker’s signature zipper cover is also present.
Watch on FN
Nike’s rollout of the Air SNDR Max has been calculated. The model first reappeared in July 2021 as part of the Spring 2022 Comme des Garçons Homme Plus show. Eventually released in three colorways (all-black, all-white and black-and-white), the Comme des Garçons version of the Air SNDR Max eschewed the shoelaces of the original in favor of a zipper-only closure.
The Beaverton, Ore.-based brand would later tease a wider Air SNDR Max retro during a digital product preview dubbed SNKRS Showcase during October 2023. That included a look at other future Air SNDR Max styles in both green and pink.
An exact release date for the Air SNDR Max has not yet been announced, but the sneaker should be launching soon. Official Nike product images of the “Canyon Gold” colorway have hit its e-commerce site, and some in-hand shots of the 2024 retro have also begun circulating on social media (below). The model is tentatively slated for a Fall 2024 release window, meaning it could drop as soon as July or August, so fans should still have some time to enjoy wearing them in the warmer weather. A retail price of $180 is expected.
Shop Nike Air Max Shoes
