Sneaker Technology

Nike Technology

Nike, Inc. has a history of developing innovative and new impact protection systems. Starting with the Waffle Trainer to the Shox columns developed in 2001, certain technologies can only be found in genuine Nike shoes.

Specialized Impact Protection

Nike employs a variety of cushioning systems in their products. Cushioning systems need to reduce shock, distribute pressure, protect from impact and offer comfort shock, distribute pressure, protect from impact, and offer comfort. The four cushioning systems pioneered and sold by Nike are Nike Air, Nike Air Max, Nike Air Zoom, and Nike Shox. Click on the name to learn more about each of these technologies.

Nike Air: Nike Air was the first air technology developed at Nike, and it changed the way people thought about cushioning. It remains a standard for impact protection more than 20 years after its creation. The Nike Air made from pressurized gas inside a tough yet flexible urethane plastic capsule. The large molecules of gas prevent it from escaping the bag. The Air-Sole units are encapsulated in the midsole beneath the heel, forefoot, or in both locations depending on the shoe and the needs of the athlete for whom the shoe was designed. The Air-Sole works to cushion the foot by compressing and reduces the force of the impact and then immediately recovers its original shape, ready for the next impact.
Nike Max Air / Air Max: Nike Max Air, the maximum in impact cushioning, is designed to take brutal, repetitive impacts and minimize their effects on the body and your performance. Air Max units are made through a technique called “blow-molding?, allowing for the greatest volume of Nike Air without weakening the Air-Sole unit. Duel-pressure cushioning addresses the need for protection and rear foot stability. The hallmark of the Air Max technology is a visible air unit in the heel. The Air Max provides athletes with full-length impact protection.
Nike Zoom Air/Air Zoom: This lightweight, super-responsive, and ultra thin Air unit brings the foot closer to the ground for the ultimate feel and great maneuverability. Used primarily for basketball shoes, shoes built with the Air Zoom tend to be light and responsive with excellent "ground-feel".

The Air Zoom unit starts with two fabric layers connected by thousands of vertical fibers, each attached at both ends to a fabric layer. These fibers are then surrounded with pressurized gas inside a Nike Air unit. While the pressurized air exerts and outward force, like a full balloon, the fibers are placed in tension and exert an opposing inward force to keep the air bag from popping or bulging. On impact, the air bag compresses to relieve the tension on the fibers. After impact, the pressurize gas expands the air bag and places tension on those fibers. The fibers compress on impact and then spring back immediately. The advantage to the Air Zoom is that it is incredibly thin and light, but it provides excellent impact cushioning while allowing the wearer to feel the surface he or she is on.
Nike Shox: In 2001, Nike unveiled a completely new and revolutionary style of athletic shoe cushioning. The Nike Shox system is based on the simple idea that a shoe should not only provide cushioning, but return the energy of the impact to the wearer just like a spring would. The Shox system took sixteen years to develop, but the highly resilient foam in the Nike Shox columns reduce the risk of impact-related injuries. The state- of-the-art Shox won’t have you bouncing off of walls, but it will provide a barely noticeable, but pleasantly springy ride for even the most demanding athlete.
Nike Free: Nike Free technology is a combination of impact protection and outsole technology. This light-weight, highly flexible shoe simulates the effects of barefoot running and distributes the landing pressure over a larger area to reduce stress on the legs, knees, and back.

Biomechanical studies show that allowing your feet the full range of its natural movement builds strength and reduces injury. In answer to the demand of would-be barefoot runners worried about protecting their feet from the elements, Nike created an outsole with deeply segmented grooves that mimic the natural pressure patterns of a barefoot landing. The forefoot area allows a greater flex of the toes for a natural grip that creates stability and pinpoint turns.

For more information about the Nike Free technology, please visit NikeFree.com