The best Nike Air Max 1 colourways of all time, ranked

Did you know that the Air Max 1 is so iconic that it has its own day of celebration? Well, it does; March 26th. Anyway, the Tokyo Maze AM1 was released as a part of Air Max Day celebrations in 2019 and features an attention-grabbing black-and-white geometric pattern with a few splashes of colour on the laces. Whether there is an actual way out of the maze pattern, we’re not quite sure.

The ‘London’ AM1 was inspired by – you guessed it – London. More specifically, the city’s bustling streets and waterways are where the design is derived from, with classic London grey colour blocks splotched over the sneaker, as well as embroidery depicting the river Thames on the heel. As anyone who has ever laid eyes on the Thames will know, the blue in the colour scheme is certainly not an homage to the river’s colour.

One of the few general releases on this list, the watermelon colourway has been a summer staple since it was released. It takes visual cues from Nike’s famous South Beach colour scheme, but refreshes them with a hit of green suede. Despite the fact that this is not a limited release, you’ll struggle to find it in stores because of how quickly it sells out. Better try StockX.

Another general release, the grape AM1 is more on the simplistic side of the design spectrum. It’s almost entirely white and grey besides a few subtle hits of purple, but the colour blends so well with that premium leather that it earns a place high up this list. The mini-swoosh on the toe-box is a highlight, a simple yet distinctive touch.

One of the rarest AM1s but also one of the best, only eight pairs of the Big Proof were ever made. Proof was one of Eminem’s closest friends, and this shoe was released to commemorate his death. Each shoe was auctioned off, with the funds raised going to Eminem’s charity. The Big Proof AM1s remain one of the rarest and most valuable Nike sneakers in existence.

One of the original two Air Max 1 colourways, the Obsidian AM1 was re-released in 2017 to coincide with its 30-year anniversary. It’s a lot easier to find nowadays, but less exclusivity has lost it no appeal. The Obsidian’s colourway is relatively simple compared to some of the other entries on this list, but its clean, contrasting lines are pure heat.

The other original Air Max 1 colourway, Varsity Red is one of the sneakers that started it all as the first of its kind to feature an exposed air unit. The novelty of visible air may have worn off by now, but the Varsity Red colourway has endured and remains as clean as it was the day it was released. Some things never change, and we doubt the Varsity Red AM1 will ever be surpassed.