Since first arriving to market in 2017, Nike’s Air VaporMax line has pushed the boundaries of how an Air unit can be built — and, in more recent years, turned an eye to sustainability. On the line’s latest model, the Air VaporMax 2021, both of these key pieces are still intact.The shoe’s launch slate includes five colorways: “Armory Blue/Light Smoke Grey/Metallic Silver/White,” “Particle Grey/Aluminum/Light Liquid Lime/Barely Grey,” “Grey Fog/Bright Mango/Anthracite/White,” “White/Black/Metallic Silver/White” and “Black/Black/Anthracite/Black.” These color schemes run the gamut from vibrant to understated, but all five feature a similar construction and tech specs.VaporMax cushioning units are kept to two sizeable-but-sleek pieces, one in the forefoot, the other in the heel. All sit atop recycled rubber outsoles and are bolstered by recycled TPU clips. Uppers are made from stretchy Flyknit and adorned with large midfoot Swooshes. The Air VaporMax 2021’s main divergence from its predecessor, the Air VaporMax 2020, is its lacing system: where the 2020 used FlyEase technology, the 2021 returns to a more standard lacing system. There’s also a classic Nike Sportswear Sunburst graphic on the insoles and VaporMax hits on the tongue and heel’s pull tabs. The Air VaporMax 2021’s build is at least 40 percent recycled content by weight, a notable sum but one that’s less than the 2020 iteration — which promised a build that was at least 50 percent recycled content by weight. Expect the Nike Air VaporMax 2021 to release on the Nike webstore in the coming weeks. Its MSRP is set at $200 USD.For more from the Swoosh, take a look at Jordan Brand’s fall 2021 Air Jordan retro collection.Click here to view full gallery at HYPEBEAST
