Despite its name, the Nike Air Max 98 wasn’t the only Air Max shoe to release in 1998. In fact, in subsequent years the popularity of the Air Max 98 has been marginal compared to its stablemate: the Air Max Plus, a.k.a. the Air Max TN. Particularly in sportswear-heavy subcultures in the UK and Russia, the Air Max Plus has been part of the streetwear uniform since its initial release, while the Air Max 98 has remained the sole preserve of footwear enthusiasts and collectors.

It seems only fitting, then, that in honour of the silhouette’s 20^th birthday Nike has retrofitted the Air Max Plus with its cutting-edge Vapormax sole unit to create the Air Vapormax Plus. Vapormax was Nike’s big announcement for last year’s Air Max Day celebrations, an innovation 30 years in the making: a sole unit made entirely of Max Air, with no encapsulation necessary, which results in an ultra-lightweight yet comfortable ride; the perfect replacement for the decoupled Tuned Air unit from the original.

The Air Max Plus’ iconic upper, however, remains intact, with its compression-moulded neoprene body, floating TPU cage and 3M reflective detailing, while the all-Air pods of the Vapormax sole blend seamlessly into the highly technical aesthetic that still looks revolutionary twenty years later.

Given the enduring popularity of the two styles, we expect this hybrid to be very popular. The Nike Air Vapormax Plus in Cargo/Sequoia is launching on Thursday the 25^th of January 2018, with a stealthy Triple Black version arriving shortly afterwards.