Nike has had tremendous success with the Big Bubble remastering for the 30th anniversary of the Air Max 95. Following its debut on the Air Max 95 “Neon” launch colorway, Big Bubble construction has been brought over to a multitude of other variants. Most of them haven’t been original colorways like “Neon,” though, but that changes with yet another iteration confirmed to be on the way.
The Nike Air Max 95 OG Big Bubble “Solar Red” brings near-original proportions to the 1995 colorway. The namesake color is used for the Swoosh, lace loops and Air units. Like many other renditions of the sneaker, the rest of the upper is then rendered in greyscale, including its gradient series of wavy stripes. An initial look at the sneaker was revealed by the Air Max 95 reseller LiverpoolFootwear.
It’s been seven years since the “Solar Red” Air Max 95 hit stores in 2018, and another seven years separated it from its previous release in 2011.
This year marks both the 40th anniversary for the Air Jordan 1 and the 30th anniversary for the Air Max 95. While Jordan Brand has been more conservative in the number of releases for its seminal sneaker, Nike has been much more prolific in dropping Air Max 95s with the Big Bubble treatment.
“I appreciate what Nike did with the Big Bubble, it shows a willingness to revisit the roots and bring something full circle,” James Whitner told Footwear News in a story on the sneaker’s resurgence. “This version gives people a peek behind the curtain, almost like a director’s cut of the original. It invites deeper appreciation from both the old heads who remember the first wave and the new generation just now discovering it. For me, it’s a reminder that timeless design can always be reimagined, as long as the intention is pure.”
In addition to the “Neon” version and its “Reverse Neon” counterpart, which stems from one of designer Sergio Lozano’s early sketches and dropped exclusively through MoMA, Nike has brought the Big Bubble look to the fan-favorite “Bright Mandarin” and a bunch of brand new flavors.
The celebrations will also continue with a “Yu-Gi-Oh” collaboration and another with Levi’s, and Corteiz’s “Honey Black” Air Max 95 has been a highlight of this year’s sneaker releases thus far.
The Nike Air Max 95 “Solar Red” doesn’t yet have a firm release date, but is expected to release in 2025 through the Snkrs app and select third party retailers. Pricing is set at $190.
Nike Air Max 95 OG Big Bubble “Solar Red” (toe)
Nike Air Max 95 OG Big Bubble “Solar Red” (left medial)
Nike Air Max 95 OG Big Bubble “Solar Red” (heel)