Our verdict

The shoes nike air max 90 classic is a living legend. Its trendy look from the '00s has made it one of the most popular trainers all around the world, which means it's so stylish it'll easily match anything you've got in your wardrobe. We found it quite comfortable during our wear tests, and its massive stack height and lock-in feel made us feel confident in every single step. Wonderfully mixing breathability and durability, we couldn't believe our eyes when we analysed this all-rounder in our lab. That being said, its premium materials come with a premium price... and a not so premium break-in period!

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  • Quite comfortable
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  • releases breathability
  • Authentic leather
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  • Trendy look from the '00s
  • Part of Nike Street Style Heritage
  • Reflective elements

nike pegasus 89 green and white gold ring blue Cons

  • Heavy
  • Not the best for all day wear
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  • Excessively tapered toebox

Who should buy

Don't let the iconic shoes nike air max 90 classic walk away from you if:

  • You need the perfect mix of breathability and durability to wear your new trainers all year long.
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  • You're a trendsetter and a Nike lover and you won't settle for anything less than a premium quality shoe for your feet.
  • You want to feel taller and you're totally obsessed with the Air technology.

nike air max 95 outdoor 01 22596450 main

Who should NOT buy

Forget about the AM 95 if you're looking for a lightweight pair of trainers. Among all the nike roshe phantom blue band gold we've reviewed so far, it turns out this one is the heaviest! The AM 270 is a wonderful alternative, but if you don't want to spend that much, then we believe you should have a look at the AM SC.

After our wear tests, we are of the opinion that there are better alternatives for all-day wear. If that's your intended use for this shoe... you're better off with something more comfortable, like the AM DN. Which, by the way, doesn't require a break-in period!

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic-pieces

Cushioning

Heel stack

The AM 95 features a huge Air unit in the rearfoot that makes its heel stack go all the way up to a crazy 41.1 mm. Among the nike roshe phantom blue band gold, this one is definitely the tallest sibling, surpassing even the sky-high AM DN (at 40.3 mm). If you want to enjoy lots of comfort and some extra height, you might've found your solemate!

nike air max 95 heel stack 1 22596422 main 

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 41.1 mm
Average 30.2 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
16.9 mm
Heel stack
50.5 mm

Forefoot stack

Contrary to the norm, this Nike pair doesn't fall short on the forefoot stack either. Our calliper returned 26.7 mm, which is way higher than average. This translated into a protected ride, as our feet were fairly separated from harsh urban surfaces and/or any obstacle we stepped on.

nike air max 95 forefoot stack 1 22596420 main

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 26.7 mm
Average 19.2 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
9.7 mm
Forefoot stack
29.5 mm

Drop

Even though both stack heights are massive, the heel still comes on top. That's why this shoe's drop is that steep, reaching 14.4 mm. This just means that you'll feel your rearfoot higher than your toe area, but it doesn't imply that your feet will need some readjustments or adaptation. So don't worry!

nike air max 95 drop 1 22596417 main

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 14.4 mm
Average 11.1 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
3.5 mm
Drop
17.2 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The AM 95 felt pretty soft underfoot. This wasn't just just thanks to its Air units, but also to its cushioning. Our durometer returned 21.0 HA when we pressed it against its foam, which means this material is on the softer side.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic Midsole softness-1

Even though this result indicates this Nike is plush, its thick outsole does take some of that feeling away, making it a bit less cushy. But don't stress that much about this... and trust its Air technology!

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 21.0 HA
Average 29.1 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 76 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
15.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
46.4 HA

Insole thickness

In what we believe was a wise choice in order to reduce weight, Nike used a thinner-than-average insole for this Air Max. At 4.0 mm, we didn't really feel like we needed some extra cushioning, as the soft foam and the Air technology took over.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic Insole thickness-1

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 4.0 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
3.1 mm
Insole thickness
11.5 mm

Size and fit

Size

nike air presto free shipping policy template true to size (387 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 110 trainers
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½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

nike air max 90 cmft metallic shoes

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It may appear as a chunky sneaker on the outside... But on the inside, it is no more accommodating than a pointy-toe dress shoe! To be honest, our pinkie toe goes numb just by looking at the gel mould of the Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic.

No wonder our calliper returned a notably smaller-than-average reading of 88.2 mm in the biggest part of the mould. But if you are someone with narrow feet and often struggle with dead space in your kicks, this may be a perfect match.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic nike air max 90 cmft metallic shoes-1
Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 88.2 mm
Average 92.3 mm
Compared to 75 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
85.4 mm
nike air max 90 cmft metallic shoes
96.8 mm

Toebox width - big toe

The tapering angle of this Nike sneaker is one of the most aggressive we've seen. With a calliper reading of 61.9 mm near the big toe, it is one of the narrowest in our roster.

If you have medium-width feet and want a Nike sneaker with a proper D medium fit which offers enough wiggle room for prolonged walks, check out the Nike Air Max Plus or the nike alpha shark 3 4 boys wide width instead.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic Toebox width - big toe-1
Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 61.9 mm
Average 68.8 mm
Compared to 75 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
63.9 mm
Toebox width - big toe
74.1 mm

Toebox height

Gladly, the toebox height of this Nike shoe proved to be on par with the average at 27.0 mm. At least there is no pressure from the top.

nike air max 95 toebox height 1 22596431 main
Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 27.0 mm
Average 27.8 mm
Compared to 75 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
20.7 mm
Toebox height
35.0 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

We could see how the AM 95 was originally developed for performance running when we tested its lateral stability. This shoe's solid structure didn't let our ankles overextend themselves, stopping any risky moves when we were walking. That being said, this is not a running shoe anymore! If that's what you're looking for, please check this section of our catalogue.

Torsional rigidity

If you're curious about what a bear hug on your feet feels like, the shoes nike air max 90 classic is ready to show you! Thanks to our wear tests, we can say this shoe has a snug fit. And when we took it to our lab and tried to twist it, it fought back like a piece of armour! We didn't even stand a chance, which earned this shoe a perfect 5/5 on our torsional rigidity test.

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 5
Average 3.6
Compared to 93 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The heel counter was parts as stiff! Its immovable nature didn't let our thumbs play with it at all, so we decided to give it a 4/5 on this test. Even though the overall rigid structure of this shoe offered lots of support, it also meant the AM 95 needed a break-in period, at least in our experience.

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 93 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Just like many other nike roshe phantom blue band gold, the 95 doesn't have a wide midsole. Our calliper returned 106.1 mm, which is way lower than average! Even though this doesn't affect the comfort levels or the support in general, we can see sneakerheads with wide feet wishing for a more spacious structure.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic Midsole width - forefoot-1

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 106.1 mm
Average 108.5 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
95.1 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
121.0 mm

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At 81.8 mm, the midsole at the heel follows the same logic. It's also narrower than average, and even though our standard-width feet were okay with it, a little bit more space in general would've been much appreciated for long hours of use.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic nike mens tank top 871770 455 engine problems free-1

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 81.8 mm
Average 83.6 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
67.7 mm
nike mens tank top 871770 455 engine problems free
103.1 mm

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The overall rigidity of this Air Max is undeniable at this point. We still haven't found a single area of this sneaker that would let us mess with it...

Our shoe flexing tester showed that the kick required as much as 21.7N of force to bend by 30 degrees, which is twice as much as it takes an average casual sneaker.

As we've mentioned before, this stiffness translated into a required break-in period and some "hostility" from this shoe at the beginning. But it was nothing too bad, as we quickly started getting used to it. That being said, there are other more comfortable nike roshe phantom blue band gold nike air max grey boys 2015 kids music awards full.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic nike lunarfly mens 12 pack
Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 21.7N
Average 13.8N
Compared to 34 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
4.6N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
27.6N

Weight

As you might've seen on our catalogue, we've tried a lot of Air Max pairs! Most of them felt pretty light on foot, which helps a lot when you've been on your feet for a while. Why? Well, because heavier shoes make your legs get tired faster... and that's exactly the case of the AM 95.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic Weight-1

When we took it to our lab, our scale returned 16.16 oz/458g! This makes it the heaviest Air Max we've tested so far. And trust us, our feet could notice the difference after walking or running errands for some time.

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 16.16 oz (458g)
Average 13.76 oz (390g)
Compared to 94 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
8.50 oz (241g)
Weight
20.49 oz (581g)

Breathability

The armour-like brick-inspired structure of the AM 95 would have never made us think it was a breathable shoe. During our wear tests, our feet didn't have to deal with sweat or overheating, which took us so much by surprise that we couldn't wait to take this Nike to our lab.

As we expected, it kind of "failed" our light test. We couldn't see the LED shine through anywhere, which was discouraging and yet totally the opposite of what we felt walking around town.

But our smoke machine showed revolutionary results. We were totally in awe when we saw how much smoke this shoe's toebox let go! It was totally unexpected, yet the performance was so good that we decided the AM 95 deserved a solid 4/5 on our breathability test.

nike air max 95 breathability 3 22596406 main

Thanks to our microscope, we could see the multiple layers of this shoe. The gaps in between the threads of the outer layer are pretty big, but there's a second one right below to enhance durability. Still, the airflow was incredibly nice!

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic Breathability-4

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 4
Average 3
Compared to 93 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Leather/Suede quality

We grabbed our torch and awl to check if this Air Max's materials were real. First, we burned the lighter leather next to the heel, and it didn't get all sticky... which means it's authentic!

Its darker pal followed the same path, as we weren't met with a massive flame when we decided to heat things up a little bit. In other words: this one is not fake either!

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic Real leather

Toebox durability

We always perform our durability tests on the very same spot. This time, the AM 95 was lucky enough to have its leather protection shield it from our Dremel, which attacked it at 5K RPM and with 2N of force for 12 seconds.

The results were so good that we decided to give this Nike pair a wonderful 4/5 on our toebox durability test. Which, by the way, is a pretty uncommon score when a shoe is as breathable as this one!

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 4
Average 3.7
Compared to 93 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
1
Toebox durability
5

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Even though the heel padding is usually weaker in terms of durability, this Air Max managed to surprise us one more time. Our Dremel went all in once again, but the material fought back bravely, so we decided to give this shoe a 3/5 on this test.

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 93 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
1
nike dunk premium neon nylon pants size conversion
5

Outsole hardness

Our durometer returned 87.0 HC when we pressed it against this shoe's outsole. This result is pretty much average, which indicates this shoe should offer a healthy mix of durability and grip.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic Outsole hardness-1

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 87.0 HC
Average 85.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 93 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
76.1 HC
Outsole hardness
94.0 HC

Outsole durability

As promised, this Nike pair's outsole showed releases durability on our Dremel test. We turned on the tool for the grand finale one last time at 10K RPM and with 2N of force. After measuring the damages, we saw the dent was only 0.7 mm deep, which is way less than average! In other words: there's no need for you to worry about the shoes nike air max 90 classic's outsole leaving your side any time soon.

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 0.7 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 93 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Even though the rubber compound used is already quite durable, Nike still decided to go for a thick outsole. Our calliper returned 5.9 mm, so it's even chunkier than average! Personally, and taking into account the results of our Dremel test, we believe the brand could have opted for a thinner midsole. This shoe is already quite bottom-heavy itself!

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic Outsole thickness-1

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 5.9 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
2.9 mm
Outsole thickness
8.6 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

We didn't find any issues with this former performance runner's grip. As you can see, it features the iconic waffle pattern of the brand all along its forefoot, which carried the traction levels of the whole shoe easily.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic-outdoor-04

There are also big flex grooves that tried to increase the flexibility levels of this Nike Air Max, and... failed. This pair feels really stiff on foot, and what we got instead was a collection of pebbles!

Price

After thoroughly testing this pair, we can tell you confidently that it deserves every penny of its price. Its premium materials and technologies have it clear, and so do we! We can understand that it might be a little bit too much for some sneakerheads, as there are cheaper nike roshe phantom blue band gold, but... are they this iconic? Well, that's up to you!

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic-outdoor-07

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic $190
Compared to 117 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
£60
Price
£240

Reflective elements

We love reflective elements, and Nike knows how to make us happy! The AM 95 features a big shiny detail on the tongue...

...and another one at the very back. It was clearly designed with style and security in mind!

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic Yes

Tongue padding

The tongue of this Air Max is divided into two sections. The part that's closer to the toes is pretty thin, parts inexistent. On the other hand, the area that protects us from any potential lace bite is thicker, reaching 10.9 mm.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic Tongue padding-1

The whole structure of the shoe follows the same logic, using extra padding only on key areas. Still, we do believe the brand could have gone for a thinner outsole here to reduce the overall weight of the 95.

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic 10.9 mm
Average 9.3 mm
Compared to 94 trainers
nike dunk chrome lacrosse shoes for sale
0.7 mm
Tongue padding
23.0 mm

nike pegasus 89 green and white gold ring blue

The both sides semi-gusseted tongue of this Nike pair also adds some weight but, in this case, we're willing to make this sacrifice. This type of tongue design offers a lot of support and a wonderful lock-in feel, and we wouldn't change that for the world!

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic nike pegasus 89 green and white gold ring blue-1

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic Both sides (semi)

Heel tab

Instead of a heel tab, the AM 95 has a big reflective detail right at the heel. Trust us, we love us some good shiny accents on our trainers, but... taking into account just how much of a snug fit and stiff structure this Nike pair has, a finger loop would have been nice to help us put it on!

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic-outdoor-010

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic None

Removable insole

Just like the other nike roshe phantom blue band gold we have reviewed, the 95 has a standard removable insole that you can change if you need or want to. Just take into account that the overall tightness of this Nike pair might lead to discomfort if you opt for a very thick insole that takes up most of the inner space.

Nike shoes nike air max 90 classic Removable insole-1

Test results
shoes nike air max 90 classic Yes