MILLENNIUM STYLE. The Nike Air Max 97 Y2K puts metallic details on the classic curved lines of the original. Max Air cushioning provides comfort you can see and feel. BenefitsSynthetic material and fabric are durable and comfortable. Max Air unit cushions your step. Rubber sole gives you durable traction. Air Max 97 OriginsNike’s revolutionary Air-Sole unit made its way into Nike footwear in 1978. In 1987, the Nike Air Max 1 debuted with visible air in its heel, allowing fans more than just the feel of Air-Sole comfort—suddenly they could see it. Two years after the Nike Air Max 95 brought visible air to the forefoot, the Nike Air Max 97 arrived with the very first full-length unit. The shoe made a huge splash in the running world, as anticipated by its ripple-effect design lines. It’s still making waves over two decades later.