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Nike’s Air Max line has been a hugely popular sneaker ever since the late 1980s. The Nike Air Max range, which is mostly spearheaded by popular shoes like the Air Max 90 or the Air Max 1, is usually known for its design, comfort, and durability. With the latest Nike Air Max sneaker, Nike has claimed to push the boundary even further, offering advanced tech, along with the staple durability and comfort that the Air Max range is anyways known for.
Being a techie who spends half his money on shoes, I was very interested in finding out what the new Nike Air Max Dn is all about. Does the tech that is being promoted actually work or is it all too gimmicky for someone who only wants a comfortable shoe. In this review, I will delve into exactly that and tell you if the new Nike Air Max Dn is worth the ₹13,995 price tag.
Starting with the design, the Nike Air Max Dn looks quite different. We get a sport-shoe like silhouette but with a twist. With this shoe, Nike is going back to its “Air Pocket” design for the midsole, which is quite an iconic design that started back in the 1990s with the Nike Tube Air. The midsole is also very angular. There are a lot of curves and lines that shape up this mid-sole, along with a small Nike swoosh logo in the middle part, which is made of a hard material.
On the heel as well, we see a similar material with the “Air Max Dn” branding. With the upper, Nike has used high quality materials like a breathable mesh with a synthetic overlay to keep the structure intact. Nike has created this in collaboration with some of the top athletes of the world. The toe also has a small Nike logo, which is a nice detail.
Coming to my favourite part of the design, the air pockets on the midsole heel. There are four air pockets right below the heel also known as the “Air Max Unit”. These air pockets are made from resilient foam that helps with cushioning and support. Here also, we get the “Air Max Dn” branding on the second air pocket. There is also a pattern that surrounds the air pockets on this shoe, which just adds to the look and doesn’t have any functionality as such.
Now that we have talked about how the shoe looks, it is time to take a look at how it performs. The Nike Air Max Dn, like any other Air Max sneaker is extremely comfortable. The shoe fits super snug on the feet and the materials wrap around your foot very nicely. At the same time, it is also flexible enough for you to move and flex your toes. The padding around the heel and the tongue is also ample so there is no shoe bite that is an issue with a lot of popular sneakers out there.
Along with a snug fit, this is also comfortable. Now, apart from the foam and padding, it is also the weight that makes the smartphone comfortable and here also, the Nike Air Max Dn ticks that box and how. It is super lightweight as compared to my regular daily shoes, the Nike Air Force 1. It only weighs 283 grams as compared to Nike AF1 which weighs 456 grams. First step towards comfort is keeping the weight in check and here the Air Max Dn keeps the weight in check.
Now coming to the cusioning, this shoe has enough to make you feel like you’re walking on a sponge. Nike has a four-tube dynamic air unit in this shoe. Here, the front two tubes are filled with 5 psi of air pressure and the rear two tubes are filled with 15 psi of air pressure, just like a car’s tyre. This helps achieve a rocking effect while walking as the air passes from the back to the front. Does it work? Well, you don’t feel the air move while walking, but it is definitely easy on the heels.
The Air Max Dn does a good job in making your walks feel better. Or feel nothing at all. Even the outsole helps in making your strides more comfortable, along with adding a grip. While it looks similar to other Nike shoes like the Nike Presto or the Nike Waffles, the material used here is a tyre-like rubber which also adds a lot of grip.
I found these to be best for sports and workouts and not as much as a lifestyle shoe. While it looks good and feels extremely comfortable to wear, the Nike Air Max Dn is a difficult shoe to style with your daily outfits, at least for a simpleton like myself who usually prefers basic. But yes, if you have a sense of style and like to experiment with your fits, what better than a shoe which not only looks good, it adds comfort to your stride!
Now let’s talk about how much value the shoe offers. While it is on the expensive side at a price tag of ₹13,995, it still offers pretty good value. The price tag is on similar lines as other competitors in the market from the likes of New Balance, Asics, or even Adidas. With that, we are getting some tech that enhances your experience while offering class-leading comfort. We are also getting a product which has been created in collaboration with some of the top athletes in the world and it has an iconic design and look to it.
So yes, the Nike Air Max DN is a standout sneaker that excels in its key areas. Its modern yet iconic design, combined with high-quality materials and craftsmanship ensures that it not only looks great but is also extremely comfortable. The comfort and support provided by the Air Max unit or the air pockets and well-designed upper make it a pleasure to wear and walk in, and it is durable enough to handle a wide range of activities and environments. Whether you’re a dedicated athlete, a casual runner, or someone who simply appreciates a high-quality sneaker, the Nike Air Max DN is a good choice.
