The sole on this version of the Nike Air Max is somewhat “freaky’. The outsole is fashioned out of translucent hardened rubber which gives the shoe a futuristic look and feel. On top of this, the sole features a careful placement of grooves throughout the sole unit of the shoe that enables the shoe to gain a decent level of comfort and grip. The fact that the outsole unit on this shoe is a single piece and lacks any placement over foam, gives this shoe a somewhat firm overall ride during use.

The midsole of the shoe also aids the shoe in providing an overall firm ride. The midsole is fashioned out of an EVA polyurethane mix that is a bit firmer than the majority of running shoes with the pure foam midsole. The midsole on the shoe also features a Nike cushioning bag that is there to improve the responsiveness and comfort provided by the shoe. The make of the midsole itself actually takes away from the comfort provided by the shoe and also doesn’t give the shoe the best in terms of a responsive feel.

The upper on the shoe is a mix of cushioning and mesh. The shoe features a mesh upper that Nike has decided to splash with cotton all throughout. This has allowed the upper to give a comfortable overall feel while not taking away from the shoe overall stability. With that being said, the upper of the shoe is designed in such a way as to promote comfort without delivering a “plush” feel while the shoe is in use; for a running shoe, this can be either good or bad.

In terms of weight, Nike has done their best to add a little as possible to the design of the shoe. They tried but weren’t really able to achieve a lightweight effect because of the materials that were used throughout. The hardened rubber outsole on the shoe adds a decent amount of weight to the overall cut of the shoe. This, in tandem with the amount of cushioning that is present inside of the shoe, allows for an overall comfortable, albeit weighted, ride. This isn’t to say that the weight of the shoe hasn’t improved at all because it has. This model of the Air max weighs a staggering 3 oz’s less than the previous model of the shoe which is actually a huge improvement.

The upper of the shoe was designed to prevent an accumulation of sweat throughout. The Air Max '17 is fitted with fly mesh material which allows a decent level of air flow to be achieved while running. This is a major improvement over last year’s breathable, but kind of muggy model of the Air Max. The fly mesh design of the shoe allows it to be worn in a variety of climates, but the best side of it comes out in the warmer areas where the air flow is the most appreciated.

The comfort provided by this model of the Air Max is definitely above par. The materials used in the design of the Air Max 17 allow for a level of comfort to be achieved above that of other models of the shoe. The use of fly mesh on the upper of the shoe and the absence of the flywire material allow for the shoe to be worn without feeling the discomfort that those materials provided. The sole of the shoe is made in such a way as to promote both flex and malleability. Even though the material that makes up the sole of the shoe is on the firmer side, it does provide the wearer with a decent level of comfort. The shoe also features an elongated tongue, which, when compared to previous models of the shoe provides an extra amount of cushioning and snugness for the shoe.

The style of the Air Max 17 is one that is both extremely versatile and doesn’t seem to go away. The shoe has been created in several different color combinations which gives the wearers a variety of colors to choose from. The slim cut of the shoe also allows the shoe to be worn in and outside of an active environment; this means that the shoe can be worn in both casual and sporty clothes. The seemingly see-through material of the sole of this shoe also gave the shoe a sort-of futuristic look which, can be a plus for some wearers.

In terms of durability, the materials used in the creation of this model of the Air Max are of the more long-lived variety. The sole unit of the shoe itself is made from polyurethane EVA for the midsole and hardened rubber for the outsole. The hardened rubber on the outsole of the shoe is by nature extremely durable. It shows very little wear even after several uses, which can be attributed to the make of the sole itself. The make of the midsole of the shoe allows it to be worn several times without the wearer having to worry about it losing its shape, which is another plus. The Fly mesh upper of the shoe is designed in such a way as to be able to deal with strenuous activity without making the wearer worry about potential breakdown of said materials.

In terms of protection, the shoe doesn’t have much. The shoe is designed from fly mesh material with very little in the way of coverings. The lack of coverings on the shoe means that there is very little stopping power for the wearer and that they may potentially have to worry about damaging themselves if something were to fall on them. The sole of the shoe is designed with the wearer’s foot in mind meaning that, due to the thickness of the material that makes up the shoe, it has a decent amount of ability to block the intrusion of unwanted material into the wearer’s shoe. The shoe itself has also been designed with several reflective materials which allow the wearer to wear them in darker areas without having to worry about not being seen.

The Air Max 17 features materials that allow it be more on the responsive side. The outsole of the shoe is designed with the wearer’s foot in mind but it is on the firmer side meaning that it doesn’t move as much as it possibly could. The midsole of the shoe allows the shoe to conform to the user’s movements though, somewhat compensating for the outsoles faults. On top of this, the lack of flywire on the upper allows the shoe to conform to the shape of the user’s foot without taking away from the snugness of the overall shoe.

The Air Max 17 has a decent level of supportive features for the wearer. The upper of the shoe, even though it doesn’t feature the flywire lacing that has become a custom among the Nike brand of shoes, is still relatively snug. This allows the shoe to provide a decent level of support for the side of the foot. The added cushioning in the heel of the shoe gives the shoe a decent level of heel support as well. Lastly, the air pod that runs the length of the sole of the shoe allows the shoe to conform to the natural curves of the user’s foot, resulting in a decent level of support for the user’s foot.

In terms of terrain handling capabilities, the shoe does a relatively decent job of being versatile in its usage capabilities. The sole of the shoe is designed from hardened rubber which enables the shoe to hold up regardless of the level of development that the terrain has gone through. The upper of the shoe allows for a decent level of air flow to be present. This means that the shoe can be worn in a variety of climates without making the shoe too warm or allowing the wearer’s feet to get too cold. The breathability of the shoe also implies that the material, when used in the moister areas allows for a decent amount of liquid to soak through.

The Air Max 17 will definitely take a decent sized chunk out of one’s pockets. The material used in the shoe and the comfort provided justify this price though; the use of materials such as the fly mesh in the upper and the extensive use of materials throughout the sole are the main things to blame. The sole unit of this shoe is made from both hardened plastic material and features a full-length air pod; these are both things that allow the shoe to provide an overall comfortable and responsive ride to the wearer. The durability of the shoe also justifies its price; considering that the shoe holds up after being used for several hundred miles, the value provided is definitely above that of the standard running shoe.

The sole of the Air Max 17 is one that provides an immense level of grip during use. The outsole of the shoe has been patterned into a waffle-like design which allows the shoe to be worn when in a variety of areas and allows the shoe to be able to grip the ground with a high level of ferocity. The level of traction achieved by this shoe does not compare to that of strict running shoes but it does allow the shoe to be worn and provide functionality on a variety of terrains.

Regarding flexibility, the Air Max 17 isn’t the best, but it does allow for a decent level of it. The sole of the shoe has been fitted with flex grooves which compensate for the general firmness of the material itself. The sole, being made from hardened rubber doesn’t bend the way that it possibly could if formed from a different material. On top of this, the pod in the sole of the shoe is somewhat firm also, further taking away from the inherent flexibility of the shoe. The upper of the shoe, being designed from fly mesh, achieve a decent level of flexibility, mainly because of the nature of the material itself.

The design of the Air Max 17 provides for a decent level of stability for the user. The upper of the shoe, being designed from mesh and lacking any of the extra components, still provides a snug and firm fit for the wearer; this is mainly because of the cushioning used throughout the design and the slim design of the shoe itself. On top of this, the sole of the shoe being as firm as it is, gives the wearer a decent level of footing while the shoe is in use; this is to say that while the shoe does have cushioning throughout, the firmness provided by the sole unit prevents rollover and gives the wearer a bit of surety in their movements while the shoe is in use.

Okay, this version of the Air Max has not have been given a reduction in the drop whatsoever. The Air Max 17 features a drop of about 13mm. This is by no means considered a minimal drop because of the fact that it is honestly so outstanding. The high heel-to-toe ration on this shoe means that the shoe doesn’t allow for a smooth and natural feeling transition to be achieved while the shoe is in use.

• Fly mesh upper on the shoe
• Midsole is fashioned from cushlon foam
• Air max cushioning is also present throughout the midsole of this shoe

All in all, Nike did a decent job with the creation of this shoe. The materials that were incorporated into the design allow the shoe to be used in a variety of terrains without causing the wearer any level of worry regarding the durability of the shoe. On top of this, the design of the shoe is one that enables the shoe to be both worn for things outside of the purpose of the shoe and fits rather snugly on the wearer’s foot.