The Nike Air Max 97 was the first model in the Air Max line to use a full-length visible Air unit.
Designed by Christian Tresser and released in 1997, the Air Max 97 extended the visible cushioning window from the heel through the forefoot. This created a continuous visual line under the foot and distinguished the shoe from earlier Air Max models, whose visible units were shorter or concentrated in specific areas.
The design used layered, flowing lines inspired by ideas associated with mountain bikes, water ripples, and high-speed forms. Its reflective detailing also became a defining feature, particularly in the original metallic silver colorway.
The Air Max 1 introduced visible Air in 1987, while the Air Max 90 refined the earlier concept. The Air Max 97 should therefore not be described as the first visible-Air sneaker; its specific milestone was full-length visible Air.