Which Air Max model first used no foam in the midsole?

The Air VaporMax was the first Air Max model to use no foam in its midsole.

Released in March 2017, the VaporMax replaced the conventional foam-based midsole structure with a sole made from hollow, interconnected-looking Air cushioning elements arranged beneath the foot. Nike’s design goal was to let the wearer feel as though they were walking directly on Air, rather than placing a traditional foam layer between the foot and the air bags.

This was a major change from earlier Air Max shoes. Models such as the Air Max 1, Air Max 95 and Air Max 97 combined visible pressurized Air units with foam components. The Air Max 360 expanded Air cushioning across the shoe, but the VaporMax went further by removing conventional foam from the midsole design.

The “no foam” claim is sometimes simplified in quizzes. The most precise version is that the VaporMax was the first Air Max shoe designed without foam or rubber in the midsole or outsole. Nike subsequently used the VaporMax sole in hybrid versions paired with uppers inspired by older models, including the Air Max 95 and Air Max 97.