Nike Air Max 97 vs Nike Air Max Plus
Nike Air Max 97
Nike Air Max Plus
Air Max 97 flows like liquid metal, Air Max Plus growls like a tuned engine — two attitudes, one Air Max family.
How They Compare
The things that actually matter 💅
Pick Your Side 💜
Which one stole your heart?
Which One Is For You?
Two amazing products, two different vibes ✨
- You want a shoe that looks like it was designed in a wind tunnel
- You love reflective details and full-length Air cushion
- You like sneakers that photograph like concept cars
- You know the TN has massive cred in global street culture
- You want aggressive lines and gradient colorways
- You prefer shoes with real subcultural meaning
The Full Story
LoveBar's deep-dive, written for humans 💕
The Nike Air Max 97 and Air Max Plus both dropped in the late nineties and both became cultural icons, but in wildly different scenes. The 97 was inspired by Japanese bullet trains and water droplets — those flowing horizontal lines across the upper are still one of the most futuristic designs ever put on a shoe. The Silver Bullet colorway is practically in a museum. The Air Max Plus, also known as the TN, went in a completely different direction — aggressive plastic cage, gradient uppers, and a Tuned Air sole that gave it a stance like nothing else. It became a massive cultural symbol across Europe, Australia, and urban scenes worldwide. The 97 is sleek and futuristic. The Plus is raw and aggressive. The 97 appeals to design lovers. The Plus appeals to street culture. Both are unmistakable at fifty paces, and both carry the kind of history that makes them more than just shoes.