When it first dropped in 1987, the Nike Air Max running shoe was so revolutionary that they had to use this song in a commercial. Nike had first used "Air" for cushioning in the 1979 Tailwind, and just eight years later the airbag was so big that designer Tinker Hatfield had to let it burst forth from the sides.

Fast-forward to 2009. While the original Air Max design is still striking, the shoe itself is beyond obsolete. Far too heavy to be considered anything close to state of the art, it's been relegated to the lifestyle side of things, taking on colorways and designs that would have been downright unthinkable 22 years ago. Then came Acespan Mesh and Flywire. Modern technological advances have allowed Nike to put the original Air Max on a major weight loss program and introduce the Air Maxim, which is a full 66 percent lighter than the original Air Max. Available now in OG colors at Proper. More photos after the jump. [Via Freshness]