After lots of leaked photos, and lots of hype, the Purely Lifestyle Air Max 720 is finally here. As a fan of Nike’s Air technology and a big fan of the Air Max 90 silhouette, I’m happy to be able to have the opportunity to take a look at the newest “Air” offering from Nike.
As they usually do with the first colorways of their new releases, Nike went all out with this packaging, foil stamping and all. To pay homage to the Legacy of Nike Air, all the classic Air logos fill up the outside of the box in this ultra-attractive iridescent pattern. Instead of the usual paper that wraps the shoe, this box features foil with the same iridescence as the stamping on the outside. Seeing the box for the first time impressed me almost as much as seeing the product itself.
Inside, You’re greeted with an absolutely stunning product. Even after all the leaks and the promotional materials that we’ve been bombarded with, Nothing quite prepares you for seeing this shoe in the flesh. The first thing you notice is the humungous air unit. 38mm high, according to Nike. I assume that’s at its highest point by the heel. Let me say this straight up, it is SOFT. At least up to the midfoot, for stability purposes, the air filled sole is for the most part, super cushiony. This might be one of the softest air units Nike has made.
Visually, the air unit takes up about half of the entire silhouette. Part of the unit seamlessly flows over into the upper in the form of a molded mudguard/heel counter that makes the construction look really futuristic. With all the surface area that the air unit takes up, Nike does a good job in making use of the visual space, by giving it this, glittery, gradient finish. What started as a unique method in coloring the Vapormax air units, they continue this signature style with the Air Max 720. Definitely accentuates the dominant feature of the shoe.
The 720 reminds me a lot of the early 2000’s millennium y2k style.[Think NSYNC or the Backstreet Boys]This looks like what the 10-year-old me would have probably thought the future would look like. None of the features of the shoe exhibit this more than the upper. It takes off from the very futuristic and fluid-like sole with lots of curves, folds, and soft lines. The pattern on the upper definitely gives off a vibe that takes cues from the Air Max 97 or Air Max Plus. What jumps out though, are the 4 vent-like panels that are featured on both medial and lateral sides of the shoe and on the heel. As far as I can tell, these are purely aesthetic and don’t actually serve as ventilation, which could negatively affect the comfort of the shoe.
In a world full of sock-like, knitted, stretchy uppers, It’s refreshing to have a new model that makes use of a somewhat more traditional mesh upper that is both soft and sturdy. The cushioning complements the soft air sole very well. With how the elements are integrated, there is definitely a lot of room for experimentation for future colorways and Nike already has a bunch lined up.
Lacing up the 720’s, You are instantly reminded that this is definitely not a performance shoe. There is a rigidity that you feel that is comparable to older models like the Air Max 97. There’s almost this illusion that the shoe is heavy purely because of how high your foot is off the ground. This makes you assume that it’s as heavy as something like platform shoes. You definitely feel that height. Once you lift your foot to take a step, however, you quickly realize that most of what makes up that height is literally air, and that the shoe isn’t nearly as heavy as what it initially felt like. The upper feels nice and snug and sturdy, and the sole feels mostly light and bouncy. It is a good combo that satisfyingly wraps your foot.
Though the shoe feels good overall, it seems to run hot. The upper doesn’t seem very breathable even though, ironically, it has those vent-like panels. Despite the upper sporting mesh holes reminiscent of traditional sports jerseys, the inside is completely covered in padding and a sort of nylon fabric that seems to prevent ventilation. As this is a lifestyle model, you likely will not experience much overheating. If you plan to wear this pair for extended periods of time in warm weather, you may feel the heat decrease your comfort levels a couple of hours in. Expect Nike to release something along the lines of an Ultra BR version of the 720 at some point. A lighter upper with an air unit like this could shape up to be a much more comfortable shoe.
Walking in the 720 takes a little getting used to, which can’t be said about many other shoes. Because of the height of the air unit, and maybe the manner in which I walk, I tend to graze the ground with my inflated heel quite a bit more than I’d like. And because of the width, I often hit my heels against each other; this could be potentially bothersome and definitely annoying. I found myself having to take extra care to prevent that from repeatedly happening. Whether that’s a big deal or not will depend on how you walk and if you don’t mind adjusting to the shoe a little bit. I mostly wore the shoe with long socks, but there is a possibility that your ankles chafe on the collar of the shoe, since the upper is definitely a bit thick and rigid. Again, this depends on how long you plan to wear this shoe.
The air unit seems to be as sturdy as ever. I didn’t do anything extreme to try and pop the bubble, but I stepped on some sharp edges and rough ground and the unit took it like a champ. I even fell awkwardly while trying to get a shot for this video and I didn’t encounter anything out of the ordinary happening with the sole. If you’re as happy with the integrity of the Vapormax and the 270, the 720 won’t be any different, even if there’s more air in this one.
Overall this shoe is quite the looker. The color, the lines, the materials, the AIR! Everything comes together to create this stunning, dare I say, soon to be iconic pair of Air Max’s. Much like the 270, it is largely a lifestyle shoe that can’t and probably shouldn’t be used for running of even at the gym (I don’t know how much ankle and base stability the air unit gives you for lifting weights.) Depending on your foot type, I would probably say that the Vapormax is the most comfortable shoe among all the recent Air Max innovations followed by the 270.
Considering all the research, innovation, and technology put into developing this shoe, you’re really only buying the 720 for the look. For the price they’re asking, it comes down to what you value. If its style you’re after, this is definitely a showstopper of a shoe
I just want to make things clear though. For me, the jury is still out on whether I truly like this shoe or not. It is definitely not for everybody. Take it as a positive or a negative, but the same features that make it stand out so much also make it incredibly polarizing. You’ll either love it or hate it.
On most days though, I’m a little more on the “love it” side.