Allow Nike’s Portal Air Max to Take Us to Another Planet

Nike is going places and taking Air Max fanatics along for the ride. The Air Max Portal is a chunky lifestyle sneaker that draws heavy inspo from Nike's retro runners like the Air Max SNDR.

The Air Max Portal transports us to a time when chunky sneakers ruled the land and the world of lifestyle footwear was still finding its, well, footing.

Contradictions rule this shoe: a sleek, rippled upper meets a chunky outsole, and the Air Max Portal's oval-shaped midsole adds comfort to the rugged sneaker. On the list of superlatives that quantify an Air Max sneaker's success, enigmaticness is at the top right next to translucent air bubbles.

Those are a pretty big deal too. Nike's Air Max Portal packs one of the aforementioned Air Units at the rear, while the front half of the shoe sports traditional foam cushioning.

Walking on clouds has nothing on this puffed-up shoe. Cutting corners on comfort? Not round here, partner. Not round here.

Available on the Nike website for $160, the Air Max Portal is also made with recycled materials, making it an eco-conscious thriller that doesn't pull its punches where nuance is concerned. It's both bold and sleek. New and old. It's everything, everywhere, all at once.

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