Nike Air Max 90 Bacon

 

• Looks:

The inspiration can be seen throughout the top of the Air Max 90 bacon. The majority of the midfoot, toe box and bottom of the tongue is covered in red nubuck, which is reminiscent of the color of uncooked bacon. Suede mudguards in bone hue run down the edge of the shoe. The lace eyelets, air max logo, and rear panel are held together by brown plastic panels that resemble cooked bacon. The bright pink tongue and Nike swoosh round off the look.

The lining is tan/khaki on the inside, with a red insole.

While it may appear to be a lot when written down, it looks fantastic in person. It's refreshing to see a shoe in more neutral colors than neon red, green, purple, or blue.

The leather panel on the toe and around the ankle is an unusual color option. This was a tan in the original 2004 model, but it is much lighter here.

The midsole and outsole are substantially plainer than the upper. The midsole is off-white foam with brown paint surrounding the air bubble. Underneath, the outsole is wholly brown, a departure from the standard Air Max 90 outsole, which is multi-colored. There are a few specs in the rubber if you look closely. The pink supports in the air bubble are the only thing that stands out here.

Laces in tan, red, and pink are available as accessories. You also get the original arch support pads that came with the 90's back in the day, which have been color-matched to pink.

The Air Max 90 bacon fits the same as any other Air Max 90. They are, in other words, slightly long and narrow. While you're unlikely to find this same pair, locating an Air Max 90 to try on shouldn't be too tough. Dicks, Nordstrom, Champs, and other stores should have a pair for you to test on.

In terms of comfort, these are actually rather good – especially given they were released more than 30 years ago. These are meant to have an airbag in both the forefoot and under the heel as part of the updated remastered series. There appears to be some doubt as to whether Nike is doing this on all of the pairs, but these are clearly comfortable.

The lining is a faux leather rather than the standard mesh, which is a double-edged sword. If you intend to run in these for any reason, or if you plan to wear low or no socks, this will irritate your feet.

• Materials:

The Air Max 90 bacon has a lot of synthetic components for a sneaker named after bacon. The suede strip on the side, the pink swoosh, and the internal lining are all made of synthetic materials. The red nubuck appears to be genuine, albeit it is of poor quality even by Nike standards. The verdict is still out on the white leather panels, although they are either synthetic or substantially plastic-coated.

The midsole is made of EVA foam with air units for added cushioning. The insole is a typical open-celled foam that sits between the midsole and your foot.

The rubber on the bottom of the shoe is a softer compound that completes the look. This most certainly contributes to comfort and is authentic to the original Air Max 90; nonetheless, don't expect Jordan 1 rubber wear.

• Ease of care:

When it comes to caring, this shoe is basically the worst of both worlds. Heavily coated leather, such as that used on Jordan 1s and Dunks, may appear cheap, but it is exceedingly easy to clean. In fact, we were able to restore a mud-caked pair to near-new condition using only water. Real leathers and suedes, on the other hand, may require more effort to clean, but with careful care, they can last for decades.

Unfortunately, this shoe not only employs poor faux leather and suede, but it also does not have a plastic coating. If these shoes get soiled, it's something you'll have to live with. If you intend to abuse these, it could be a good idea to spray them with suede protectant. This forms a barrier between the suede and the dirt, albeit it may somewhat alter the color.