Nike and Zellerfeld‘s Air Max 1000 remains an unfinished project. After the 3D-printed, laceless sneaker was first introduced in late 2024, a breakthrough allowed the two partners to unlock dual-color printing early this year. Continued tinkering has now led to a new iteration that can be produced quicker, thanks to subtle refinements in the outsole.
The Nike Air Max 1000.2 will arrive next week in an all-black colorway and differences that can only be seen under close scrutiny. Whereas the Air Max 1000 featured both smooth and diamond grid lugs on different regions of its outsole, the updated model opts for uniformly striped grooves.
Outside of that tweak and the “Air Max 1000.2” stamp on the heel’s Air unit, the design remains unchanged, but faster production means Nike and Zellerfeld will be able to churn out more pairs of the sneaker that’s sold out through every release.
Contours on the Air Max 1000 follow that of the Air Max 1, the most prominent being the mudguard shape, and Nike refers to the younger sneaker as a wearable sculpture. Outside of the Air Max unit, which is popped in at the end of production, the entire sneaker is 3D printed using Zellerfeld’s Zellerfoam TPU material. The material is lightweight, flexible and 100 percent recyclable, and a layered process allows for different densities and textures throughout the silhouette.
More advanced detailing came a year after the launch of the Air Max 1000 on the Air Max 95000, as Project Nectar tech allows for the application of additional elements after the initial print run.
The Nike Air Max 1000.2 in all-black will release through an EQL raffle open May 4 through May 7 on Zellerfeld’s website. An additional drop will then follow May 7 on the Snkrs app. Pricing has not yet been confirmed.
Nike Air Max 1000.2 [JF3484-001] (lateral)
Nike Air Max 1000.2 [JF3484-001] (lateral)
Nike Air Max 1000.2 [JF3484-001] (lateral heel)
Nike Air Max 1000.2 [JF3484-001] (outsole)