
Nike SB’s revamped Air Max 95 has only been available for just over a month, but some owners of the sneaker are already experiencing what can only be described as quality control oversights.
Two Instagram users recently took to the platform to share a surprising outcome after putting the sneakers through light wear. In both instances, the shoe’s suede toe has blown out, resulting in a semicircle-shaped hole just below the stitching.
It’s not immediately clear why the shoes are experiencing similar issues, but based on the two experiences, it seems that the particular area of the toe is a vulnerable section on at least some pairs of the recently released Nike SB Air Max 95.
The sneaker, which fuses Nike’s classic Air Max 95 running silhouette with the engineering of Nike SB to make it more suitable for skateboarding, was released at skate shops in early August and will receive a wider launch Friday via Snkrs.
According to Nike’s product description, the shoe’s reinforcement layers were adjusted to make the shoe lighter and more flexible. The brand called on pro skaters like Eric Koston to weartest the SB Air Max 95, providing feedback and making tweaks to refine the design.
Yet, despite the touted improvements in comfort, it appears that the sneaker’s durability is in question. In addition to the wearers who experienced holes in the toe, a Reddit user shared an account of putting the shoe through a single skate session only to find that the SB Air Max 95’s eyelets had begun wearing away.
At this point, it does not appear that Nike has offered any replacements for the affected customers. Typically, these sorts of issues are simply resolved with refunds, however the brand may take a different approach here given the virality of the situation.
This isn’t the first controversy surrounding the sneaker. In July, pro skater Stevie Williams accused Nike of stealing his “run skate chill” slogan for the brand’s marketing of the SB Air Max 95.
A second SB Air Max 95, in collaboration with Koston, is expected to be released this holiday season.
Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
#Nikes #Upgraded #Air #Max #95s #Falling