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Record-breaking tech used for the Air Zoom Type

Posted on May 30, 2020 in Nike

If you look at Nike’s history, you’ll realize that everything is still rooted in performance. As the focus was to better and improve the athlete’s performance, these technologies eventually were applied across other categories. If you recall, the Nike Air Max was really a running shoe, and the same principles were used to give birth to so many other Air-based silhouettes. Earlier today, Nike unveiled their latest addition to the family, the Nike Air Zoom Type.

Taking design cues from the record-breaking Air Zoom Alphafly Next%, the Air Zoom Type was made to relieve stress on the body and feet after a full day’s work. After debuting the Air Zoom Alphafly Next% last February, the Air Zoom also features two Zoom Air pods in the forefoot, coupled with a supportive TPU plate that runs through the midsole. The pods and the plate are housed within a plush foam for a comfortable underfoot feel. The shoe’s overall look, however, was meant for daily wear.

The Air Zoom Type won’t have the same rocking sensation as the Alphafly Next%, but truly making the shoe much more appealing to a greater audience that may want a less aggressive-looking shoe for daily use.

The original prototype

If you recall, Nike launched the N.354 label, which pushed the boundaries of previous prototypes that were used to solve these ‘athletic’ problems. The difference with the Air Zoom Type is that the was derived from working real-time products, offering a continuity from performance to lifestyle.

While the shoe does reflect design elements from the Air Zoom Alphafly Next%, there are other elements borrowed from previous technologocial breakthroughs. The shoe is fastened with a breathable tongue, a nod to the Lunar Racer from 2008.

The Nike Air Zoom Type is set to release on June 5 via SNKRS. Keep it locked here for more information on a local retailer release. Check out some more images of the Air Zoom Type and the prototypes used for it below.

*UPDATE* The Nike Air Zoom-Type retails for Php 7,645 and will come in the two colorways seen here. The shoe will be made available via nike.com/ph on June 4.

Post Sample Sketch – Air Zoom Type
The outsole prototype was prepared with masking tape and registration dots used to assist in 3D scanning.
The use of 3D scanning (employed for this midsole/outsole prototype) was critical to the design process; it captured errors and glitches and ultimately helped inform the final design.
A 3D scan of the rubber-wrapped tread pattern from the original Nike Air Zoom Type prototype