Kicks: Air Max Uptempo Returns in 2012

by Chris O’Leary / @olearychris

Nike will be unleashing one of its most unique sneakers—the Air Max Uptempo—in a retro release in the coming year.

Known as the Air Max Uptempo 95 when it hit basketball courts in the 1995-96, the shoe was worn by a TON of players at every level. Kevin Garnett, Eddie Jones and Scottie Pippen were just a few of the NBA players to wear them, while Marcus Camby rocked them at UMass. Even a high school senior at Lower Merion named Kobe Bryant laced them up. The design of the shoe resembles the Air Jordan XI, in its wraparound use of material from the toe box all the way to the heel and back and how it works off of the shoe’s upper.

The sole is where the shoe gets really interesting, with what I’ve always thought looked like a jellybean pattern that exposed the full-length Air Max unit that rests underfoot.

You’ve got a wait in front of you for the shoes, since they won’t release until spring of next year. In the meantime, CounterKicks has three colorways for you to check out. White/black/mystic teal/white; cool grey/dark grey/wolf grey/white and white/obsidian/white.

The shoes will take a bump in price, CK, says, going from the $140 price they carried in their last release to $165 next year. Is the shoe enough of a grail for you to drop that kind of cash on it?

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Pics via CK.