The Tailwind line is one of Nike’s most storied collections, with entries predating even the Air Max 1 as the first running shoes with Air technology. (the original Tailwind was released in 1979, the first AM1 – 1987) Although eventually being surpassed by the AM line as far as popularity is concerned, the Tailwind collection developed right along side and eventually combined with its sibling rivals, producing some of the most aggressively styled runners in Nike’s history. Now, almost 15 years after it’s original release, the most popular of the Tailwind models makes it’s return, but with a little twist. In place of the original heel Air unit, the 96-12 features a segmented, two-part Air system supporting both the heel and forefoot. Though many purists would bemoan the modified sole in favor of the og, I honestly feel that the heel-only setup was a bit of a short sell, and that the extra bubbles seem more in line with a shoe featuring uppers as busy as this. So face it, you really can’t lose either way.
More pics after the jump…
