The new Air Max 720 may not be as futuristic-looking as the recently-announced Air Max 2090, but Nike still hopes that their 2018-launched sneaker would appeal more to regular sneakerheads and casual wearers alike.

Aside from the fact that they launched more than a handful of colorways for this sneaker line, Nike is also slashing prices for most of these pairs. But what makes the Air Max 720 phenomenal like the rest of the Air Max line? Is it a sneaker you should cop or drop?

Inspiration

Image by GadgetMatch

For a non-sneakerhead (or for those who aren’t aware), Nike’s Air Max 720 was heavily-inspired by nature. The OG colorway was based from the Northern Lights (or also known as Aurora Borealis), thus a visual explanation on how they combined violet/purple, and iridescent streaks around the shoe.

Also, the “720” naming scheme was derived from the 360-degree visibility of the Air Max cushioning — both horizontally and vertically.

Image by GadgetMatch

It looks like somebody had fun playing with colors in Nike’s design lab. Other pairs even depict lava flows, sunset, sunrise, eclipse, and even the Milky Way — plus more in Nike’s Air Max 720 silhouette portfolio.

Packaging

Let’s start by doing a quick unboxing. Unlike other Air Max 720 colorways, my pair comes in this nifty black box — just with shiny, embossed logos and a big “Air 720” text that reveals the subtlety of the glitters when hit by light.

Again, nothing fancy inside. Instead of the iridescent foil wrap, it comes with a white paper wrap with black logos that covers the pair.

Finally, this one reveals the Air Max 720 in Anthracite Black colorway. My first choice was actually the Metallic Silver but it’s not available in the size I prefer. Unlike other loud color options, I picked this one for its stealthy look that goes well with most (if not all) of the outfits I wear.

Image Credit: David Cabrera via Sole Collector

Just for comparison purposes, here’s how the usual packaging looks like when you buy another color option that showcases complete gradience or iridescence.

Image by GadgetMatch

Design and Build Quality

Getting closer to the sneaker itself, the legendary Nike swoosh comes first on the wave-like layer just below the boomerang silhouette (more like an inverted Nike swoosh).

Unlike other Air Max 720 pairs with a smooth mesh fabric and synthetic upper, this colorway comes in a mesh with series of perforations around it. Don’t be confused, it’s still a legit Air Max 720. Nike just loves playing around with their shoe materials.

Another Nike swoosh can be found at the front part, just inside the flipped boomerang outline. Those series of lines really imitate a lava flowing — which Nike has thought about when they’re first making the shoe.

Finally, here’s the star of the show! This is the unique cushioning unit with the ‘720’ monicker on it. It may look like it will explode when you step on it, but it’s durable enough to withstand heavy steps and stomps.

The Air Max 720 is currently Nike’s tallest Air Max unit. With a 38mm height, it easily dwarfs the 32mm ante of the Air Max 270 React. If you’re someone who’s looking for an instant height booster, this sneaker easily serves the purpose. I have an average height of 170cm but I instantly went up to 174 cm after wearing this pair.

A sneaker inspired by nature should also care about the nature. Nike says 75% of the shoe’s material is made from recycled manufacturing waste which helps the company achieve a sustainable future goal.

Sizing and fit

Trying the Air Max 720 for the first time was weird and amusing at the same time. Unlike other sneakers I have, this one felt like I was walking on a huge bubble while part of my feet touch the ground.

Other reviewers said that walking with this pair takes a little bit of a learning curve especially because of Nike’s unique cushioning technology. I honestly enjoyed walking on it for the first few hours. But after around 4-5 hours of casual walking and strolling, I felt sore around my toe area.

If you’re a wide-footer like me, I would suggest going half a size (1/2 or 0.5-inch) up. My foot size is 11 but I should’ve just trusted my instinct to buy an 11.5 pair instead for that added allowance and breathing area. Nonetheless, TTS (true-to-size) runs fine as long as you wear thinner socks or if you have a narrow feet.

Performance

I’m not a gym freak yet when I tried doing home workouts, my movements felt a little bit restricted. I’m neither a professional dancer but I also tried dancing with this pair. If the choreography consists a lot of bending, flexing or even kneeling, the sneaker’s stiff base was one factor that hindered me from freely moving and gliding.

I also tried jumping and stomping on it several times — yet the bubble is firm and durable enough to support my weight (around 75 kilograms). I’ve seen no distortions after testing out its bouncing ability. Still, it’s not as comfortable as my Nike Air Max 97 or adidas UltraBoost’s cloud-like cushioning.

Even if the bounce cushioning is there, this particular sneaker isn’t meant for strenuous activities — especially if it’s basketball or any other sport. Don’t confuse Air Max 720 with the Air Max 270 React as this one doesn’t have Nike’s React technology specifically meant for running.

Is this your SneakerMatch?

If you’re just looking for a casual sneaker to wear when you run errands around the block or just want a new pair for your pandemic OOTD 🤷🏻‍♂️, Nike’s Air Max 720 is definitely worthy to buy. If you want to add over an extra inch to your overall stature, this sneaker also serves that purpose.

But if you’re looking for a pair that’s meant for running, workout, basketball, or any other sport with serious comfort in it, this isn’t the right one to get. Some professional dancers might like the added height boost but if you think you won’t get comfortable with this peculiar Air bubble technology especially if you move a lot around an area, consider choosing another sneaker instead.

The Nike Air Max 720 retails for US$ 180 / PhP 8,995 / SG$ 125 / INR 15,995. I was able to secure this particular colorway but it eventually got sold out except in the US. In men’s sizing, there are other colorways to choose from for as low as US$ 107.97 / PhP 5,939 / SG$ 139.90 / INR 8,497. It’s best to grab these discounted pairs before they totally run out.