1 colorway of the Nike Air Max 90 QS on SoleBook.
The Nike Air Max 90, originally released in 1990, has become one of the most enduring silhouettes in the brand's running lineage. Designed for Nike as part of the Air Max family, it built on the visible Air unit introduced with the Air Max 1, expanding the window and reworking the upper into a bulkier, layered construction of mesh and synthetic overlays. It wasn't an instant icon in the way its predecessor was, but through the 90s and 2000s it steadily earned a place in both running rotations and street style, helped along by its adaptable panel layout that took color-blocking exceptionally well. The "QS" tag—Quickstrike—refers to Nike's limited, often unannounced release strategy rather than a distinct model, so Air Max 90 QS drops typically signal special colorways, collaborations, or anniversary editions produced in smaller runs. These releases have ranged from OG-inspired retros to unexpected material swaps and collaborative projects, keeping the silhouette relevant well beyond its original running-shoe purpose. Regarded by many as the definitive Air Max shape, the 90 continues to anchor Nike's retro strategy, with QS drops used to test bolder ideas without disrupting the mainline retail cadence.