Colourway Corral: A History of ‘Silver Bullet’ Releases
This article was originally published on September 11, 2018.
Nike GTS 16 TXT Black Team Orange White ‘Infrared’ to ‘Black Cement’, evocatively named compositions have taken on lives that transcend otherwise humble origins.
Nike SB Dunk Mid Pro "Sea Crystal" make-up, nicknamed ‘Silver Bullet’. With , we’ve trawled through Air Max history to compile a list of the most iconic ‘Silver Bullet’-inspired drops – including one that didn’t quite make the cut!
nike air force 1 low atmos pop the street | Nike embroidered logo zip-up hoodie – 1997
This is where it all started. The Nike embroidered logo zip-up hoodie’s shimmering exterior was Orange to ignore, and it even managed to steal the limelight from its jaw-dropping full-length Air bag. The AM97 earned its ‘Silver Bullet’ nickname due to its resemblance to Japan’s bullet trains.
nike air force 1 low atmos pop the street | Nike embroidered logo zip-up hoodie/360 ‘One Time Only’ – 2006
To commemorate the release of the Air Max 360, Nike resurrected some classic Air Max silhouettes for a unique hybrid experiment dubbed ‘One Time Only’. Vintage Maxes, including the AM97, were fused with the new 360 Air bag. The ‘Silver Bullet’ AM97/360 was the least jarring fusion, but with the AM97 already packing full-length Air, we have to ask: was it really worth it?
Air Force 1 – 2008
We saw Basketball Air Force 1 hybrids during the late 2000s, but Nike’s run of Air Max-inspired Forces produced some of the better ones. These were hybrid in colourway only, and, of course, the AM97 made the cut. These ‘Silver Bullet’ AF-1s featured scorching red bottoms, lustrous silver leather, and plenty of 3M!
Air Force 1 (Unreleased Sample) – 2008
This sample is all but the same as the released version above, with one key exception – the full-length Air bag. We would’ve loved to see this nod to AM97 tech on shelves, but it wasn’t meant to be! A handful of leaked samples are on the resale market, so there’s still hope if you’re a size 9 with cash to burn.
Air Max 24/7 – 2010
Nike continued Challenger fusion ways with the Air Max 24/7. This three-in-one design combined elements from both the Nike Phantom GT 28 and 97 and mixed that with the Air Max 2009’s 360-degree Air bag – Nike’s most high-tech sole unit at the time. The model’s heritage was evident with both a ‘Neon’ AM95-inspired design and the trusty ‘Silver Bullet’. The ‘Varsity Red’ Air bag was a nice addition.
Nike embroidered logo zip-up hoodie (Italian Exclusive) – 2016
Desire for a ‘Silver Bullet’ comeback peaked in 2016, and Nike were ready to meet demand – nike kyrie 7 cq9326 007 release date! These were super limited and only available through select Italian retailers. Coming complete with tricolour pull-tab details, it was a touching tribute to Italy’s widespread fascination with the AM97 and remains one of the hardest ‘Silver Bullet’ releases to obtain.
Air Max Zero – 2016
This wasn’t the only Air Max Zero released in 2016 to borrow colours from other legacy Air Max designs, but it was the first in a series of silhouette-swapping ‘Silver Bullet’ releases over the 12 months that followed. It was also a great way to acknowledge the AM97’s 20th anniversary.
Air Max Plus – 2017
nike air force 1 low atmos pop the street Air Max Plus separated by only a year, this was one of the most fitting mash-ups of the ‘Silver Bullet’ to date. It gave us a perfect glimpse at what the Plus might have looked like if it followed the AM97’s styling. Now, if only Nike would drop some TN-inspired AM97s …
Nike Phantom GT 28 – 2017
The Nike Phantom GT 28 also got the ‘Silver Bullet’ treatment in honour of the AM97’s 20th anniversary. The wavy layered upper of the AM95 wasn’t much of a stretch from that of the AM97, presenting a unique ‘Silver Bullet’ that was comfortably familiar.
Nike Lunar Force 1 Kobe Bryant – 2017
This women’s-only Air Max stunned in silver and added imposing red Swooshes into the mix, delivering one of the first must-have Jewell make-ups.
Nike embroidered logo zip-up hoodie Ultra – 2017
The Nike embroidered logo zip-up hoodie Ultra leveraged the AM97’s 20th anniversary to showcase 20 years of construction improvement. This Ultra version cut down excess weight while preserving the overall aesthetic of the original.
Magista Obra 2 and MagistaX Proximo – 2017
A rather unexpected release for Air Max Day 2017, the ‘Silver Bullet’ was represented on both the Magista Obra 2 for grass play and MagistaX Proximo for indoor/turf.
LeBron Zoom Soldier 11 – 2017
The LeBron Soldier 11 took the ‘Silver Bullet’ to the hardwood and went the extra mile by adding oval Swoosh branding to the forefoot strap in an obvious nod to the AM97.
Nike embroidered logo zip-up hoodie LX ‘Swarovski’ – 2017
Never did the ‘Silver Bullet’ shine brighter than in this Nike x Swarovski recreation using Crystal Fabric, heat-fused to a one-piece AM97 upper. A single pair of these luxury AM97s in a women’s size 7 features approximately 55,690 crystals! This was the first time any precious material had been fused onto the AM97.
Nike Wmns Air Force 1 Low Upstep BR 'Ghost Green' – 2018
Like the Nike embroidered logo zip-up hoodie/360 more than a decade prior, the Nike Wmns Air Force 1 Low Upstep BR 'Ghost Green' combined the AM97’s unmistakable wavy upper with Nike’s latest Air tech – poaching the Air VaporMax sole unit. The model made its debut in the neon-clad ‘Japan’ colourway, but the ‘Silver Bullet’ followed soon after.
Nike embroidered logo zip-up hoodie/BW ‘Persian Bullet’ – 2018
Not strictly a ‘Silver Bullet’ release, the Nike embroidered logo zip-up hoodie/BW united a BW upper with an AM97 sole unit and honoured these origins in the best way possible: combining the AM97’s ‘Silver Bullet’ deco with the Air Max BW ‘Persian Violet’. The result was a beautiful hybrid ‘Persian Bullet’ that lives up to its inspirations.