An early Nike Air Max 1 “Low Poly” sample has surfaced, and it shows how much quieter the shoe looked before the retail version was finalized.

The sample drops the red Air Max 1-inspired hits used on the pair that released in 2024. In their place is a grey-and-white upper with a gum rubber outsole, giving the shoe a more understated feel. The color setup also brings it closer to Nike’s late-2000s “Try-On” samples, which have built their own bit of mystery over the years.

The shape of the idea was already there. Angular overlays still run through the upper, giving the sneaker its Low Poly identity, but the mesh base is where the early version stands apart. Nike went with standard white mesh here instead of the polygon-patterned mesh used on the retail pair.

It appears Nike was testing the modified upper first, before the final red palette, patterned mesh, and more obvious theme details were approved.

Nike released the Air Max 1 “Low Poly” on October 8, 2024 through a $150 pre-order, with pairs shipping roughly 120 days later. The release was followed by more unofficial retro gaming-inspired drops, including pairs tied to Donkey Kong Country and GoldenEye 007.

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Photos: buddhakicks