To mark Air Max Day 2025, Division Street’s Ducks of a Feather has partnered with resale giants GOAT and Flight Club on an exclusive trio of Nike Air Max 95/97 Player Editions. Named “Lightning,” “Thunder,” and “Storm,” the collection arrives as a hybrid of two of Nike’s most recognized silhouettes. Each release will benefit University of Oregon student-athletes and aligns with the “Nature Reimagined” concept – a reference to the school’s environment and identity. These sneakers celebrate the occasion while also extending Nike’s collaborative presence at the University of Oregon and advancing the Air Max legacy through a new hybrid design.
The Air Max 95/97 is the new chapter in an ongoing collaboration between Division Street, GOAT, and Flight Club. Their previous work on the “What the Duck” Dunk series introduced a new format for connecting sneaker releases with direct support for Oregon student-athletes.
Air Max 95/97
The Air Max 95/97 combines the upper design from the Air Max 97 with the midsole and outsole of the Air Max 95. The result is a hybrid that leans on the 97’s wave-like panels and reflective finishes, but grounds itself in the sculpted, layered sole that made the 95 a technical breakthrough in the 1990s. Nike has explored Air Max hybrids before – most notably in the Sean Wotherspoon Air Max 1/97 and Patta’s Air Max 90/95 – but this PE is the first time the 95/97 combination has been fully realized in a performance-oriented and concept-driven package. While early GS (grade school) pairs of the Air Max 97 did include elements from the 95’s sole, they were limited and not built around a full creative concept like this latest release.
Each sneaker features reflective overlays, iridescent branding, and University of Oregon-specific detailing throughout. The midsoles carry glow-in-the-dark pillars, Oregon’s “O” logo, and design motifs borrowed from the Ducks’ football uniforms. The drop also includes unique packaging and lenticular tags that separate these PEs from standard Air Max offerings.
Lightning
The Lightning colorway takes visual cues from metallic elements and iridescence found in nature. It features silver reflective overlays, rainbow-effect mesh at the midfoot, and green glow-in-the-dark Air units in the sole. The sockliners feature Oregon-specific triangle motifs and mismatched left-right graphics, while the heel is adorned with dark jade branding and reflective detailing. The forefoot features a mini Swoosh, and the rear pull tab reads “Ducks of a Feather” in contrasting lime print.
Thunder
Thunder shifts the palette toward darker tones with obsidian reflective overlays and gold-green synthetic accents across the midfoot. It uses the same glow-in-the-dark green air pillars as the other two, but introduces new contrast via yellow tones on the Air units. Like the other colorways, it carries the signature Oregon detailing through the tongue tags, mismatched insoles, and iridescent hangtag. Under flash, its dark panels shift to teal, creating a dimensional effect not present in the other models.
Storm
The Storm pair leans into the University of Oregon’s primary colors, pairing green and gold throughout the shoe. Reflective metallic green overlays dominate the upper, contrasted with a gold-tone textile on the lateral and medial sides. The rear pull tab reflects aurora hues, and the outsole glows neon green, visible even in daylight. The triangle pattern along the midsole’s shank links directly to Oregon’s unique uniform identity, mimicking the “Eggshell” graphics from their football kits.
Design
The upper of the Air Max 95/97 leans heavily on Christian Tresser’s original 1997 design. Originally inspired by water ripples, the 97’s lines have been repurposed in reflective textiles and Oregon-specific materials. Each version includes a mini Swoosh at the midfoot and lenticular tags that swap between Nike and DOAF logos. The upper materials are layered in such a way that they react differently under light, producing subtle transitions between reflective, synthetic, and mesh components. The laces are finished with translucent tips bearing lime green text, and each tongue includes custom labeling unique to this release.
Performance
While the shoe is rooted in performance silhouettes, it functions primarily as a lifestyle sneaker. The 95 midsole retains Sergio Lozano’s anatomical inspiration – including the use of visible Air units and internal support pillars. The forefoot retains its layered “muscle fiber” shape, while the spine and outsole shank follow the curvature of a human vertebra. For this edition, the central shank drops the usual PSI numbers and instead displays the Oregon “O” logo in a triangle formation. All three models include traction zones inspired by previous Air Max icons, with subtle tweaks to increase stability and comfort.
Release Schedule
Nike and its partners have mapped out a regional launch plan for each colorway, with exclusivity built into every release.
The “Lightning” Air Max 95/97 is available at Flight Club Tokyo from March 21
The “Thunder” is exclusive to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa through GOAT’s app, with availability beginning March 21 to build momentum ahead of Air Max Day.
The final colorway, “Storm,” arrives in the United States from March 22 at Flight Club locations in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami. A global release follows on March 26 via GOAT, aligning with Nike Air Max Day and underscoring the model’s significance in the 2025 lineup.
Division Street Initiative
Ducks of a Feather is part of a wider effort led by Division Street, an organization founded by University of Oregon alumni. Their goal is to create opportunities for student-athletes by connecting them with business ventures that generate long-term revenue. Each sneaker drop serves this purpose, linking sport, design, and commerce in a way that gives athletes visibility beyond the field. The Air Max 95/97 PEs follow the 2024 “What the Duck” Dunk release, continuing the momentum between Division Street, Nike, and the student community.
Every pair sold contributes to NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities for Oregon athletes, allowing the school’s athletic program to stay competitive while keeping its identity intact.
definitely wouldn’t wear those with the tag. Sadly i know people who will!