The Nike Air Max 90 and the Air Max Excee are almost identical. When I saw the Excee first, I couldn’t see any differences. Most people fail to spot any differences. There’s a reason for that. The Air Max Excee is inspired by the legendary Air Max 90.
So, are the Air Max Excee and the 90 the same thing? The answer is no. If they were, Nike wouldn’t manufacture the Air Max Excee. What are the differences between the Air Max Excee and 90?
Read the full article to learn all about the Air Max Excee vs 90. At the end of the article, you will find a quick comparison table of both shoes.
What Is the Difference Between the Air Max Excee vs 90?
There are some subtle differences between the Air Max Excee and its inspiration, the Air Max 90. Let’s find out what they are.
- Comfort
The Air Max 90 and Excee have Nike’s cushion foam at the midsole and the famous Air unit at the heel region. Both of the shoes have foam midsoles and are lightweight because of that.
The Nike Air max Excee might feel more comfortable fresh out of the box, but over time it is not as comfortable as the Nike Air Max 90.
The Air Max 90 feels a bit hard at first. I felt a bit uncomfortable for the first few wears. It needs a couple of wears to break in. Once the shoe breaks in, it is super comfortable.
Nike advertised the Air Max Excee as super comfortable and suitable for all-day wear. In my experience, it is not true at all. The Excee is a budget variant of the original Air Max 90. While the Air Max 90 is really comfortable for all-day wear, the Air Max Excee is not.
- Sizing
Both the Air Max 90 and the Air max Excee fit true to size. But the shoes have snug fits. Especially, the toe box is quite narrow. If that is a problem for you, you can go up to half a size up with both of these shoes.
These shoes don’t come in extra wide sizes. If you have wide feet, you should go half a size up from your regular size as well.
You can also check our article on Nike Air Max 270 vs Adidas Ultra boost.
- Material
The Air Max 90 and the Air Max Excee have some differences in build materials.
The upper of the Air Max Excee is built of a mesh base. There are synthetic overlays with suede to complement the base. The Air unit at the heel region is supposed to provide some protection to the ankle. The absence of leather in the upper means there will be no creases in the Air Max Excee. A rubber outsole adds some traction to the shoe.
The exposed Air bubble just below the heel counter separates the Air Max Excee from the Air Max 90, but it also has less padding than the Air Max 90.
The Air Max 90 comes in a lot of different designs. Leather is predominantly used in most of the Air Max 90’s uppers. As a result, your Air Max 90s will develop creases over time. The cushioning in the midsole and the Air technology on the back of the shoe are better than the Air Max Excee.
Apart from these differences, the two shoes are quite similar.
You can also check our article on the differences between Air Max 90 and Air max 95.
- Durability
The Air Max Excee and the Air Max 90 are quite durable shoes. The Air Max 90 loses its looks early, thanks to the leather used in the sneaker. But with a bit of care, the Air Max 90 can easily last a couple of years.
The same can be said about the Air Max Excee. If you don’t do any high-impact activities, the shoe will last for a long time.
If interested, check our related article, Air Max 95 vs Air Max 97.
- Variety
Nike Air Max Excee is limited in terms of design and colorways. The Excee comes in just 4 colorways. There is no variety in design or materials, just a change in colors.
However, the Air Max 90 has a much more versatile lineup. The Air Max 90 has a regular 90 lineup, an Air Max 90 LTR lineup, an Air Max 90 LTR SE lineup, and an Air Max 90 SE lineup. All of these lineups have a wide variety of cool colorways as well.
- Cost
The Air Max Excee is a budget iteration of the original Air Max 90. Nike cut corners to be able to price the shoe in this low range. The Air Max currently retails on Nike’s official website for $90.
The Air Max 90 has different pricing for different models. All models of the Nike Air Max 90 lineup cost more than the Excee. On Nike’s official website, the Air Max 90 retails for $130; the LTR version retails for $100; the LTR SE version for $90; and the Air Max 90 SE for $140.
You can check other retailers for discounts. Many retailers hold discounts for these shoes from time to time.
- Availability
Both the Air Max Excee and the Air Max 90 are available on Nike’s website. However, the Air Max 90 has much more demand and is much more popular than the Excee. So, it is more available in other retailers.
You can also check our article on Air Max 1 vs Air Max 90.
Table for comparison (Air Max Excee vs 90)
Summary
Nike Air Max 90 is a legendary shoe. The Air Max Excee is inspired by the 90. In other words, the Excee is a budget version of the Air Max 90. If you don’t want to pay the extra $40, the Air Max Excee is for you. Also, you will not see any creases on the Air Max Excee, along with a better breathable design.
However, the Air Max 90 is better than the Excee in almost every aspect except for breathability. It is more comfortable, has more design variety and color options, and is more available on the market.
If budget is not an issue, the Air Max 90 is a better choice as a daily footwear companion.
I hope you have enjoyed reading our article Air Max Excee vs 90. If you have any comments, please let us know.