Today I’m gonna mess around with my old pair of Nike Air Max and see if I can make them glow in the dark. I saw an article saying some Nike Air Max, like the Hyperposite, can glow in the dark. I got curious and wanted to try it out myself. I’m not buying a new pair just for this, so I’m using my worn-out Air Max 97s.
First, I grabbed my shoes and went to check what I needed. I thought maybe I’d need some special paint or something. I did a bit of searching online and found out that some people use glow-in-the-dark powder mixed with paint. Sounded easy enough, so I went to the local store to find some. I got myself a small pack of glow-in-the-dark powder and a clear, waterproof sealant. Didn’t want to ruin the paint job if it rained.
Back home, I mixed the powder with the sealant. It was a bit messy, to be honest. I just eyeballed the amount, hoping for the best. I started painting the mixture onto the parts of the shoes I wanted to glow. I focused on the soles and the swoosh logo, the iconic parts. It was kind of tricky to get it even, but I managed. The sealant was thick, making it a little harder to spread.
After applying the mixture, I left the shoes to dry for a whole day. It was tough to wait, but I wanted to make sure it was completely dry before testing it out. While waiting, I read some more about the new Air Max Dn that Nike released on Air Max Day 2024. They look cool, but I’m not about to splurge on them right now. Maybe when these 97s totally bite the dust, I will check them out.
The Test
Finally, the moment of truth. I took the shoes into my walk-in closet, the darkest place I could find in my apartment. I turned off the lights, and… they glowed! Not super bright, but definitely noticeable. The soles had a faint green glow, and the swoosh stood out more. It was a cool effect, like something out of a Halloween movie. Reminded me of those scary Halloween-themed Air Max 97s I saw online once.
Results
Here’s what I found out:
- It works: The shoes do glow in the dark with the homemade mixture.
- Not very bright: The glow is subtle. Don’t expect to light up a room.
- Messy process: Mixing and applying the sealant can get messy. Be prepared to clean up.
- Fun project: It’s a fun little DIY project if you’re bored and have an old pair of shoes lying around.
Overall, it was a fun experiment. I wouldn’t say it’s a game-changer, but it’s cool to know I can make my shoes glow in the dark without spending a ton of money. Plus, it gave my old Air Max 97s a little bit of new life. They might not be as popular as the Air Max 90s or 95s, but they’re still my favorite, especially now with this little added feature.
