The Air Rift was inspired by Kenyan barefott runners and takes its name from the Rift valley. The original colors - black / atom red / forest - paid homage to the Kenyan running team. The Air Rift featured an Air Unit in the heel, and the upper was made of synthetic stretch-fit mesh. It is rumoured that the concept came from a Japanese carpenter’s shoe.

Up until the late 90s, the Air Rift was available from selected sports shops around the world. In 1999, its appeal widened with the launch of a multitude of colorways uncluding bonbay / was yellow, oxide / blue, and pear / sage.

The Air rift has also gone through several cosmetic changes, including the use of leather and suede in the upper. In 2002, nike released a mid-cut version called Air Rift Cover - a higher version of the Air Rift, with the cut-out hole covered over - but it wasn’t as popular as the original.