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Nike Air Max SYSTM University of Texas Longhorns UT Burnt Orange Week Zero 10
Sneakers

The Nike Air Max SYSTM Texas is Available Now

Daniel Huggett
August 31, 2023
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4 min read

Nike and UT callback to the past, and release a retro-inspired pair of Air Maxes in a Texas Longhorns colorway.

For the first time in history, the Longhorn logo graces a pair of shoes in Nike’s iconic Air Max series. Although there have been past UT shoes that featured the brand’s legendary technology, this is the first time we’ve gotten one in a more retro-inspired form (which is what most people think when they picture “Air Max”). The Nike Air Max SYSTM was the model tapped to carry out this assignment. While not as well known as some of the Swoosh’s other silhouette, this new shoe certainly holds its own when compared to giants like the Air Max 1 and the Air Max 97. Longhorn fans who have been on the hunt for a more vintage looking pair of kicks will likely be excited to add the Nike Air Max SYSTM Texas to their sneaker collections.

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Colorway Description

Compared to other Longhorn sneakers, the Air Max SYSTM Texas opts for a significantly different color scheme. While burnt orange is certainly visible throughout the colorway, it serves primarily as an accent on this pair of sneakers. Instead, grey and black cover the majority of these Longhorn Air Maxes, giving the shoes a more neutral appearance. Paired with a white midsole and orange (almost gum) outsole, these UT Air Max SYSTMs seem to be tailor-made for casual wear.

For branding, the sneakers notably feature the Longhorn steerhead on the tongue of each shoe. The number”1883″ is stitched in burnt orange on the heel, paying homage to the year that the University of Texas was established. Finally, a small orange and white striped tab is attached to upper of the shoe. While seemingly insignificant, this tab is a clear reference to the two stripes found on the shoulders of UT’s iconic football jerseys. Overall, these Air Max SYSTMs keep it simple in terms of Texas markings, and appear to be ideal for Longhorns fans that want to rep their school in a more understated way.

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Speculation: Air Max SYSTM or Air Max 1?

While I’m personally a fan of the colorway on these Air Max SYSTMs, I wish Nike would have used a different model for this release. Given that many college football coaches have started to wear retro Air Maxes as their sideline shoes of choice, I have a feeling that this release was inspired by this recent trend.

While not a bad shoe, the SYSTM lacks the history of some of Nike’s more iconic offerings, like the Air Max 1 or 90. I suspect that the design team originally wanted to release a collection of college colorways in one of the aforementioned models. However, the decision was eventually made to use the Air Max SYSTM instead, to help drive sells for the lesser known model. While it is a solid silhouette, I think most people (myself included) would much rather have a Texas Air Max 1 instead of a Texas Air Max SYSTM, and it’s hard not to think about what might have been.

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Author Opinion: Hope for the Future

Despite my qualms with the model selected, it has definitely grown on me since they first leaked earlier this year. The black and grey give it a more neutral look that I could easily see myself wearing outside of a UT athletic event. While the quality is nothing special, it gets the job done and stays near that all-important $100 price point (which in the age of rampant inflation is a huge win for consumers). These Air Max SYSTMs, while not my first choice for a Texas shoe, certainly hold there own when compared to other UT sneakers released in the last decade.

I’m also glad to see Nike once again release a sportswear-type shoe for the Texas Longhorns. The last time this happened was 2019s React Element 55s, and it can be argued that retro/retro-inspired models have only become more popular since then. While I’m a big fan of the Pegasus line, five consecutive Texas shoes in the series have started to make the annual UT sneaker release feel tired. As such, I’m excited to see the Swoosh experiment with Longhorn colorways in different kinds of sneakers. Hopefully, this is a trend that will continue going forward, and that we’ll soon get to see more Texas colorways in some of Nike’s more iconic models (Air Max 1s, Air Force 1s, Dunks, etc.).

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Available Now for Purchase

The Nike Air Max SYSTM Texas is available now for $110 from most retailers, many of which can be found below.

What are your thoughts on the newest pair of Texas shoes? Would you like to see Nike release more retro-inspired UT sneakers, or does this new model not do it for you?

Images via Nike, Texas Sports, and The University Co-op

Nike Air Max SYSTM University of Texas Longhorns UT Burnt Orange Week Zero Stock wide

Nike Air Max SYSTM Texas
Release Date: 8/31/23
Color: Pewter Grey/Black
Style Code: DZ7745-001
Price: $110

Texas Sports
University Co-op
Nike.com

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Daniel Huggett

A graduate of UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business, Daniel is the creator of TexasSneakers.com. When he’s not posting or writing about burnt orange tennis shoes, Daniel can usually be found scouring off-price stores for deals or eating Texas Barbecue.

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