Behind the Tech of Nike's Revolutionary Radical AirFlow Breathable Apparel

NIKE, Inc. is no stranger to disrupting the norm. Let the brand tell it and the Swoosh is at its best when it shakes up the industry with innovation—be it material development, color application, or a thoroughly-considered product that marries the best of design, performance technology, and aesthetic. Diehard gear-enthusiasts would argue that Nike Radical AirFlow is the most-recent example of the world's biggest sportswear company at its best.

Even if the name doesn't ring a bell (and you breezed by this feature's cover image), you've likely seen Radical AirFlow on your Instagram feed over the last nine months—remember that white, hole-y Nike top?—thanks to a healthy mix of serious runners and fashion-forward influencers. Therein lies the beauty of Nike's open-hole knit design: performance apparel developed to solve ventilation issues for elite athletes has unintentionally resonated with non-runners who are better-versed in style than fueling needs and heel-to-toe drops.

As with dozens of products before it, Radical AirFlow first proved itself in the sports space, giving credibility to the peculiar engineered air ducts actually working. Countless Nike Basketball, Nike Running, and Jordan Brand products have undergone similar "proving" experiences, with their looks piquing consumer interests regardless of if they're looking to be like Caitlin Clark, Eliud Kipchoge, or Michael Jordan.

Come Thursday, July 16, Nike ACG is giving fans a proper shot at trying out Radical AirFlow clothing after a limited launch of the viral Long-Sleeve Top. Over 10 different items will be available through Nike.com in a mix of Men's, Women's, and Unisex sizing. Pricing for the most-popular Nike ACG Radical AirFlow NXT Long-Sleeve Top is $150 (Men's/Women's), whereas inaugural headwear retails for $65.

Ahead of the collection's launch, here's a deep dive into Nike's revolutionary Radical AirFlow range—from tech specs and athlete testimonials to upcoming releases and streetwear appeal.

What Is Nike Radical AirFlow?

At a surface level, Nike's Radical AirFlow line seems like just a bunch of perforated clothing. While not technically wrong, the range is more so a new era of breathability made possible by taking one of the most-basic elements—air—and optimizing its use through decades of athlete insight; reimagined manufacturing processes; and a thorough exploration in how the body naturally cools itself.

Cross-disciplinary teams at the Swoosh came together to develop a breathable material—a warp-knit spacer mesh with hydrophilic properties. This material is engineered with a series of meticulously-placed holes that act as air channels.

This new perforated warp-knit spacer mesh can take the form of numerous apparel styles—from long-sleeve shirts to 3/4 length pants.

Numerous athletes at the 2026 Nike Prefontaine Classic stepped out in custom designs using the Radical AirFlow canvas.

How Does Nike Radical AirFlow Work?

The project was inspired by the Venturi Effect, a physical principle in fluid dynamics where a liquid speeds up as it flows through a narrow space, causing its pressure to drop.

On the ACG Radical AirFlow NXT Top, this science "trick" works while in-motion: As airflow passes through the open-hole air channels and funnel-shaped vents, its evaporation process is sped up, which increases the rate at which the body cools.

The magic behind Nike's new ventilation innovation, then, is faster sweat evaporation.

"Wearing [Radical AirFlow] is like stepping into a fridge." — Caleb Olson, Trail Runner & Nike All Conditions Racing Department Athlete

Radical AirFlow had been in development behind-closed-doors for years, but it was on June 28, 2025 that Caleb Olson gave the world a proper look at the innovative offering as he took first place in the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run.

The Utah-based trail runner and Nike All Conditions Racing Department (ACRD) Athlete set the second-fastest course time in the race's history while wearing a prototype version of the ACG Radical AirFlow NXT Long-Sleeve Top (as well as an unreleased sequel to the UltraFly Trail). Spectators at the event and the running world-at-large were impressed by Olson's performance (14 hours, 11 minutes, and 25 seconds), but were arguably more intrigued about the "ACG"-branded, hole-riddled crop top he wore.

"Wearing it is like stepping into a fridge," said Olson about his Radical AirFlow prototype. Having worn it to race 100 miles in Northern California, he would know a thing or two about the technology's performance.

What's particularly special about the Swoosh's breakthrough material is that it minimizes dependence on popular ways in which trail athletes would stay cool—including the use of ice vests, jumping in nearby rivers and streams, and even shedding layers along the way. With Radical AirFlow, Nike simply maximizes the body’s natural cooling mechanism, a process that required efforts from countless team members.

One such member is Edward Harber.

Nike's Lineage of Breathable Apparel

Radical AirFlow isn't the first example of the Swoosh dedicating time and resources on developing performance apparel that optimizes breathability for athletes.

Throughout the late 1990s, Edward Harber, an industry veteran who spent time on Nike's Apparel Innovation team, explored the foundation of what would become the Stand-Off Singlet. The thin, lightweight, sleeveless top was partly constructed out of recycled plastic bottles, as reported by Instagram user @lab.zip. Assembled through ultrasound welding to reduce discomfort, the singlet was a highlight of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, as athletes representing Australia, Portugal, and Kenya wore it throughout the competition.

You'd be understood if you mistook the decades-old Stand-Off Singlet for the Radical AirFlow Short-Sleeve Running Tank Top because both achieve enhanced ventilation through a similar design. (Umbro explored a similar concept for the 1970 World Cup™ in Mexico, named Aertex. The loosely-woven, perforated cotton mesh fabric aimed to keep players cool in hot climates without compromising the structure integrity of football kits.) The Nike Sphere fabric introduced in 2002 belongs to this family of hole-riddled innovation that looks to regulate body temperature and provide comfort to athletes of all disciplines.

Today, Nike's most-breathable fabric offerings are a variation of Dri-FIT, a moisture-wicking microfiber material launched in 1991. The first version of the brand's Functional Innovative Technologies has since been succeeded by the likes of Aero-FIT (seen on 2026 World Cup™ Nike kits) and Dri-FIT ADV—technology designed to pull sweat away from the skin and onto the exterior of a garment for faster evaporation.

Radical AirFlow is more about cooling the body by manipulating and distributing airflow.

Where to Buy: Nike Radical AirFlow

Nike's first expansive collection of Radical AirFlow breathable apparel releases via Nike.com on July 16. Some specialty running shops will also carry limited product, which is likely to sell out quickly.

Men's, Women's, and Unisex apparel and accessories featuring Radical AirFlow fabric is available through after-market platforms like StockX, allowing interested parties to pick up items well after they've been sold out.

Radical AirFlow's Street Style Appeal

Elite-level athletes like Eliud Kipchoge, Caleb Olson, and Riley Brady have put Nike's Radical AirFlow apparel through the paces, but countless non-runners have taken an interest in the innovative designs, allowing the line to cross over into the street style space.

As aforementioned, handfuls of world-renowned athletes—several of them Olympians—showed up to the 2026 Nike Prefontaine Classic in custom Radical AirFlow pieces. It's unclear if the Swoosh will release product worn by Tara Davis-Woodhall, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Rai Benjamin, but what's certain is that the Oregon-based institution is well aware that its Radical AirFlow franchise is a ripe canvas on which to blend performance and style.

Nike is ready to explore color options—including a "Hyper Pink" running top for the Women's "After Dark" Tour (unveiled by Keely Hodgkinson)—cuts, and decorative elements to allow wearers to stay cool while getting a 'fit off.

If you search "Nike Radical AirFlow" on Instagram or TikTok, you'll also come across numerous outfit inspos that pair the hole-y shirt with trendy apparel, accessories, and footwear.

Mainstream, everyday appeal would be huge for Radical AirFlow as it would add yet another tally to Nike's laundry list of performance-product-turned-lifestyle-staple.