The sneaker community is a funny place. It’s a magical land filled with style aficionados, hoarders, resellers, painters, aspiring rappers, eBay usernames and people who find an incredible amount of happiness in the leather, suede and mesh bundles of joy that hug your feet.

March 26 is a date that now holds critical importance to this special breed of human. Since Nike decided to celebrate ‘Air Max Day’ for the first time in 2014, it’s become a global phenomenon – an opportunity for collectors to flex their rarest footwear with that visible bubble goodness. Whether you’re a gabber-hungry lad or front row at fashion week, it’s very likely that you have at least one pair of Air Max in your rotation.

With the soaring popularity of social media avenues, Air Max Day has become a dick-measuring contest of sorts, except with sneakers and a fly outfit to match. Searching the #AIRMAXDAY hashtag on Instagram yields close to 200,000 very swaggy posts – and so it’s only right that some IRL celebrations take place, too.

When I tell Mum that I’m going to Melbourne for this year’s edition of Air Max Day, she doesn’t quite understand the concept of taking a holiday to celebrate a shoe. That’s okay, because she already thinks I’m an idiot. She also doesn’t understand why every single shoe I own seemingly looks the same – all with Nike’s iconic swoosh and a midsole blessed by those air bubbles, filled with oxygen and a slight infusion of God’s breath. Over the years, Mum has gotten used to the postman leaving endless shoe boxes on our doorstep. “It’s called swag, mother. Please look it up,” I reply every time she inquires about the deliveries.

On Air Max Day Eve, I throw on a pair of Air Tailwind 4’s and pack an overnight bag for my adventure. At the airport, I am early for once in my life so I decide to reward myself with a passionfruit and mango smoothie. After a commendable evacuation demonstration and seamless flight (shoutout to Virgin), I touch down in Melbourne. Things are off to a blazing start when my driver holds a cardboard sign with my name written on it at the airport. This is a dream come true, but I still don’t know what the fuck a ‘hook turn’ is and it’s very scary to this lone Sydneysider.

After a quick nap and rendezvous with the homies from For The Homies, it’s time for an intimate dinner at Nieuw Amsterdam, where I get to nibble on beef brisket with other people who write words for a living. The dudes from Sneaker Freaker arrive with enough Nike TN heat to put every train station in Sydney to shame, while Perth producer Ta-Ku is also present – but I’m on the other end of the table being socially awkward and eating potato wedges.

After dabbling in some zesty sorbet and a chocolate pudding thing, we walk off the food coma and arrive at the nearby Utopian Slumps gallery for the Air Max Day party. I meet up with my pal Lachy who is wearing straight leg overalls. I am jealous. There’s miniature burgers and Mat Cant on the decks, who is dropping a very worthy selection of bangers. The back wall is a pleasing tribute to the evolution of Nike’s signature series, kicking off with the immortal Air Max 1 and stretching all the way to the Air Max 2015.

Somewhere in there, the Air Max 95 is dangling ever so beautifully in its original Neon colourway. This brings a tear to my eye. Here’s just five reasons that the Air Max 95 is the best shoe of all time:

1) Gucci Mane referenced the Air Max 95 in a song.
2) Gucci Mane referenced the Air Max 95 in a song.
3) The Game referenced the Air Max 95 in a song.
4) Gucci Mane referenced the Air Max 95 in a song.
5) Gucci Mane referenced the Air Max 95 in a song.

As the clock draws towards midnight, there’s even a countdown display on the stage. Yes, this is kind of like NYE, except that there’s nobody projectile vomiting on your shoes or trying to sell you drugs in a park. As it officially becomes Air Max Day in Melbourne, the Air Max Zero – a previously unreleased sneaker from the vault of lord Tinker Hatfield – is given to one lucky winner:

Congratulations to this bro!

After a few more brews and talking #fashion with the good people at Vice, I make my way back to the hotel, and eventually back home to Sydney City. Air Max Day has reaffirmed my initial suspicion that shoes are better than humans. Even though it was on a Wednesday night and I couldn’t watch My Kitchen Rules, it was definitely worth it because I watched the replay the next day and couldn’t believe that Rob & Dave got eliminated.

Wear your air!