Today, in Counter Kicks non-stop exclusive Reebok Pump coverage (see: Paul Litchfield Interview Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Reebok ERS/Hexalite Technology post) leading up the 20th Anniversary of the Pump on November 20th, we bring you the Pump Chronology, a listing of every landmark Pump shoe from the technology’s debut in 1989 to its first creative plateau in 1994. Continue reading to see our entire exclusive Pump Chronology…

1989

Reebok The Pump: The original Pump was released as a basketball shoe in Men‘s sizes only. The world’s first shoe with a fully adjustable fit contained a midfoot and ankle air bladder, quilted to control air allocation. As a result, when the bladders were inflated, the majority of the pumped air filled gaps around the ankle, and a marginal amount filled areas less in need of a snug fit such as the forefoot flex zone. The only Pump shoe to feature an air release button on the back. Under foot, it employed ERS cushioning. Worn by Dominique Wilkins, Danny Ainge, Byron Scott, and Doc Rivers.

1990

Reebok The Pump Twilight Zone: The immediate successor to the original Pump shoe, Pump Twilight Zone showcased a familiar high-top height. Men’s sizes featured a midfoot and ankle air bladder, while Kid’s sizes, due to a scaled-down design, offered only a midfoot air bladder. First Pump shoe to use the tongue-based air release button. Pump Twilight Zone included ERS. Worn by Dominique Wilkins.

Reebok The Pump Omni Zone: The first Pump shoe to be offered in both Men’s and Women’s sizes, Pump Omni Zone featured ERS (the final Pump basketball shoe to use this cushioning technology) and mid foot and ankle air bladders. Reebok advertised Pump Omni Zone as a ¾ cut shoe in its advertising, even though the shoe in fact retained the high-top height of its predecessors. Worn by various NBA players including Horace Grant and John Paxson.

Reebok The Pump Court Victory: Worn by tennis star Michael Chang, this Men’s tennis shoe touted lateral and medial support and stability, The first performance -based Pump shoe to utilize Hexalite cushioning. Pump Court Victory’s outsole was made of Dura Trac Plus compound to resist wear with use on tennis courts.

Reebok The Pump Aerobic Lite: Pump Aerobic Lite was the Pump successor to Reebok’s popular Freestyle shoe. Offered only for women, this shoe featured Hexalite cushioning, Hy-Elvaloy midsole, and a molded sockliner with Coolmax vamp for moisture control.

Reebok The Pump AXT: Reebok’s first Pump cross-training shoe, it was offered in Men’s and Women’s sizes. Pump AXT sported a Hy-Elvaloy midsole with Hexalite.

Reebok The Pump SXT: A Pump cross-training shoe tailored just for men, Pump SXT debuted the Reebok Midfoot Stability Bar. Again, Hexalite served as the cushioning system.

1991

Reebok The Pump Running: A Pump running shoe finally debuts and features two air bladders: one around the ankle collar and one underneath the arch. Coolmax sockliner. Goodyear Indy 500 Plus rubber outsole for durability; Reebok calls it “the highest abrasion-resistant material used in the industry.” The Hy-Elvaloy, tri-density midsole was developed for motion control. Hexalite cushioning.

Reebok The Pump Walking: Pump Walking revealed the Reebok Energaire outsole, a sectioned platform that encouraged a consistent foot-strike. With Hexalite in the heel, this shoe gave walkers the option to customize personal fit with a removable sockliner.

Reebok The Pump DL: Reebok’s first non-signature tennis model, Pump DL showcased a modest upper design while loading up on technology: Heel air bladder, Hy-Elvaloy midsole, heel and forefoot Hexalite, and Goodyear Indy 500 rubber in forefoot outsole and toe-off areas.

Reebok The Pump Omni Zone II: Best known as the shoe Dee Brown pumped up at the 1991 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Pump Omni Zone II picked up where Pump Omni Zone left off, this time replacing ERS with Hexalite and featuring a more styled plastic stability system on the upper. In addition to Brown, this shoe was worn by Dominique Wilkins, Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers, and Dennis Rodman.

Reebok The Pump Omni Lite: Pump Omni Lite resembled Pump Omni Zone II almost identically except Omni Lite offered a mid-cut height, slightly modified plastic stability system on its upper, and a leather ankle collar as opposed to Pump Omni Zone II’s mesh overlay ankle collar. Omni Lite’s Pump system was a midfoot air bladder. In addition to these design differences, Omni Lite’s tongue and heel signage was printed on whereas Omni Zone II’s was stitched into the leather.

Reebok Club Pump: In many ways the successor to Pump DL, the Club Pump showcased a simple upper with Hexalite cushioning and Goodyear Indy 500 Plus rubber outsole for durability.

Reebok Court Victory II: The follow-up to Court Victory, Court Victory II continued its predecessor’s general design language and shared its Hexalite cushioning. Reebok chose Goodyear Indy 500 Plus rubber for the outsole for durability. Worn by tennis star Michael Chang.

1992

Reebok The Pump Above The Rim: An expansion of the Pump basketball line, Pump Above The Rim donned a new iteration of Pump technology: a two-way valve that controlled air flow to a dual-chamber bladder. Turning the valve to the left and pumping inflated the upper chamber. Turning the valve to the right and pumping inflated the footbed chamber. This shoe was also offered in a non-Pump version that included a gumsole and also featured Hexalite.

1993

Reebok The Pump Shaq Attaq: Orlando Magic rookie Shaquille O’Neal’s first signature shoe, Pump Shaq Attaq featured a vibrant white, blue, and black upper, high-top height, midfoot and ankle air bladders, and Hexalite.

1994

Reebok Instapump Fury: A shoe truly unlike any other, Instapump Fury’s laceless upper was a skeletal Pump system that was inflated by a pressurized CO2 cartridge. GraphLite arch bridge provided rigid yet lightweight stability. Hexalite cushioning.

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