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Nike Moon Shoe
The sneaker created by a kitchen waffle maker - Nike Moon Shoe
This is one of the most significant artifacts in the history of Nike, a prototype that literally stood at the birth of the entire brand.
History: the waffle maker that changed running shoes
The story begins in 1971, when Nike co-founder and Olympic coach Bill Bowerman was dealing with the issue of a hard, slippery new urethane surface on the University of Oregon's track that was injuring runners. One morning, while looking at his wife Barbara's waffle maker – model 251 from Bersted Manufacturing, a wedding gift from 1936 – he realized that the gridded pattern could create exactly the lightweight yet functional traction he was looking for.
The waffle outsole first competed in November 1971, when members of the Oregon track team won the NCAA title in them. Throughout the winter and spring of 1972, it was secretly tested by other athletes. In the summer of 1972, Bowerman, along with early Nike employee Geoff Hollister, hand-crafted a small series of twelve prototypes for a major event – the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, each pair featuring a hand-sewn swoosh made from fishing line. The nickname "Moon Shoe" came about because the impressions of the waffle outsole in the tracks resembled the footprints of astronauts on the Moon.
Design and construction: the waffle pattern that defined Nike
What makes the Moon Shoe a key milestone in the history of athletic footwear is its simple yet revolutionary principle:
- Waffle outsole: The gridded pattern inspired by a kitchen waffle maker offered lightweight yet significantly more effective traction than the smooth or spiked outsoles of the time.
- Hand-sewn swoosh: The first pairs had the logo sewn directly with fishing line – a detail that still symbolizes the improvised, artisanal beginnings of the brand.
- Low, sleek shape: The torpedo-like, ground-hugging cut emphasized minimal weight for racing performance.
According to Nike historian Rick Lower, “the waffle outsole changed everything” – not only did it transform the way runners thought about traction and cushioning, but it also showcased what Nike always aims to differentiate itself with: solving problems in new ways.
Return after more than 50 years
Original pairs from 1972 now sell at auctions for tens of thousands of dollars as collector's artifacts. Therefore, in 2025, Nike introduced the Moon Shoe OG to wider sales for the first time in history in three colorways, while also launching a design collaboration with Jacquemus, which brought the waffle outsole into a new, sleeker silhouette with a leather swoosh and heel tab.
Who the model is for
The Moon Shoe is for you if you're looking for a piece of true athletic footwear history – a silhouette with a real, well-documented story, not just retro aesthetics without substance. Ideal for collectors and Nike archive enthusiasts.
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Nike is an undisputed giant in the world of sports and fashion. Nike clothing, sneakers, and even accessories have long been among the best value for money. Beyond the aforementioned apparel and accessories, the success of the brand is primarily due to its sneakers.
Innovation and Nike Air
Nike has become extremely famous for its legendary Air technology. The first Nike shoes with the then strange air bubble came out in 1987. Their name is etched in the memory of anyone who is even slightly more interested in Nike footwear - Nike Air Max 1. The designer of the first model line of Nike sneakers with the so-called Air Sole was Tinker Hatfield. An icon of sneaker culture, thanks to which today we can wear Nike shoes with the Air Max label in a wide variation of models.
We would spend ages listing all the silhouettes Nike Air Max shoes have come out in to date. Therefore, suffice it to mention the most essential ones. We would include the Nike Air Max 1, 90, 95, 97, 98 and of the newer ones, the Nike sneakers labeled Air Max Plus, 270 or 720.
History of Nike
The original name of the company we know today as Nike, was Blue Ribbon Sports. Nike sneakers didn't start appearing under their current name until 1971, when the legendary brand was joined by the no less legendary logo - the Swoosh. This was put together at the time by University of Portland student Carolyn Davidson, and her pay for this sideways design was then just two dollars an hour for labor (relative to today's prices, it would make roughly 7 times as much).
More than an Air Max
Nike footwear isn't just associated with the entire Air Max line, however. Today, it also has a large number of its own offshoots under its umbrella, which includes Nike Skateboarding (SB) , a subset of the global brand that makes skateboarders happy to wear Nike shoes today. But you'll also find Nike footwear on the feet of basketball players. Worth mentioning is the legendary Nike sneaker model called Blazer, which is still very popular today. Nike shoes for basketball players gained such popularity over time that in 1984 the Air Jordan brand was created under Nike's wing. Originally, these Nike shoes were only for the legendary Michael Jordan, but not long after their introduction, they were also in the hands of the public. And apart from the various product lines, Footshop is also the place to get Nike slippers. What's more, you'll find all of the pairs mentioned here in all colours, including white, black, red, blue or coloured.
Nike is for everyone
Nike shoes today, however, are not only produced with a focus on certain groups. Categorizing Nike clothing and footwear as sports, lifestyle or fashion would therefore be a bit of a sin. You can find Nike sweatshirts, T-shirts, trousers or tracksuits at every sporting, cultural or any other event today - look at what runners wear at races, for example, and you'll see that it's usually Nike running shoes. Nike's have simply become synonymous with a lifestyle; which one is up to the owner of each piece.
In the 50 or so years of its existence, a mere Nike sneaker with a distinctive Swoosh, has become a phenomenon of a magnitude that no one could have imagined back then. In fact, Nike shoes today can be found on everyone - athletes, artists, performers, fashion designers and we could go on and on.
The question is whether Nike shoes can also be found in your shoe closet. If the answer is yes, you have the thumbs up and the respect of other Nike sneaker lovers along with it. If the answer remains no, you now have a unique chance to change that. At Footshop, we have a variety of silhouettes in all sorts of colors. You'll also findNike shoes in limited editionshere, which would be a shame not to take advantage of. But we won't keep you any longer and go enjoy your shopping!
