Nike’s Waffle sneakers have long since traded the cinder tracks of the 1970s for city sidewalks and weekend wardrobes.

What began as a pioneering running shoe, optimized for use on the new artificial turfs and surfaces slowly taking over track and field, is now a go-to for those seeking heritage styling in a market full of loud retro runners.

A single Nike Waffle Nav and Waffle Debut are shown in profile, with the toes facing the right of the image frame stacked vertically but not touching, and shown against a grey background
Both the Nike Waffle Nav (bottom) and Waffle Debut (top) share a similar DNA that stretches all the way back to the first Nike sneaker. Currently, both lifestyle sneakers are on sale for some of the lowest prices we’ve seen Nikes hit.
Nike

And while Nike’s Waffle family has expanded over the years to include sleeker, lifestyle-focused takes and coveted limited collabs, two of the brand’s more accessible interpretations—the Nike Waffle Debut and Waffle Nav — are now even more affordable.

Seven classic colorways are available with a 20% discount when you use the code SPORT at checkout for a limited time. Better yet, this discount code even applies to existing sale prices on select colors, making a few of these waffle trainers some of the most affordable Nikes we’ve ever seen.

Echoes of an Icon

On February 26, 1974, Nike received a patent for its waffle trainer running shoe (shown above). The name came from the original prototype for the running shoe’s innovative grippy sole, which Bill Bowerman created by pouring rubber into a household waffle iron. To this day, Nike’s innovation lab is known as “the kitchen” in honor of Bowerman’s first makeshift footwear lab.
Nike

The story of the Nike Waffle Racer—affectionately known as the Moon Shoe—has taken on near-mythic proportions in sneaker history (there’s even an illustrated children’s book about the origins of the waffle sole.)

Posted in: Gear

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