Nike Waffle Racer

Waffle Racer

The Nike Waffle Racer is one of the brand’s oldest silhouettes, having first been released in the 1970s. Originally conceived as a running shoe benefitting from Bill Bowerman’s innovative Waffle sole, the model was brought back more than four decades later as a heritage lifestyle sneaker for the modern age.

The original Waffle Racer was a low-profile shoe with a long, flat toe, and a similar shape was used for the reboot. Following the release of an all-suede version in 2017, the traditional build returned in 2019, its nylon upper and premium suede overlays emulating the classic design of the 70s running shoe. 

Broad leather swooshes swoop boldly along each flank, and the thin nylon tongue hosts a branded patch that honors the shoe’s vintage esthetic, as does the leather heel tab, with its capitalized Nike lettering. 

Underfoot, the Nike Waffle Racer has been modernized with a memory foam sockliner that delivers maximum comfort. This sits atop a dual-density foam midsole and a black rubber outsole with the famous Waffle grip pattern spread across its surface for high-quality traction. In its center is the patent number for the original sole design, thus honoring Bowerman’s ingenuity. This unforgettable feature wraps up around the edges of the forefoot, creating a distinctive esthetic that is unique to the Waffle series.

Alongside the rerelease of the classic Waffle Racer in 2019, Nike launched a three-shoe collaborative collection crafted by Virgil Abloh’s luxury clothing brand, Off-White. With its radical design, which incorporates extra cord laces, translucent textiles and eye-catching spikes on each Waffle grip pad, this striking collaboration puts a futuristic twist on the iconic silhouette. The following year, Japanese label Comme des Garçons designed an altogether different take on the Waffle Racer, its stealthy all-black outer featuring frayed swooshes and bold white branding stamped onto the heel.

Despite its age, the Nike Waffle Racer proves that the style of the 1970s running shoe is still as elegant today as it was back then. This timeless look has seen it return to the streets as its retro appeal continues to attract new fans to this day.