A “moon shoe” may call to mind a futuristic, otherworldly footwear concept, created to withstand the elements. But, in this context, a Moon Shoe is the namesake of one of Nike’s current bestsellers, a trainer that was introduced by the juggernaut’s cofounder Bill Bowerman in the 1970s, and very much designed for planet earth.
Courtesy of Nike
Of course, the parameters of what define a trainer have blurred in recent years, leading to countless buzzy hybrids – the “sneakerina” being the most obvious example. Though the Moon Shoe was released long before this shift, it has similar characteristics to those recently popularised on the market: supple construction, a slender silhouette and textured soles.
The original launch marked the first time the brand had incorporated the now-signature detail, the waffle sole, an innovation that Bowerman ideated using a waffle machine in his kitchen in an attempt to improve grip for running (the appliance was a wedding present that was subsequently tainted by his non-food-related experiments). Wear tests coined the nickname the “Moon Shoe”, owing to the imprint that the tread left behind on tracks and trails, leading to the development of the Waffle Trainer, released in 1975, solidifying Nike’s role as a leading maker.