Nike Waffle Racer

Nike Waffle Racer for the city street racers

Considered one of the most classic silhouettes, the Nike Waffle Racer still continues to reign the vintage sneaker market even without any fancy technology. This modernized version kept its retro look but reworked with a memory foam sockliner and a more cushy midsole to make it fitting for the city streets. 

The innovative Nike waffle outsole

Nike Trainer was the first to flaunt a groundbreaking Nike technology called waffle sole. While having breakfast with his wife, designer Bill Bowerman thought of removing all the unnecessary details on the outsoles to come up with footwear with lighter and better traction. By using his family's waffle iron, he poured urethane on it and came up with rubber with a waffle pattern.

In 1974, Bowerman remodeled the footwear and came up with the much-loved Nike Waffle Racer. Fast forward, this waffle pattern outsole has survived the period of a quarter-century. It is still used in current footwear as it delivers reliable grip on various surfaces.

Nike Waffle Racer and its variations

While this sneaker is seldom seen in the sneakers scene, it still made its mark by coming up with new and modern versions: 

Nike Waffle Racer x Off-White. While the overall look of this collab kick did not get the approval of many, it still got the attention it needed for its unique look, consistent with Virgil Abloh's "athletes in progress" vision. Unlike its prototype, this model used hiking cord laces and added spikes on the waffle-patterned outsole, for enhanced grip and striking style.

Nike Waffle Racer 17. Unlike the Off-White version of the Nike Waffle Racer, this model stayed true to its prototype - retaining the nylon and suede on the upper and the waffle rubber outsole. However, to make it more likable, the brand upgraded it with a memory foam insole and a more cushy midsole.