Nike Continues Focus On Early Era Silhouettes With The Waffle Trainer II_Sole Says It All

In contrast with the modern trend of chunkier, chiseled footwear is the persistent demand for low-profile classics. Early era runners like the Daybreak and Challenger have found their comfortable spots in casual fashion, and it’s about to be joined by none other than the Waffle Trainer II. While a simple suede, nylon, and leather mix in a style typical of Nike’s design of the times, the Waffle Trainer II stands out for its place in the brand’s more innovative findings in footwear. In 1972, Bill Bowerman applied for a patent on “an athletic shoe suitable for use on artificial turf”, using a waffle iron to create the studded sole that provided never-before-experienced levels of traction. That practice would be applied to a number of footwear models while itself going through its own evolutionary changes.

The Waffle Trainer II may not have huge presence on a cultural standpoint, although a pair of vintage Waffle Trainer IIs in this OG navy/red were spotted on none other than Frank Ocean a couple of years back – a fitting shoe for a man whose cultural influence relies on the substance of simplicity. Those look to align with that look won’t have to wait much longer, because the Waffle Trainer II is indeed coming back.