Back in the 1990s Nike had a whole range of solid running shoes, that covered all the bases: stability (Air Stab), cushioning (Air Max), neutral (Air Pegasus), lightweight trainers (Air Skylon), and a fine line-up of racing shoes (Mariah and Duellist) and spikes.
For whatever reasons the spikes and racing shoes are still going strong, but the training shoes have veared off the road or trail, and I don't see many serious runners wearing Nike anymore (unless they have sponsorship).
Take a look at the lineup. Any problems loading the site? That sort of encapsulates whats wrong with the shoes too. Lots of flash and a diminishing amount of substance.
For whatever reason, Nike is catering to the cool kids out there who probably don't actually run in the shoes, but merely have them hidden underneath their baggy pants (if baggy pants are still in).
It seems like most of the major shoe manufacturers have been through this phase at some point in their careers. There was a point in time when Adidas had basically opted out of making serious sports shoes, and Reebok appears to have done the same for some of the 1990s, though both are back now. Adidas in particular is once again nearly synonymous with track and field.
Asics and New Balance, having never been adopted by the cool kids on the street, have just on plugging away at making dependable sports shoes for people who are somewhat serious about what they're doing.
What's somewhat strange is Nike's persistence in making high quality competition shoes at the same time as making flashy, frivolous training shoes. Adidas and Reebok pretty much gave the game away in spikes and racing shoes during their flirtation with being a youth-fashion footwear manufacturer.
One supposes the answer is that there's money to be made, and Nike must surely be aware of the substantial brand loyalty they have amongst runners who first pulled on a pair of zoom spikes at age 14.
Posted by robe0419 at July 7, 2004 06:58 PM | TrackBackI think that comments like these are somewhat made by an individual attempting to bash a generation and a company who sells a product. Its basically up to the buyer's discression if they want to buy a shoe, or not...baggy pant wearing or not. Its lame how people jump on others becuase of the clothes they wear...what kind of unfassionable footwear are you wearing? Does it really matter...highwater pants with loafers or not. You be the judge. Get a life wierdo
Posted by: Nick at August 9, 2004 11:45 PMNo, no, not at all, the comment was a very relevant and specific observation that Nike is just no longer following a business model that once worked (and one that continues to work for others) in favour of one that doesn't really cater to serious participants in some of the very sports that made their name.
You say you don't like how people "jump on others" but the next words out your mouth are to accuse the poster that he's not wearing "fashionable" shoes -- this not only contradicts your own words but drives the original point home that Nike IS FASHION for you, not a running shoe, a tool to do a job. This is the entire observation that was made and here you've gone and clinched it. There were good points for you to make, but instead, you made the original one trying to rebut it.
Not all critical observations about Nike Inc. are a "bash" so let's dial the defensive reactions down a little, especially if you're putting such weak ones together.
Posted by: Tw at April 25, 2005 06:35 PMI have been running for 13 years and have only worn nike air max for nearly my entire career. I tried other brands when Nike started making their training shoes for style instead of function for the high mileage serious distance runner. The other brands didn't compare to the older nike air max models in the early to late 90's. Adidas, New balance, and Asics best distance training shoes wore out sooner, couldn't hold up to my mileage, and didn't provide the comfort or cushioning of the old Nike air max models. The shoes that held up to my mileage the longest while still providing great comfort and no injuries were the 90's models of air max, especially the early 90s. The 90's models were also much heavier than the models now which are too light for training shoes. I don't want my training shoes to be light like a racing shoe. Im training not racing. Does anyone out there know if there are any of the 90's model air max still in stock somewhere by any chance?
Thanks,
Billy Smith