The Ultimate Kicktionary: 1976's Nike Waffle Trainer

Long before Nike relied on gigantic factories to produce its shoes, household items as simple as a waffle iron were used.

words & images_Nick DePaula

You know the story.

Bill Bowerman, his wife's waffle iron, and the future of running shoes. More or less.

After creating samples of the original Oregon Waffle and Waffle Racer with the help of his wife's waffle iron during the early 1970's, the more robust Waffle Trainer was soon to follow.

Take a detailed look at an original nylon and suede based pair of the Nike Waffle Trainer in royal blue and gold, all the way from 1976.

To browse through the Waffle Trainer and more than 1,500 other classic Nike sneakers, check out the Ultimate Kicktionary in Sole Collector's Issue 34, available now at Foot Locker stores and at SoleCollector.com.