Home / Style / Sneakers

Nike’s Rarest Retro Shoe Returns as the Ultimate Affordable Statement Sneaker

Unseen for half a century, until one pair sold for more than $400,000, Nike’s original shoe design is back for good.

Close-up of cream-colored Nike sneaker with white laces and black swoosh logo on a blue gradient background.Nike
Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Jack Seemer

Published

·

Updated

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

The Moon Shoe is so rare that not even Nike is sure it ever officially sold it.

If it did, the company admits, chances are that only few ever left its first retail space in Eugene, Oregon.

What we know for sure is that only a dozen pairs were created for athletes competing at the 1972 Olympic trials. We also know that one of them sold for $437,500 at auction back in 2019.

Worn beige Nike sneaker with black swoosh logo and black rubber sole on a white background.
An original pair of the Moon Shoe sold for $437,500 at auction back in 2019.
Nike

If that sounds like more than you’re willing to front for “basically just an upper stitched to a thin sheet of waffle,” as Nike Running Historian Rick Lower once put it, rest easy …

The Moon Shoe is back for good, re-entering Nike’s catalog as an affordable statement sneaker with half a century of pedigree.

Pair of off-white Nike sneakers with black swoosh logos and black textured soles on a white background.
Believe it: the Moon Shoe will return as part of Nike’s general-release rollout.
Nike

Once in a blue moon

Like the original, the reissue is basically a shoe of two parts. There’s no midsole to speak of, with that famous Waffle offering the only barrier between foot and ground.

Off-white low-top Nike sneaker with black swoosh logo and black studded sole.
Nike Running Historian Rick Lower called the Moon Shoe “basically just an upper stitched to a thin sheet of waffle.” That remains true of the reissue.
Nike
Close-up of the heel and sole of a white and black Nike sneaker with a textured black outsole.
Most Nike shoes feature some of kind of foam midsole for everyday comfort.
Nike

In that sense, it’s a purer expression of the OG Moon Shoe than Nike’s recent collaboration with Jacquemus. That version came with a cinched ankle and Nike Grind outsole, while limited supply thwarted its appeal.

Black rubber shoe sole with square-shaped traction studs in a grid pattern.
The original Moon Shoe was the first showcase of Nike’s now-iconic Waffle outsole.
Nike
Pair of white and black Nike sneakers shown from the back with black Nike swoosh logos on heel tabs.
Updated paneling gives the new Moon Shoe a modern edge.
Nike

That’s not to say the new general-release Moon Shoe is an exact replica of the 1971 version. The shoe features an enlarged Swoosh and retooled suede paneling, both of which bring a soft, modern edge to the textured upper.

Pair of white Nike sneakers with black swoosh logos and white laces, viewed from above.
Nike kept the original white-and-black colorway for the relaunch.
Nike

Otherwise, though, this is the same Moon Shoe of yore, right down to the black-and-off-white colorway.

Forget about the sky-high auction prices, though.

Nike has yet to reveal any specifics, however, the Moon Shoe is expected to arrive in the coming months with a price tag set around $100.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

Swoosh Stories

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

add as a preferred source on google