Nike’s Overlooked Classic Is Quietly Becoming the Brand’s Next Retro Hall of Famer

Timing is everything in running. And the re-emergence of the unsung winner is long overdue.

Close-up of black leather sneaker with beige woven laces against a blue background.

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By Jack Seemer

Published November 11, 2025

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If there was a Running Shoe Hall of Fame, Nike could make the case for dozens of shoes.

Few would deserve to be inducted more than the Daybreak.

Among the first Nike designs built around a straight last, its real claim to fame arrives courtesy of Joan Benoit Samuelson. The legendary American marathoner famously wore a pair to win the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials, mere weeks after knee surgery.

The Daybreak also has a no-nonsense upper and Nike’s infamous waffle outsole — hallmarks that have alternatives like Waffle Racer, Tailwind and LD-1000 staples of its lifestyle catalog.

And yet, for whatever reason, Daybreak hasn’t had the same sort of afterlife as its better-known peers.

Four decades after Joan Benoit Samuelson’s historic run, it looks like that’s all about to change.

Pair of off-white Nike sneakers with brown swoosh logos and gum rubber soles on a beige background. — A J.Crew exclusive is just one of three new leather variants of the Daybreak arriving this fall.

Leather up

After surfacing this year in blue, orange and bright green — the first new variants since 2022 — the Daybreak now gets a series of all-leather makeovers, including an exclusive one from J.Crew.

Not to be outdone by a third party, Nike is also releasing its own leather Daybreak shoes called “Anthracite” and “Moon Particle” — basically a light and dark version of the same design.

Pair of light beige leather Nike sneakers with cream laces and black rubber soles. — Already available overseas, the leather Daybreak SP is soon expected to break cover the US.

Round laces differentiate Nike’s in-house Daybreak SP from the J.Crew exclusive.

Nike

Both versions feature a tonal midsole, resulting in a mostly monochrome aesthetic, with the only contrast coming via round laces (which differ from the flats found on the J.Crew interpretation).

A tonal midsole gives the Daybreak SP a monochromatic low-profile aesthetic.

Nike

Interestingly, the Swoosh logo finds its form with stitching, rather than an overlay, as was the case with the Daybreak variants released in early 2025.

All told, the updates give the Daybreak some distinction within Nike’s roster of retro runners, while staying true to the original design from the 1970s and ’80s.

Black rubber shoe sole with square tread pattern and small raised studs. — The Daybreak SP still features vintage details, such as Nike’s iconic waffle outsole.

Availability and pricing

The leather Nike Daybreak SP is already available overseas, with arrival in the US expected in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, J.Crew’s exclusive variant is already live on the retailer’s website.

Black leather Nike sneaker with cream laces and a textured black sole, side view.

Nike Daybreak SP (Moon Particle/Black)

Learn More

Off-white leather sneaker with brown Nike swoosh and laces, and a gum rubber sole.

Nike x J.Crew Daybreak OG

$110 at J.Crew

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.

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