Nike Moon Shoe

The sneaker created by a kitchen waffle maker - Nike Moon Shoe

This is one of the most significant artifacts in the history of Nike, a prototype that literally stood at the birth of the entire brand.

History: the waffle maker that changed running shoes

The story begins in 1971, when Nike co-founder and Olympic coach Bill Bowerman was dealing with the issue of a hard, slippery new urethane surface on the University of Oregon's track that was injuring runners. One morning, while looking at his wife Barbara's waffle maker – model 251 from Bersted Manufacturing, a wedding gift from 1936 – he realized that the gridded pattern could create exactly the lightweight yet functional traction he was looking for.

The waffle outsole first competed in November 1971, when members of the Oregon track team won the NCAA title in them. Throughout the winter and spring of 1972, it was secretly tested by other athletes. In the summer of 1972, Bowerman, along with early Nike employee Geoff Hollister, hand-crafted a small series of twelve prototypes for a major event – the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, each pair featuring a hand-sewn swoosh made from fishing line. The nickname "Moon Shoe" came about because the impressions of the waffle outsole in the tracks resembled the footprints of astronauts on the Moon.

Design and construction: the waffle pattern that defined Nike

What makes the Moon Shoe a key milestone in the history of athletic footwear is its simple yet revolutionary principle:

• Waffle outsole: The gridded pattern inspired by a kitchen waffle maker offered lightweight yet significantly more effective traction than the smooth or spiked outsoles of the time.
• Hand-sewn swoosh: The first pairs had the logo sewn directly with fishing line – a detail that still symbolizes the improvised, artisanal beginnings of the brand.
• Low, sleek shape: The torpedo-like, ground-hugging cut emphasized minimal weight for racing performance.

According to Nike historian Rick Lower, “the waffle outsole changed everything” – not only did it transform the way runners thought about traction and cushioning, but it also showcased what Nike always aims to differentiate itself with: solving problems in new ways.

Return after more than 50 years

Original pairs from 1972 now sell at auctions for tens of thousands of dollars as collector's artifacts. Therefore, in 2025, Nike introduced the Moon Shoe OG to wider sales for the first time in history in three colorways, while also launching a design collaboration with Jacquemus, which brought the waffle outsole into a new, sleeker silhouette with a leather swoosh and heel tab.

Who the model is for

The Moon Shoe is for you if you're looking for a piece of true athletic footwear history – a silhouette with a real, well-documented story, not just retro aesthetics without substance. Ideal for collectors and Nike archive enthusiasts.