Bill Bowerman and the early models of Nike
Bill Bowerman was a track coach in Oregon and, together with Phil Knight, founded the company that later became Nike. More than seventeen hundred releases are associated with his name, almost all from the brand’s earliest models. These are mainly the Blazer and the Cortez, two shoes that originate from different sports but share the same simple construction. Below they are shown together, with each release’s prices, sizes and availability at multiple online stores listed side by side.
What you’ll find here
The Blazer began as a basketball shoe: leather over a thin rubber sole, a large swoosh along the side and otherwise as minimal as possible. The Cortez was for runners and featured a stacked midsole with a wedge under the heel, which was new at the time. Both were later worn mainly outside of sport, which explains why there are so many colorways that have little to do with sport.
The range mainly splits into the high Blazer Mid and the low Blazer Low. In addition, the skate versions are on this page; they keep the same shape but are more heavily cushioned and have sturdier panels on the sides. The Waffle One also falls under this category, a model that places the old sole profile on a modern construction. Below you can filter by size, color and audience.
Which Bill Bowerman gives off the strongest hype signal?
The Hypescore reads the signal strength of every Bill Bowerman colorway. Community votes, resale movement, search demand and scarcity together decide how much hype a sneaker gives off, expressed in GSv. On the left the strongest hype signals, on the right the colorways just being picked up and rising fast.
Strongest hype signal
- 1
Nike x Union LA Cortez Khaki Red (DR1413-200)ATOMICNike Cortez · from €90 · 7 shops75GSv - 2Nike Cortez “Forrest Gump” (FZ1347-100)ATOMICNike Cortez · from €84 · 5 shops74GSv
- 3Nike Cortez Vintage “Medium Curry” (FJ2530-200)ATOMICNike Cortez · from €72 · 8 shops71GSv
- 4Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage ‘Sail Black’ (2019) (BQ6806-100)ATOMICNike Blazer Mid · from €47 · 9 shops71GSv
- 5Nike Blazer Low sacai KAWS Blue (DM7901-400)ATOMICNike Blazer Low · from €78 · 7 shops70GSv
Just in, rising
- 1Nike Cortez OrangeCHARGINGNike Cortez · from €41 · 5 shops35GSv
- 2Nike Cortez WMNS Light Magenta Polka Dots (IR1332-500)SEISMICNike Cortez · from €67 · 7 shops52GSv
- 3Nike Cortez Sail Arctic Orange (IF1764-100)CHARGINGNike Cortez · from €52 · 4 shops45GSv
- 4Nike Cortez Textile Gorge Green Wild Cherry (IH7654-300)CHARGINGNike Cortez · from €42 · 4 shops37GSv
- 5Nike Blazer Mid 77 Green Fade (FJ4547-100)CHARGINGNike Blazer Mid · from €96 · 3 shops48GSv
