About

Nike LD-1000

The LD-1000 is one of the strangest shoes in the Nike archive. The model appeared in 1976 as a long-distance shoe, designed by co-founder Bill Bowerman, and had a sole that extended so far outward at the heel that it was almost twice as wide as the foot. The idea: a wider landing surface would stabilize the foot.

It turned out differently. The wide sole actually caused knee problems for runners, after which Nike scaled the shape back in later models. What remained was a silhouette that became recognizable because of its failure, and that for precisely that reason returned as a street shoe.

The design is otherwise classic. The upper combines nylon with suede overlays on the toe and the heel, with the Swoosh as a large stitched panel across the side. The model designation is printed on the heel, and under the shoe lies the waffle tread that Bowerman devised with his waffle iron. The midsole runs in layered bands that emphasize the protruding shape.

Within the same generation the Nike Daybreak and the Nike Waffle Debut serve the same retro-running look.

On this page you can see which versions of the Nike LD-1000 are currently hottest according to the Hypescore, from which price they can be found and at how many shops they are in stock.