Nike’s Moon Shoe Is Back, and Its Story Started With a Waffle Iron
One of Nike’s earliest running shoes has returned as a sleek everyday sneaker. Here’s how a rare 1970s prototype made its way back into fashion.
The original Moon Shoe was never sold in stores, so it had no retail price. But its rarity made it a collector’s prize: an unworn 1972 pair sold at Sotheby’s in 2019 for $437,500. That makes the modern rerelease feel almost surreal—you can now buy a version of a shoe that once existed only as a handful of prototypes.
The Nike Moon Shoe has an origin story that sounds almost too good to be true: Nike cofounder Bill Bowerman used his wife’s waffle iron to experiment with a rubber sole that could give runners better grip. A small batch of the resulting shoes appeared at the 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials, but the Moon Shoe itself never went on sale. Its waffle sole went on to shape other Nike running shoes. NIKE, Inc.
More than 50 years later, the Moon Shoe finally has a life beyond the archives. Its return began with Jacquemus, which reimagined the silhouette in 2025, and continued in 2026 as Nike released its own Moon Shoe OG. The two versions tell the same story in different ways: Jacquemus pushed the shoe toward fashion, while Nike’s version stays closer to the look of a vintage runner. NIKE, Inc.
From the track to the runway
When Simon Porte Jacquemus encountered the Moon Shoe in Nike’s archives, he saw something unexpectedly current in its simple shape. His version kept the low profile and waffle sole, then added a gathered nylon upper, a leather Swoosh and Jacquemus branding. It debuted on the Jacquemus spring 2025 runway before reaching shoppers that September and October. New colors followed in March 2026. NIKE, Inc.
The redesign made sense for a moment when shoes sit closer to the ground. Beside a chunky trainer, the Moon Shoe looks remarkably light and spare. The Jacquemus version takes that shape further, giving an early running shoe something of a ballet shoe’s softness without losing its sporting roots.
Nike brought back its own version, too
The Nike Moon Shoe OG gives the design a more straightforward comeback. It pairs a nylon upper and leather Swoosh with the waffle patterned rubber sole that made the original significant. Nike has released it in multiple colors; a Sail, Sail and Black men’s version was listed on Nike’s Netherlands site for €99.99 when checked. Prices and availability may change. nike.com
That distinction matters if you’re shopping for a pair. The Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe is the designer’s more stylized interpretation. The Nike Moon Shoe OG is Nike’s own modern take on its archival runner. Neither is one of Bowerman’s hand built 1972 shoes.
Why it works now
The Moon Shoe doesn’t need much styling. Its narrow shape looks good beneath straight leg jeans or relaxed trousers, where a larger sneaker might dominate the outfit. The waffle sole adds just enough texture to make an otherwise simple shoe interesting.
It also has something many archive revivals struggle to find: a reason to exist beyond nostalgia. The original was an experiment in making a better running shoe. Today’s Moon Shoe turns that unusual piece of Nike history into something you can actually wear out the door.