Throughout the 1980s, the company saw immense growth, developing even more iconic designs like the Air Force 1 (1982) and Air Jordan 1 (1985), proving that Nike’s innovative technology was not only limited to running. The Air Force 1 became the first basketball sneaker of its kind, and still remains one of the bestselling Nike shoes today, now also in the lifestyle category. The Air Jordan 1 marked the advent of brand and athlete partnerships, like those with the legendary Michael Jordan, and demonstrated how marketing was a key factor in Nike’s growth and succcess. As basketball culture thrived, both styles became powerful players throughout the ’90s.

Although the Air Max 1 was introduced in 1987, the Air Max series thrived in the ’90s, with a few developments along the way, thanks to the specific cushioning that was actually visible from the inside out. The 2000s brought even further advancements in the running shoe arena, with highlights including the Superfly (2000), the Shox (2000), and the Shox TL (2003), all which were mechanically built to advance the sport, but also had incredible street-forward aesthetics that advanced the lifestyle relevance further.

Today, Nike is one of the largest and most popular sneaker brands worldwide. Still remaining true to its origins, the company is propelled by technological advancements in the sportswear arena, but also cementing its place in the books with important athletic sponsorships and fashion-forward designs, including culturally relevant collaborations. In 2024, Nike x Bode Rec. launched to mass acclaim, with styles selling out almost instantaneously, while the same year, a collaboration with makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench showed how wide-ranging these partnerships could be. Melding the past with present, Nike maintains its timeless appeal. Keep reading to find the origin stories of all the best Nike sneakers, below.

One of Nike’s first sneakers was the Cortez, a design that Bowerman had been working on for years throughout the ’60s, but gained mass traction once Nike, Inc. was born in 1971. The patented, cushioned midsole was unlike any other on the market then. It became one of the most popular running shoes of the decade, distinguished by the now-inescapable Swoosh logo. From Farrah Fawcett to Whitney Houston, Forrest Gump, and more, its cultural significance spans the decades, and remains a retro favorite fashion editors today, as well.

The Air Force 1 was introduced in 1982, the first basketball sneaker of its kind. Inspired by a hiking boot, designer Bruce Kilgore used the same idea of strenuous up-and-down movements to ensure comfort for the player’s foot, along with air-cushioned technology. The shoe was a success on the court, but also became one of Nike’s most popular lifestyle sneakers, remaining a bestseller to this day. Available in a variety of heights and colorways, new drops constantly have sneakerheads in a frenzy, but the fashion crowd loves the classic white version for its versatile styling capabilities.

Originally debuting in 2000, the Air Superfly has recently been relaunched by Nike in 2025, much to customer enthusiasm. The sleek, minimal runner style for women has a low shape that hugs the foot comfortably and lightweight feel. The brand relaunched the shoe in a metallic silver colorway, which certainly started a trend in the sneaker space. Models and more are adopting this style as a studio-to-street alternative, that is both supportive for sport, but also stylish for everyday wear with anything from dresses to T-shirts and jeans or trousers.

The V2K made its debut in 2003 and has become a huge sensation within the sport and fashion communities. Nodding to the brand’s iconic Vomero running sneaker, the vintage-inspired silhouette has a thoroughly early aughts feel, tapping into the Dad sneaker movement that has become so popular, as of late. Designed with a mesh upper, metallic flashes, and a chunky sole for traction, this running shoe will not help you get your daily miles in comfortably, it can be styled with fashionable, off-duty essentials, just like Jennifer Lawrence and Kaia Gerber have both been seen doing.

Released in 1985, the Air Jordan 1 debuted on legend Michael Jordan himself, whose partnership with Nike became one for the record books. This was the first multi-colorway sneaker to be worn in the NBA, causing much controversy, and soon became a hit on the street, as well; to this day, the cultural relevance stands fast. Available in both high and low-tops, celebrities like Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber have been spotted in Air Jordans, incorporating the iconic sneaker into their street style-friendly wardrobes, demonstrating the shoe’s lasting significance across multiple generations.

The Field General originally hit the football scene in 1982, designed for quarterbacks and worn by iconic athletes throughout the decade. Fast forward to 2024, and this sneaker was rereleased from the archive, delivering another mega-hit for the brand as the ripple demand for vintage-inspired trainers swells. Many new adaptors are wearing them in the lifestyle category, but the Waffle sole (an OG invention of founder Bowerman), still provides the advanced grip sport enthusiasts seek.

Taking cues from old school, heritage styles from the ’70s, like the Cortez and LD-1000, the Pacific is a new addition to the Nike family, having launched in 2025. The low-profile runner feels fresh for modern day, with the contrasting laces and Swoosh logo, prominently displayed, along with a gum sole that adds traction and a retro style element plucked from the company’s founding decade. Go bold and bright with punchy colorways, such as blue or pink, or honor the classics with variations on the traditional minimal white sneaker. This one can be styled with anything from your favorite blazer and jeans combination, to a chic shirtdress in the warmer months.

Inspired by astronautical gear, the Shox entered Nike’s sneaker lineup in 2000, featuring mechanical cushioning for incredible bounce upon impact. The Shox TL debuted just three years later with a slightly more futuristic edge, iterating on its technological advancements. The visible pistons are this shoe’s signature, and instantly recognizable worldwide. The color choices vary from stark white to brown, green, and more, but the sentiment is still the same—this one’s a lasting style for the future.

Another retro running sneaker that launched during the ’70s, the LD-1000 debuted in 1977, coming off the success of the Cortez. The design was developed for long-distance runners with a new advancement at the time—a wide, flared heel that ensured lasting support as the miles accrued. The sneaker also featured Bowerman’s infamous waffle sole, offering incredible tread, a design feature we still see to this day. Today, the shoe’s upper combines leather and textiles, for breathability, and a wide range of color combinations that keep in line with the distinct, retro roots that are certainly trending.

The Pegasus sneaker launched in 1982 originally and remains one of Nike’s most popular running shoes. Utilizing Nike Air technology, the cushioning of the Pegasus was only at the point of impact at the heel, a new development for the brand, where previously it ran the length of the entire sneaker. In 2005, the sneaker was revived, and there have been plenty more reiterations since, but our editors still gravitate to the classic Dad shape from the mid-aughts that continues to provide incredible support for activity, whether that’s pounding the pavement for sport or leisure.

Originally developed as an indoor soccer sneaker in 2011, the shoe also became increasingly popular within the skateboarding community, thanks to the rubber gum soles that provided grip on boards; Supreme even collaborated with Nike in 2018 on this model. Today’s takes certainly maintain their street style cred: the shoe has been crafted in leather and suede, with color-blocked details and fresh colorways galore. Favored among the sneakerhead elite—with this style, if you know, you know.

The Air Max 1 may have been introduced in 1987, but the line’s specific cushioning, visible from the inside out, still lives on today. There have been many reinterpretations over the years, but one of the latest in the series is the Air Max Muse, which hit shelves in 2024 with popular acclaim. Representing the brand’s undying commitment to style and sport, the sneaker has all the bona fides of comfort and Air technology, in a modern, high-arch design that has been seen on professional athletes such as Jordan Chiles and Qinwen Zheng, to It girls on the street during Fashion Month.

Not only have athlete partnerships shaped Nike’s heritage, like those with Michael Jordan and Serena Williams, their collaborations with brands such as Supreme, Bode Rec., and even makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench, continue to catapult the brand into the next era. Bode Rec.’s take on the Astrograbber, a style from 1974, has been re-envisioned for spring 2025, while Ffrench has put a spin on Air Max DN, for modern-day female athletes and aficionados, alike.