Nike’s 1971 Boot Is the Cortez of the Football World
Football enthusiasts, rejoice! Nike is bringing back its original 1971 football boot, resurrecting a little piece of history as the shoe was the first to ever bear the now-iconic Nike Swoosh.
As our love for vintage and retro silhouettes continues to grow with archival silhouettes such as the adidas Forum and the New Balance 550 thriving, the Swoosh brings back "The Nike," which initially launched in 1971 and retailed just below $17 USD.
The football boot has a simple design featuring a black upper accented by a white Swoosh, and a shape reminiscent of Nike's Cortez sneaker.
As the shoe returns, Nike has, of course, made a handful of improvements to the boot's performance aspects. 50 years after its original release, the shoe still features the same 13 conical studs, but is now weather-proof. After the shoe's initial release, Nike ended up having to withdraw the product as it couldn't withstand rain or cold. Oh, how far we've come!
The return of "The Nike" is a much-welcomed resurrection, and it is refreshing to see retro silhouettes re-gain popularity within sports as well as within fashion.
During recent years we've seen massive technological advancements within football, with new laceless silhouettes, Flyknit uppers, and more innovative designs surfacing every year. The retro shoe might not feature any of Nike's boundary-breaking materials, but they come with an element of nostalgia that can't be matched.
The boots are set to retail at $250, and will release through Nike on December 6.