The Nike Waffle Trainer is back. Well, sort of. Pioneered by Nike founder Bill Bowerman in the 1970s, the Waffle outsole transformed Nike innovation as we know it. Now, the Waffle Trainer 2 returns from the brand’s archives for a special series of releases.
The Nike Waffle Trainer has been a symbol of the brand’s drive to innovate since it first debuted in the 1970s. Developed by founder Bill Bowerman, the Waffle Trainer was built as a multi-surface running shoe, able to provide ample traction on both a charcoal track as well as the new astroturf ones from the time period. One morning while eating his breakfast, Bowerman was studying the waffle iron his wife used and decided it might provide just the traction he needed for his new track shoes. Destroying a perfectly good waffle iron in the process, Bowerman proceeded to pour rubber directly into the mold, attempting to shape it into an outsole by hand once it was removed. The experiment was a success, later being fine-tuned and developed by Nike for products across its arsenal, creating timeless classics along the way. This week, Nike has teased a retro release of the Waffle Trainer 2, which debuted in the late ’70s, building on the foundation of Bowerman’s initial discovery. Surfaced in the classic “Midnight Navy” color scheme, a vintage pair of which was spotted on the feet of Frank Ocean several years ago, as well as a number of other original and new color schemes that will release throughout 2021.
NIKE WAFFLE TRAINER 2 “MIDNIGHT NAVY” RELEASE INFORMATION
Nike’s upcoming retro release of the classic Waffle Trainer 2 has not yet been given an official release date, though they are expected to land on shelves sometime in Spring 2021. Built true to the original, the Waffle Trainer 2 will launch in the “Midnight Navy” color scheme seen here, as well as a bolder “Starfish Orange” colorway. Check out Nike’s official images below for a better look, and stay tuned to JustFreshKicks for more Nike release news.
Nike Waffle Trainer 2 “Midnight Navy”
Release Date: March 8th, 2021
Price: $100
Color: Midnight Navy/Max Orange-Mystic Navy
Style Code: DB3004-400 
