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There are plenty of classic Nike styles that never stray from the mainstream sneaker rotation, like the always-in-style Air Force 1. New sneakers like the React Element 87 or the Vapormax create so much buzz that they earn their time in spotlight. And given the sheer volume of hit Nike sneakers both old and new, some equally stylish kicks never get to shine. One of those sneakers has long been the Nike Blazer, but the often underappreciated sneaker seems to be poised for a big year—thanks in part to a trio of ultra-clean colorways dropping this weekend.
The bold mid-top silhouette arrives in a white leather upper and comes with the Nike Swoosh decked out in either kelly green, habanero red, or electric blue. The original Blazer sneaker debuted all the way back in 1972 and transformed into a modern style staple, but has ebbed and flowed in popularity since. Both the low-cut and mid-top styles have been adopted as a skate sneaker (with the addition of a Zoom Air unit) in the past decade. But in the world of sought-after sneakers, the Blazer is one of those Nike sneakers that you can always find in a couple of run-of-the-mill colorways, and isn’t often dressed up into something that sneakerheads lust after. Sure, it has its own dedicated cult of diehard fans (every Nike sneaker does, even the superbly ugly Foamposite does), but the shoe is nowhere near as visible as some of the Swoosh’s other red-hot styles.
However, this could be the year the Blazer finally gets its time in the limelight. In late 2018, Virgil Abloh unleashed another Off White x Nike Blazer that LeBron James liked enough to post to his 46 million Instagram followers. Then Stüssy dropped a series of Blazer silhouettes to close out the year, including limited-edition sneakers painted by skateboarder and artist Lance Mountain. Later this spring, the forward-thinking Japanese label Sacai is set to drop a off-kilter take on the Blazer that features a mash-up silhouette with double the Swooshes, tongues, laces, and more. And of course, this weekend’s release of simple-yet-stylish Blazers is kicking the year off right. Only time will tell if 2019 ends up being the Year of the Blazer, but picking up a pair of Nike Blazers this weekend is probably a good call either way.
$100, available January 19 via Nike SNKRS.
