Nike Blazers

A long-standing feature of the Swoosh brand’s footwear collection, Nike Blazer shoes (named for the NBA team the Portland Trail Blazers) continue to be a favourite among the sneakerhead community. Since their debut in 1973, these old-school trainers have received dozens of re-releases, bringing back classic variations, such as the vintage Mid 77.

A huge reason for the success of the Blazers is their crisp, no-nonsense design, which began as a simple high top. Today, Nike fans return to this gracefully aging silhouette in pursuit of timeless style, their eyes—and feet—magnetised to the durable leather uppers, rubber soles, and various colourways on offer. If you get excited by the idea of revisiting a classic basketball-turned-skateboarding shoe, these kicks, purchasable at JD Sports Australia, should be at the top of your to-buy list!

The History of Nike Blazer

In the early ’70s, Nike had a vision for a basketball shoe that would build their reputation in the sport, which at the time, they had little influence over. This shoe was to be none other than the Blazer, a top-of-the-line sneaker that allowed the brand to not only step onto the court but also dominate it. This new player immediately shone thanks to its inspired design, featuring a premium-quality leather upper with a large Swoosh logo on the side, a padded ankle collar, sponge arch support, and a comfortable terry cloth innersole.

To accommodate the different, stringent requirements of basketball stars (including one George ‘The Iceman’ Gervin, whose name is closely tied to the collection), the brand introduced both high-top and low-top versions of the Blazers. The number of colourways was immense, too, so NBA players could blend their trainers with the theme of their team’s jersey. Visually, this silhouette had it all, and when it became available to the wider footwear community, there was enough demand to warrant a continuation of production. Despite departing the court in the ’90s, the Blazer resurfaced on the skateboarding scene in the 2000s, and the fashion-first crowd soon followed in their footsteps, adopting the retro style.