Brendan Dunne 
This year’s Superbowl collection of sneakers from Nike is not one concerned strictly with performance models. Filling out the retro category is the “Nike Knows” collection, which sports some of the same silvery touches and that logo specially crafted for the upcoming NYC-area Superbowl. Included are the Nike Air Trainer 1, the Nike Lunar 180 Trainer SC, the Nike Air Trainer Max ’94, the Nike Zoom Meriwether Posite, and the Nike Dunk Sky High Premium. Continue reading to see each of these sneakers from the upcoming “Nike Knows” pack and watch for the shoes in stores come late January (Save for the Lunar pair of Bo Jacksons, which is already up for grabs).
Source: Nike INC
Athletic legend starts in training. Nike‘s mission has always been to make athletes better. In turn, those athletes transcend sport and inspire fans to celebrate their style on the street.
The Nike Knows collection is inspired by a golden age, a time when athletes were elevated to heights previously unknown and their legacy expanded well beyond the field. While winning was the core motive, swagger was a prerequisite. The dynamic personas of the era elevated a game into the game. Cross training was the new frontier. Home plate was where bats were broken. And the end zone served as a testing ground for new dances. Nike Knows is a highlight reel of moments given to us by the legends of yesteryear and the future current athletes are creating everyday.
Highlighting the Nike Knows collection is the Nike Lunar 180 Trainer SC merging modern construction with a classic silhouette. Retaining its essential DNA, the Nike Lunar 180 Trainer SC updates a 1990 classic with HyperFuse construction for lightweight support and breathability. A Nike 180 Air cushioning unit and the molded Lunarlon bevel instill attitude and give the tooling a fresh twist.
Also part of the collection is the shoe that defined cross training, the Tinker Hatfield-designed Nike Air Trainer 1 Premium. Originally released in 1987, the Air Trainer 1 revolutionized sport pairing a basketball-style upper with a running-inspired outsole and enhanced Nike Air cushioning. The shoe found favor in the gym, on the road, and famously on the tennis court. Hatfield’s game-changer marched in step with superstar athletes and style leaders. With a new all-over iridescent silver look, the Nike Air Trainer 1 shines on as a true icon of training.
The legacy of Nike training is further remembered in the Nike Knows collection by a full complement of timeless Nike trainers. In 1994, the Air Trainer Max ’94 featured an innovative neoprene sleeve for support and cushioning through a pioneering bubble Air-Sole unit. These shoes made an impact between the hash marks. The athletes who wore them achieved epic feats. In turn, they inspired a new generation of athletes striving to create their own legend.
The crossover appeal of training is represented in the Nike Knows collection by the Nike Zoom Meriwether Posite and Nike Sky High Premium. The Nike Zoom Meriwether Posite melds the lightweight responsiveness of a trainer with the protection of a boot. A metallic silver Nike Sky High Premium, a perfect balance of sport and style, completes the set.
The Bo Knows tee—a tribute to the godfather of training—along with the Nike Futura Destroyer Jacket, Nike Futura Tech Fleece Crew, and Nike Futura Snapback capture the spirit of training and football with contemporary style. The Tech Fleece Crew updates an iconic Nike sportswear silhouette with evolved fit and feel, offering increased range of motion and lighter weight warmth than its predecessor. Tying together technology and tradition, the Nike Futura Destroyer delivers maximum warmth through a thermo-insulated body.
Nike Knows is about the past, present and future of sport style. Evoking the legend of football and training stars, Nike Knows sets the stage for the next generation of larger-than-life athletes. The collection champions those making an impact on the diamond, gridiron and the octagon—reminding us all that resilience in practice leads to epic feats on the field, and that game-changing innovation is at the heart of Nike training. Find out more about the Nike Knows Collection here.
A limited release of the Nike Lunar 180 Trainer SC is available now at Nike Sportswear. The complete Nike Knows Collection will be available at Nike Sportswear and at select Nike Sportswear retailers late January.
