Matt Varga Oftentimes, it’s the sports with the broadest reach that understandably take up the spotlight in footwear; sneakerheads could probably rattle off dozens, if not hundreds, of basketball and running shoes that’ve hit the market over the years. However, the Swoosh has made a concerted effort to show love to all manner of athletes (need we remind you of their interminable motto). Look to the 2024 Olympics for proof of that, as Beaverton surprised the public by unleashing a shoe for breakdancing as the sport made its debut on the international scene.
Though not as unorthodox an inclusion in the Games as what Raygun and others participated in, Nike is again subverting expectations as the world’s greatest athletes look to Los Angeles. Muthoni Kimani, a Kenyan athlete, provided a first look at a Nike Equestrian Boot as she gears up for the American showcase. Reportedly designed by Tobie Hatfield and Leo Chang, a full-length asymmetrical zip and 3D textures are the hardware notes that stick out the most in this partial sneak peek, paired with a head-to-toe training outfit to match. Though a bit tough to parse out in these shots, Kimani reports that “the detailing on the boot [is] inspired by Maasai beadwork” and the silhouette features her signature logo, the “head of a lion.”
The real footwear heads will know that, though this is their latest and greatest, this isn’t Nike’s first trip to the stables. In preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, designers crafted the Nike Ippeas Boot, understandably sharing a similar overall shape but notable for being powered by a Zoom unit in a molded TPU heel.
It’s unclear whether this footwear will hit the public, but if it does, we likely won’t see it in public hands until closer to the Games themselves. For now, peruse the shots below to get an early sense of what to expect.
