Nike’s Zoom Spiridon Retro Runner Returns in OG ‘Sport Red’ Form This Month
Amid the retro running trend prevailing throughout the industry, Nike is bringing back a hit sneaker from 1997 with origins that go back even more than a decade prior.
The Nike Zoom Spiridon “Sport Red” ushers in the return of the model in one of its original colorways. No version of the sneaker has released since 2018, when Parra collaborated on a limited-edition version, and this specifically colorway last dropped in 2016. And as beloved as the shoe was already, it should be poised particularly well for success today given how popular other runners from the era have become. The latest retro is also said to boast the dimensions truest yet to the original from 1997, as Nike and Jordan Brand have been improving in such fastidiousness recently.
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Named after Spiridon Louis, who won the first modern Olympic Marathon in 1896, the Zoom Spiridon was introduced in 1997 but had a forefather in another Nike Spiridon sneaker from 1984. The 1996 Spiridon stood out first and foremost for its mesh upper that was the first of its kind for Nike and a Zoom Air bag hosted inside of a plastic cage. This tech would inform the name of its successor, 2003’s Spiridon Cage 2, which was first given the same Spiridon moniker before Nike started instituting numbers for succeeding models.
Christian Tresser designed the Zoom Spiridon along with an even bigger hit from 1997, the Air Max 97. The two sneakers even share similarities in their wavy lines, and the heavy presence of silver in the “Sport Red” edition of the former model bears a resemblance to the “Silver Bullet” version of the latter.
The presence of silver, a common feature in the hit retro runners of today, is also likely to the fanfare for the “Sport Red” Spiridon’s return. Reflective silver piping also shines when hit with light, and the official images fail to capture the subtle glittery finish of the white midsole that remains true to the original.
For further proof of Nike’s expectations for the Spiridon’s return, look no further than the collaborations with heavy hitters Undefeated and Fragment Design that have leaked for the model.
The Nike Zoom Spiridon “Sport Red” will release December 20 through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $160.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
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