20 Pics of What Nike Sneakers Looked Like in the 1970s and '80s

Carly Tennes Published 11/09/2024 in wow

Since the company's founding in 1964, Nike sneakers have always been cool. Case in point? These retro snaps of athletes, stars and regular folks who rocked the swoosh decades ago ... and still look rad in 2024.

From Michael Jordan striking a pose to vintage ads helping runners hit their stride, here are 20 pics of what Nike sneakers looked like in the 1970s and '80s

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1.
“Michael Jordan, used as the source for the Nike Jumpman logo (1985).”
2.
A still from 'Rocky III,' 1982.
3.
A still from "Flashdance," 1983.
4.
A 1977 ad for Nike’s Waffle Trainer
5.
An ad for Nike Air sneakers, date unknown.
6.
Farrah Fawcett flaunts her skate chops — and her Nike shoes — on set of Charlie’s Angels, 1977.
7.
An early ad promoting The Eagle sneaker.
8.
A Nike ad from the ‘70s.
9.
Michael J. Fox sports some (Marty Mc)Fly kicks in 1985’s “Back to the Future.”
10.
An early Nike ad promoting their shoes’ durability.
11.
Tennis star John McEnroe hits the court in his Nike sneakers, 1981.
12.
A page promoting the Women’s Air Control II
13.
Tom Cruise poses in his Nikes in a promo photo for 1983’s “All the Right Moves.'
14.
Nike’s iconic “we named our shoes after a woman” ad.
15.
An ad for Air Jordan 3.
16.
A very ‘80s woman appears in a Nike Air ad.
17.
An ad for Nike’s Daybreak sneakers.
18.
A still from 1981’s ‘The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid.’
19.
Spectators sport Nike sneakers at the U.S. Open, 1982.
20.
Artist Keith Haring flexes his high tops, 1988.

1.
“Michael Jordan, used as the source for the Nike Jumpman logo (1985).”
2.
A still from 'Rocky III,' 1982.
3.
A still from "Flashdance," 1983.
4.
A 1977 ad for Nike’s Waffle Trainer
5.
An ad for Nike Air sneakers, date unknown.
6.
Farrah Fawcett flaunts her skate chops — and her Nike shoes — on set of Charlie’s Angels, 1977.
7.
An early ad promoting The Eagle sneaker.
8.
A Nike ad from the ‘70s.
9.
Michael J. Fox sports some (Marty Mc)Fly kicks in 1985’s “Back to the Future.”
10.
An early Nike ad promoting their shoes’ durability.
11.
Tennis star John McEnroe hits the court in his Nike sneakers, 1981.
12.
A page promoting the Women’s Air Control II
13.
Tom Cruise poses in his Nikes in a promo photo for 1983’s “All the Right Moves.'
14.
Nike’s iconic “we named our shoes after a woman” ad.
15.
An ad for Air Jordan 3.
16.
A very ‘80s woman appears in a Nike Air ad.
17.
An ad for Nike’s Daybreak sneakers.
18.
A still from 1981’s ‘The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid.’
19.
Spectators sport Nike sneakers at the U.S. Open, 1982.
20.
Artist Keith Haring flexes his high tops, 1988.