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It’s About Time Nike Brought Back One of Its Best Retro Sneakers

Like the Air Max 90 or Air Force 1, the Daybreak deserves a permanent spot in Nike’s ever-expanding catalog. It may finally get that.

Nike DaybreakNike

By Jack Seemer

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In hindsight, the Daybreak had it all.

A simple, no-nonsense upper. Nike’s infamous waffle outsole. And one of the most symbolic achievements in running history.

Nike Daybreak sneaker
The Daybreak is one of Nike’s most iconic designs from the ’80s, featuring a simple nylon upper and standard waffle outsole.
Nike

Less than three weeks after knee surgery, Joan Benoit Samuelson wore a pair to win 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials, setting the stage for her victory at the inaugural women’s Olympic marathon in Los Angeles later that year.

Another claim to fame: the Daybreak is credited as the first Nike shoe designed around a straight last.

Joan Benoit Samuelson
Joan Benoit Samuelson used a pair of Daybreak shoes to win the 1984 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
Nike

In other words, it’s the kind of shoe that probably deserves to take up permanent residence in Nike’s vast, ever-expanding catalog. And yet, for whatever reason, it hasn’t been spotted in years.

Nike last reissued the Daybreak in 2022 as a women’s-only model, phasing out the iconic design to make way for alternatives like the LD-1000.

Thankfully, it’s time on the sidelines appears to be coming to an end.

A return to form

Nike Daybreak sneaker
The Daybreak is on its way back to the Nike catalog, with colorways like “Blue Void” (pictured) surfacing overseas.
Nike

Surfacing initially on several of Nike’s overseas websites, the Daybreak looks poised to make a triumphant return to the Swoosh catalog, appearing in a handful of unisex colorways that play up the shoe’s retro appeal.

The first of those, “Blue Void,” is likely the most versatile of the bunch, with a blue and silver color combination that should pair with plenty of fits.

Nike Daybreak sneaker
Unlike the old-school Daybreak, “Blue Void” showcases a mesh upper with shaggy suede paneling.
Nike

However, “Flax” and “Limelight” both feel more authentic to the shoe’s vintage spirit, not just in color but material makeup.

Just like the pair Joan Benoit Samuelson wore in the 1980s, those two feature a nylon upper, as opposed to the mesh found on the blue variant.

Nike Daybreak
“Limelight” (pictured) is more authentic to the original Daybreak, utilizing nylon for the base of the upper.
Nike
Nike Daybreak sneaker
All three new Daybreak still showcase Nike’s famous waffle outsole.
Nike

Availability and pricing

All three colorways of the Daybreak are expected to make their way to Nike’s US website in the coming weeks, with a price set around $90 to $100.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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