Nike’s Stylish Tributes to Its Original Sneaker Quietly Cost Less Than Ever

Nike’s modern Waffle sneakers balance retro design with everyday wearability—and right now, two standout styles are selling for a steal.

A close-up of the hell of the Nike Waffle Debut sneaker in black

By Gear Patrol

Published 11 hours ago

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Nike’s Waffle sneakers have long since traded the cinder tracks of the 1970s for city sidewalks and weekend wardrobes.

What began as a pioneering running shoe, optimized for use on the new artificial turfs and surfaces slowly taking over track and field, is now a go-to for those seeking heritage styling in a market full of loud retro runners.

Both the Nike Waffle Nav (bottom) and Waffle Debut (top) share a similar DNA that stretches all the way back to the first Nike sneaker. Currently, both lifestyle sneakers are on sale for some of the lowest prices we’ve seen Nikes hit.

Nike

And while Nike’s Waffle family has expanded over the years to include sleeker, lifestyle-focused takes and coveted limited collabs, two of the brand’s more accessible interpretations—the Nike Waffle Debut and Waffle Nav — are now even more affordable.

Seven classic colorways are available with a 20% discount when you use the code SPORT at checkout for a limited time. Better yet, this discount code even applies to existing sale prices on select colors, making a few of these waffle trainers some of the most affordable Nikes we’ve ever seen.

Echoes of an Icon

On February 26, 1974, Nike received a patent for its waffle trainer running shoe (shown above). The name came from the original prototype for the running shoe’s innovative grippy sole, which Bill Bowerman created by pouring rubber into a household waffle iron. To this day, Nike’s innovation lab is known as “the kitchen” in honor of Bowerman’s first makeshift footwear lab.

Nike

The story of the Nike Waffle Racer—affectionately known as the Moon Shoe—has taken on near-mythic proportions in sneaker history (there’s even an illustrated children’s book about the origins of the waffle sole.)

The book cover for "The Waffle Story" - How Wendy the Waffle Iron Changed the World — The tale of Bill Bowerman’s early shoe-making experiments involving a household waffle iron that was a cherished wedding present has even been retold as an illustrated children’s book called *The Waffle Story: How Wendy the Waffle Iron Changed the World*.

In 1971, Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman poured rubber into his wife’s waffle iron, creating a prototype outsole that gave runners better traction on track surfaces without adding weight. That small act of experimentation helped birth one of the most important innovations in running footwear and led to Nike’s first commercial hit.

The Moon Shoe’s outsole—distinctly gridded and tacky-looking—left behind a pattern that resembled astronaut footprints, hence the nickname. B

The sole of the Nike Waffle Debut — Both the modern Nike Waffle Nav and Debut feature a version of the famed “waffle sole.”

But beyond its unique appearance, the waffle sole delivered real performance gains. It helped usher in a new era of thinking around sneaker design: performance meets ingenuity.

Contemporary Classics

A man wearing a pair of grey and white Nike Waffle Debut sneakers is shown from the ankles down. The man is also wearing camouflage pants — The key distinguishing detail of the Nike Waffle Debut is the exaggerated heel tab that extends from the stitched-on swoosh. However, as some ambitious Reddit users have proved, it can easily be removed to give the shoe an even cleaner look.

Nike’s modern Waffle lineup has expanded beyond a single silhouette, with multiple models paying homage to the original in subtly different ways.

The Waffle Debut keeps things clean and minimal, using smooth suede overlays and nylon uppers to echo vintage runners from Nike’s early years. A sculpted wedge midsole and exaggerated heel tab modernize the shape without pushing too far into trend-driven territory.

A close-up of the toe material on the Nike Waffle Debut sneaker — The toe of the Nike Waffle Debut features a clean nylon textile.

The Waffle Nav clearly shares much of its DNA with the Debut —but introduces additional paneling and a subtler silhouette, both borrowed from another classic Nike throwback waffle sneaker, the Daybreak.

A close-up of the upper of the Nike Waffle Nav in Mightnight Blue — The Waffle Nav features multiple textiles on the upper and a flat swoosh. It also ditches the noticeable heel tab of the Waffle Debut, making it slightly more understated.

Both sneakers are designed for casual wear rather than performance. Still, each takes its own approach to the original Waffle Racer’s formula: the Debut is streamlined and nostalgic, while the Nav is slightly more built-out and streetwear-forward.

Pricing and Availability

Another advantage the Nike Debut has over the Nav is the mixture of clean, modern colors.

Nike

Right now, the Nike Waffle Debut and Nike Waffle Nav are part of a limited-time promotion on Nike.com.

Four colorways of the Debut, including the classic black-and-white version, are available with a 20% discount using the code SPORT. That black-and-white pair is already reduced, making it an especially strong value.

A pair of Nike Waffle Nav sneakers in midnight navy shown with the heels facing forward against a light grey background — The lack of heel pull on the back of the Nike Waffle Nav makes the sneaker slightly less flashy.

The Waffle Nav is also eligible for the 20% discount via the same code,

Either way, it’s a solid opportunity to pick up some of Nike’s most appealing retro lifestyle sneakers at prices that are hard to beat.

Nike Waffle Debut Sneakers on Sale

A pair of Nike Waffle Debut sneakers in black shown at an angle

Nike Waffle Debut (Black/White)

$56 at Nike (Black/White)

$80 (30% off)

A pair of Nike Waffle Debut sneakers in white and grey shown at an angle

Nike Waffle Debut (Grey Fog/Light Smoke)

$64 at Nike

$80 (20% off)

A pair of Nike Waffle Debut sneakers in light blue and grey shown at an angle

Nike Waffle Debut (White/Summit White)

$64 at Nike

$80 (20% off)

A pair of Nike Waffle Debut sneakers in light green and tan shown at an angle

Nike Waffle Debut (Light Stone/Rattan)

$64 at Nike

$80 (20% off)

Nike Waffle Nav Sneakers on Sale

Nike Waffle Nav (Might Navy/Thunder Blue)

$64 at Nike

$80 (20% off)

Nike Waffle Nav sneaker in light grey against a light grey background

Nike Waffle Nav Sneaker (White/Phantom)

$61 at Nike

$80 (24% off)

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.