The Nike Blazer has been around, in one form or another, for nearly 50 years. (49 to be exact.) First designed for NBA legend George “The Iceman” Gervin in 1972, it was the third Nike sneaker ever, coming just one year after Nike transitioned away from its old name, Blue Ribbon Sports, and adopted its iconic logo, the Swoosh (designed by Carolyn Davidson). The Blazer, a nod to Nike HQ’s hometown team, the Portland Trailblazers, arrived 12 years before Nike signed Michael Jordan — simply put, as odd as it sounds, Nike was still very new.
Like Nike’s first two sneakers, though, an early version of the Waffle Racer and the Nike Cortez, the Blazer’s hung around. A design formula that called for equal parts simplicity and performance (at least by standards then) resulted in a string of sneakers that’d prove as timeless as they were pioneering. All three remain in Nike’s rotation now, and with consistent success, too. (Fun fact: The Iceman often wore pairs personalized to him — Iceman printed on both heels where the Nike logo lives now. This was the first-ever signature shoe.)
NikeThe Blazer, though, saw a more sudden spike in interest in 2018. In the final months of that year, designer Virgil Abloh, through his brand, Off-White, dropped 10 reimagined Nike sneakers. Among them were a few iterations of the iconic Blazer, albeit ones that looked both deconstructed and redone by a talented designer. There was a black version with an exaggerated white swoosh, and a beige one with a bold orange logo. At the time, Nike still sold the Blazer, both without frills and as an SB (which stands for skateboarding) edition.
The Blazer I’m most fond of — and the one I’m reviewing here — became Nike’s sole version sometime between the end of 2018 and the middle of 2020. It’s not all that different than the original Blazer or the SB (or the Off-White, Supreme or Stüssy) editions, but there are subtle differences (and plenty of design improvements) nonetheless that I think make the most recent version the best iteration yet (and perhaps the truest to the original).
The Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage
The Good
The Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage is simple. However, for devoted sneakerheads, perhaps too simple. It marries a foam-infused nylon tongue with leather uppers, flat cotton laces, suede accents and a vulcanized rubber sole, resulting in a style that looks plucked from adverts (and athletes) of the ’70s: the atypical font on the heel and the tongue’s vintage logo emphasize that vibe.
Although it was originally a basketball shoe, it’s firmly cemented itself as a lifestyle option now. It isn’t equipped with all of the bells and whistles one of LeBron’s signature sneakers has, because, well, it doesn’t need them. They’re plenty comfortable, look classic in a non-kitschy way and cater to all kinds of outfits. Like the Chuck Taylor All Star, the Blazer is high enough to hide under pants in the fall and winter and a solid option for shorts-wearers in the spring and summer. Plus, they arrive on shelves at an affordable, and flat, $100 dollars. Oftentimes, because there’s such a high supply of them, they go on sale, too. I’ve found pairs for around $50 bucks. Considering the sneakers made from suede and leather, that’s pretty affordable compared to Nike sneakers made from mesh are often sold at higher prices.
