Nike

The legend of Nike begins with an athlete, a coach, and a distribution agreement. The year was 1964, and University of Oregon's track and field coach, Bill Bowerman, went into business with former U of O runner Phil Knight. Originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports, the fledgeling distribution company got its start peddling running shoes at track meets throughout the northwest out of the back of Knight’s car. But as you already know, Nike had bigger things in store. The Nike success story might have turned out very differently, if not for Bowerman's insistence that he could build a better running shoe than what was available at the time. The duo’s empire was built from the ground up, so to speak, beginning with the feet of the University of Oregon's track team. Bowerman’s desire for progress and innovation led to his legendary experiments with wife's waffle iron, making soles for prototypes of the groundbreaking Cortez track shoe. The official release of the Cortez coincided with the 1972 Olympics; images of athletes in the Cortez sent sales of this new shoe bearing the now-iconic Swoosh logo through the roof. It was an instant success, and launched the Nike brand on its path to world domination. Today, Nike's focus has broadened, but it remains committed to producing exceptional athletic footwear for men, women, and kids. Beyond shoes, Nike Sportswear makes running apparel, shorts, sweatshirts, jackets, socks, t shirts, backpacks, sun glasses, gloves, hats, pants, and yoga pants. Nike Snowboarding produces boots, jackets, snow pants, goggles, and base layers. Nike also makes watches and casual clothing.  From running shoes, to Michael Jordan's signature Jordan line, to the hugely successful SB skateboard line, Nike continues to push the envelope of shoe construction. Technologies like weight-shedding, impact-absorbing Lunarlon foam and the supportive filaments that make up Flywire construction are allowing Nike to produce its most advanced footwear to date. It doesn't matter if they're casual trainers or pro level performance footwear, if your shoes are adorned with the trademark Swoosh, they come with a heritage that few others can match.

Checkout the latest Nike Gear and Apparel at Backcountry.com. Whether you run, hike, or ski, Nike has you covered.

Nike - Clothing, Sunglasses, & More

Engineered for world-class athletes, Nike Action unites the performance innovation of Nike with a deep commitment to the history, creativity, and raw athleticism of action sports. With a focus on Skateboarding, Snowboarding and Surfing, our footwear and apparel merge advanced materials and design with classic styling, driven by the voice of our athletes. Based at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Action is dedicated to inspiring and supporting the world of action sports.

The legend of Nike begins with an athlete, a coach, and a distribution agreement. The year was 1964, and University of Oregon's track and field coach, Bill Bowerman, went into business with former U of O runner Phil Knight. Originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports, the fledgeling distribution company got its start peddling running shoes at track meets throughout the northwest out of the back of Knight’s car. But as you already know, Nike had bigger things in store.
 
The Nike success story might have turned out very differently, if not for Bowerman's insistence that he could build a better running shoe than what was available at the time. The duo’s empire was built from the ground up, so to speak, beginning with the feet of the University of Oregon's track team. Bowerman’s desire for progress and innovation led to his legendary experiments with wife's waffle iron, making soles for prototypes of the groundbreaking Cortez track shoe. The official release of the Cortez coincided with the 1972 Olympics; images of athletes in the Cortez sent sales of this new shoe bearing the now-iconic Swoosh logo through the roof. It was an instant success, and launched the Nike brand on its path to world domination.
 
Today, Nike's focus has broadened, but it remains committed to producing exceptional athletic footwear for men, women, and kids. Beyond shoes, Nike Sportswear makes running apparel, shorts, sweatshirts, jackets, socks, t shirts, backpacks, sun glasses, gloves, hats, pants, and yoga pants. Nike Snowboarding produces boots, jackets, snow pants, goggles, and base layers. Nike also makes watches and casual clothing.
 
From running shoes, to Michael Jordan's signature Jordan line, to the hugely successful SB skateboard line, Nike continues to push the envelope of shoe construction. Technologies like weight-shedding, impact-absorbing Lunarlon foam and the supportive filaments that make up Flywire construction are allowing Nike to produce its most advanced footwear to date. It doesn't matter if they're casual trainers or pro level performance footwear, if your shoes are adorned with the trademark Swoosh, they come with a heritage that few others can match.

rootNode

Redstone/University Red/University Red

Black/Black/Peat Moss AOP

Black/Dark Smoke Grey/Ironstone

One Size

ACG Karst Pouch

Martian Sunrise/Light Sienna/White

ACG Karst Summit Olympics Pouch

New Arrivals

Plan Your Spring Escape—Road Trip & Camp Essentials

Clothing

Footwear

Accessories

On Sale

Training

Women

Shop Kid's New Arrivals

Gear

Kids

All Activities

Camp

Paddle

Bike

Activities

Brands

Basin + Range

Stoic Camp

SOREL

Camp Colorful with Stoic

Backcountry

Stoic

Exclusive Brands

Memorial Day Sale: Up To 50% Off

Featured Deals

Womens

Mens

Sale

Community

Advocacy

Partnerships

Ambassadors

See All Stories

Introduction to Ski Mountaineering

How To Buy A Bike In 2021

How A Winter Kit Made The Perfect Trip

Explore Blog

${defaultPageTitle}

Activity

Colors

Features

Prices

Recommended Use