Nike Continues Celebrating Its Running Heritage with Vintage Mashups

Despite straying away from its roots over the last decade, Nike has recently refocused on the sport of running. As such, it's overhauled its product franchises and developed gear to assist athletes of all levels achieve the unthinkable. Some of the brand's efforts have results in the Nike Running International Collection.

Although the brand has yet to disclose an official backstory to the project, elements across the lineup's multiple pairs suggest the collection is inspired by vintage running models and their connection to Japan. Beyond a manufacturing standpoint, some of the earliest performance models from Nike were celebrated across the East Asian country, finding homes amongst collectors and athletes alike. Today, vintage shops across Japan—specifically Tokyo—boast treasure troves of half-century-old footwear rooted in Bill Bowerman's philosophy for a shoe: "It must be light, comfortable, and it’s got to go the distance."

The latest styles to surface with this collection's special branding are the AlphaFly 3 and Vomero 18. While developed for two different use cases, both silhouettes deliver the best of Nike Running. The former is the same sneaker Kelvin Kiptum wore at the 2023 Chicago Marathon to set a new world record for the distance. Its newest presentation references the Nike Sting's green-and-orange color scheme first seen in 1978.

The thematic Vomero 18's inspiration is harder to pinpoint. Clad in an "Oatmeal/Volt/Black/Anthracite" color scheme, the pair is most like some of the brand's recent trail-running footwear models. Images of the VaporFly 3 in "Black/Metallic Gold Grain" also come to mind, but the upper's textured, graphic-laden update suggests the reference is something else.

Could it be that the faint black textile across the Vomero's upper nods to the Nike "Moon Shoe" racer from 1972? It's possible, especially given the fact that a JacuMoon Shoe collaboration by Jacquemus is in the works.

Enjoy detailed photos of the latest entries to the Nike Running International collection ahead. Pairs should release via Nike.com by November. The AlphaFly 3 is priced at $295, whereas the Vomero 18 retails for $155.

For more performance footwear, check out the Air Jordan 40, the pinnacle of basketball shoes.