Nike's Lunar Technology

Shoe technologies come and go. Today, they are the future for comfortable, improved and safe running. Couple of months later, they become obsolete. But it doesn't mean they are not as effective though. For as long as it still works, then I guess that technology is tailor-fit to your running needs.

As in the case of Nike's Lunarlite Technology, it was long time coming. Something like, 36 years.

Nike's earliest employees, Geoff Hollister, never had said it better in 1971. Strapping on one of the first prototypes of Bill Bowerman's iconic Waffle sole, Hollister said "It was like running on pillows." And in 2004, Nike designer Kevin Hoffer became inspired by the cushioning quote and thought about the Waffle outsole's earliest incarnation in the Moon Shoe at the 1972 marathon trials. Hoffer turned to the actual lunar landing, downloading images of astronauts bouncing around the moon, like marshmallows. And the rest was history.

It started back in 1971 with a quote from Geoff Hollister, one of Nike’s earliest employees. He strapped on the first prototypes of Bill Bowerman’s iconic Waffle sole and said, “It was like running on pillows.” Nike designer Kevin Hoffer read the quote in 2004, kicking off his search for cushioning that would recreate that sensation, which would be that revolutionary. With the quote guiding him, he thought about the Waffle outsole’s earliest incarnation in the Moon Shoe at the 1972 marathon trials. From there, Kevin turned to the actual lunar landing and soon was downloading images of astronauts bouncing around the moon as if on marshmallows. Then, he knew exactly what he wanted the cushioning to feel like.

Today, there has been a lot of variation of the Lunar Technology. This super light, space age Lunar foam released LunarLite Racer and LunarLite Trainer two years ago. The lunarGlilde+, a modification of the earlier Lunar models, was released last year.

This fall, Nike introduces a complete Bowerman line: the Vomero+5, the Equalon+4, the Structure Triax+ 13 and the Air Pegasus+ 27 . More details at Runningwarehouse.

History of the Running Shoes

Running barefoot is as agonizing as being tortured in a hazing rite. Imagine the blisters, bruises or even lacerations caused by gravels, loose branches and sharp objects. But thank God for shoes, running has literally gone the distance. Tracing back during our forefathers, I admire them for their persistence and determination for doing such activity without the aid of this apparel. Dead tired with an aching feet, they must run for long distances to hunt for food or get their job done.

Reading the beginnings of the athletic shoe via Runtheplanet gives a trip down memory lane. Interesting to know that the word 'sneakers' came from the croquet shoe developed in the 1860s which movement in the shoes was noiseless and quickly worn by sneak thieves. Also, competitive sports at that time were only for the rich dudes. I guess the masses were busy tilling the fields and making steel at the factory then to make ends meet.

The 1900s saw the inception of Keds, Chucks, Adidas and Puma. New Balance was the first scientifically-tested shoe. In the 1976 Montreal Olympics, it is where the commercial potential of the shoe was realized as it was endorsed. Soon after, the Mexico Olympics was flooded with shoe advertisements. And the rest, as they say, is history.