Nike your creative genius is not showing.

Originally Posted by TurboMan

And it's not a good thing. What the hell?

Some of their recent releases:

Hyperdunk = Hyperize + Fuse technology = Hyperfuse
Air Max 2009/2010 = Air Max 360
Trainer 1 = "Inspired" by Air Trainer 1
SC 2010 = "Inspired" by Bo Jackson SC
Hurache Trainers = "Inspired" by OG Huarache Trainers
Flywire = "Inspired" by Oral B Floss

Nike's R&D is stale as hell. They don't make any shoe that goes against the grain. I know I'm reaching with this, but even Reebok is moving out of their comfort zone by doing ZigTech.

Lets face it: The majority of Nike's shoes (except for the Running shoes) are not even that comfortable. The Trainer 1s I had chafed the %+%+ out of my toe and caused an ingrown toenail. Sorry for the visual. No Zoom Air and an airbag with a serious eating disorder. God was doing me a favor by making me lose them on accident. I'm tired of Nike riding off of their name and their popularity, and their little false-promises that they seem to give off when introducing a new shoe. It's about time their so-called creativity came up with something original for once. If the shoe is not even comfortable, then design something crazy like those Air Carnivores, so that I can feel better about wasting money on a low-quality product.

End rant. Please agree with me.

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by TurboMan

And it's not a good thing. What the hell?

Some of their recent releases:

Hyperdunk = Hyperize + Fuse technology = Hyperfuse
Air Max 2009/2010 = Air Max 360
Trainer 1 = "Inspired" by Air Trainer 1
SC 2010 = "Inspired" by Bo Jackson SC
Hurache Trainers = "Inspired" by OG Huarache Trainers
Flywire = "Inspired" by Oral B Floss

Nike's R&D is stale as hell. They don't make any shoe that goes against the grain. I know I'm reaching with this, but even Reebok is moving out of their comfort zone by doing ZigTech.

Lets face it: The majority of Nike's shoes (except for the Running shoes) are not even that comfortable. The Trainer 1s I had chafed the %+%+ out of my toe and caused an ingrown toenail. Sorry for the visual. No Zoom Air and an airbag with a serious eating disorder. God was doing me a favor by making me lose them on accident. I'm tired of Nike riding off of their name and their popularity, and their little false-promises that they seem to give off when introducing a new shoe. It's about time their so-called creativity came up with something original for once. If the shoe is not even comfortable, then design something crazy like those Air Carnivores, so that I can feel better about wasting money on a low-quality product.

End rant. Please agree with me.

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by TurboMan

And it's not a good thing. What the hell?

Some of their recent releases:

Hyperdunk = Hyperize + Fuse technology = Hyperfuse
Air Max 2009/2010 = Air Max 360
Trainer 1 = "Inspired" by Air Trainer 1
SC 2010 = "Inspired" by Bo Jackson SC
Hurache Trainers = "Inspired" by OG Huarache Trainers
Flywire = "Inspired" by Oral B Floss

Nike's R&D is stale as hell. They don't make any shoe that goes against the grain. I know I'm reaching with this, but even Reebok is moving out of their comfort zone by doing ZigTech.

Lets face it: The majority of Nike's shoes (except for the Running shoes) are not even that comfortable. The Trainer 1s I had chafed the %+%+ out of my toe and caused an ingrown toenail. Sorry for the visual. No Zoom Air and an airbag with a serious eating disorder. God was doing me a favor by making me lose them on accident. I'm tired of Nike riding off of their name and their popularity, and their little false-promises that they seem to give off when introducing a new shoe. It's about time their so-called creativity came up with something original for once. If the shoe is not even comfortable, then design something crazy like those Air Carnivores, so that I can feel better about wasting money on a low-quality product.

End rant. Please agree with me.

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by TurboMan

And it's not a good thing. What the hell?

Some of their recent releases:

Hyperdunk = Hyperize + Fuse technology = Hyperfuse
Air Max 2009/2010 = Air Max 360
Trainer 1 = "Inspired" by Air Trainer 1
SC 2010 = "Inspired" by Bo Jackson SC
Hurache Trainers = "Inspired" by OG Huarache Trainers
Flywire = "Inspired" by Oral B Floss

Nike's R&D is stale as hell. They don't make any shoe that goes against the grain. I know I'm reaching with this, but even Reebok is moving out of their comfort zone by doing ZigTech.

Lets face it: The majority of Nike's shoes (except for the Running shoes) are not even that comfortable. The Trainer 1s I had chafed the %+%+ out of my toe and caused an ingrown toenail. Sorry for the visual. No Zoom Air and an airbag with a serious eating disorder. God was doing me a favor by making me lose them on accident. I'm tired of Nike riding off of their name and their popularity, and their little false-promises that they seem to give off when introducing a new shoe. It's about time their so-called creativity came up with something original for once. If the shoe is not even comfortable, then design something crazy like those Air Carnivores, so that I can feel better about wasting money on a low-quality product.

End rant. Please agree with me.

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by WallyHopp

I somewhat agree..

The whole cross training genre was one upgrade after another from the very beginning. For Nike to be slammed for a hyperize and fuse combo is absurd. It's simply evolution at work. An actual progression.

Where I don't see a true progression is the new trainer 1. Almost every one knows that back in 2005, Tinker himself, designed a rebirth cross trainer. Fit with seamless stitching, premium materials, new age velcro, shank plates, fore and heel zoom air. Your true rebirth shoe. The model failed, ended up at outlets. With zero marketing behind it, Nike let one of the best shoes of the past 20 years fail... Let's welcome ourselves to summer 2009. Nike gets the backing of superstar athletes, invites every blog and website owner out there for a "training event" and the "rebirth" shoe is born. Tell me how a shoe far superior in every facet, fails, and a shoe, Nike themselves hypes up as the next best thing, is successful? Perfecting marketing is the answer.. It's scary what they can create and have become successful and "trend setting".

Now the ACG genre gets a pass. or a passing grade. They have come up with innovative designs.

But I tend to agree TurboMan with your general message. They are marketing kings. Repackaging inferior products and pushing their marketing genius.

In some respects, I think they fear some technologies reigning supreme over others. I can think of maybe a half dozen models that have full length (fore and heel) zoom air. It's what was in, in the late 90s, and everyone seems to love it still to this day. But that continued plateau of zoom doesn't sell shoes. They need something NEW... The sad thing is, the KD IIs, the Hyperfuses, all only have one set of zoom air in their shoes.. They are progressing but instantly going back decades with their decision.

Inspiration shoes are fine if they actually improve on the model..
-Zoom air for the huaraches huh? Yeah, in one place, and a high price tag. THE OGs had full length encapsulated airbags.
-SC 2010s have air and foam in the same areas as the 1990 original. Where is the true improvement? Synthetic suedes that have been proven to weigh the same as real materials? I have a pair of '91 solo flights that have this same sort of cushion setup.
-KD IIs and Hyperfuses featuring zoom air that no one would even touch in early 2000 with zoom air in just one spot.. The Ultraflights are laughing in your face. Even your zoom flight 95s (full length air).

It's mind boggling what's being fed to us. Once you realize the nuts and bolts of certain shoes and models and what we had in the past, it's scary looking ahead.

Nike recently has been going with a blazer midsole/outsole on various retros with a inspiration upper.. This model features no air and a relatively high sticker price. It goes back to the late 70s. All foam baby! They build air and now don't want to use it in their shoes? Either consumers are accepting of this apparent downgrade or are unaware.

It's not just creativity on a looks perspective, for me at least, like the title of this thread says, but it goes back to a creativity with the whole cushioning setup on various shoes.

and with that, my weekly rant is over

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by WallyHopp

I somewhat agree..

The whole cross training genre was one upgrade after another from the very beginning. For Nike to be slammed for a hyperize and fuse combo is absurd. It's simply evolution at work. An actual progression.

Where I don't see a true progression is the new trainer 1. Almost every one knows that back in 2005, Tinker himself, designed a rebirth cross trainer. Fit with seamless stitching, premium materials, new age velcro, shank plates, fore and heel zoom air. Your true rebirth shoe. The model failed, ended up at outlets. With zero marketing behind it, Nike let one of the best shoes of the past 20 years fail... Let's welcome ourselves to summer 2009. Nike gets the backing of superstar athletes, invites every blog and website owner out there for a "training event" and the "rebirth" shoe is born. Tell me how a shoe far superior in every facet, fails, and a shoe, Nike themselves hypes up as the next best thing, is successful? Perfecting marketing is the answer.. It's scary what they can create and have become successful and "trend setting".

Now the ACG genre gets a pass. or a passing grade. They have come up with innovative designs.

But I tend to agree TurboMan with your general message. They are marketing kings. Repackaging inferior products and pushing their marketing genius.

In some respects, I think they fear some technologies reigning supreme over others. I can think of maybe a half dozen models that have full length (fore and heel) zoom air. It's what was in, in the late 90s, and everyone seems to love it still to this day. But that continued plateau of zoom doesn't sell shoes. They need something NEW... The sad thing is, the KD IIs, the Hyperfuses, all only have one set of zoom air in their shoes.. They are progressing but instantly going back decades with their decision.

Inspiration shoes are fine if they actually improve on the model..
-Zoom air for the huaraches huh? Yeah, in one place, and a high price tag. THE OGs had full length encapsulated airbags.
-SC 2010s have air and foam in the same areas as the 1990 original. Where is the true improvement? Synthetic suedes that have been proven to weigh the same as real materials? I have a pair of '91 solo flights that have this same sort of cushion setup.
-KD IIs and Hyperfuses featuring zoom air that no one would even touch in early 2000 with zoom air in just one spot.. The Ultraflights are laughing in your face. Even your zoom flight 95s (full length air).

It's mind boggling what's being fed to us. Once you realize the nuts and bolts of certain shoes and models and what we had in the past, it's scary looking ahead.

Nike recently has been going with a blazer midsole/outsole on various retros with a inspiration upper.. This model features no air and a relatively high sticker price. It goes back to the late 70s. All foam baby! They build air and now don't want to use it in their shoes? Either consumers are accepting of this apparent downgrade or are unaware.

It's not just creativity on a looks perspective, for me at least, like the title of this thread says, but it goes back to a creativity with the whole cushioning setup on various shoes.

and with that, my weekly rant is over

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by WallyHopp

I see "AIR" as a more of a durability factor. All foam products have a shelf life or lifespan. Just like running shoes, where we all know, they have a XXX mile life before they just aren't providing protection. Air bags, at least the encapsulated kind, appear to have a true longevity. Which may be the reason why Nike is going away from that in many areas. Why create a shoe that will last and have cushion for the next 6 years? Let's go the running shoe route and have foam that will eventually "bottom out". I just don't see AIR as a gimmick like you do. In Fact, I want more shoes to protect that longevity. Do you have any current shoes that you think you can wear in 15 years with current technology?

I believe Nike has already begun making quality shoes without air, if you believe in the Lunar technology. I don't see how they painted themselves in a corner when a lot of their shoes are ALREADY using less and less air. Do they know its a "gimmick product" and are using more foams now, or is it simply a cost issue where they feel consumers are better without air. I just don't understand how consumers are suckers for air when air usage is likely at an all time LOW... Maybe on a retro front with shotty materials??

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by WallyHopp

I see "AIR" as a more of a durability factor. All foam products have a shelf life or lifespan. Just like running shoes, where we all know, they have a XXX mile life before they just aren't providing protection. Air bags, at least the encapsulated kind, appear to have a true longevity. Which may be the reason why Nike is going away from that in many areas. Why create a shoe that will last and have cushion for the next 6 years? Let's go the running shoe route and have foam that will eventually "bottom out". I just don't see AIR as a gimmick like you do. In Fact, I want more shoes to protect that longevity. Do you have any current shoes that you think you can wear in 15 years with current technology?

I believe Nike has already begun making quality shoes without air, if you believe in the Lunar technology. I don't see how they painted themselves in a corner when a lot of their shoes are ALREADY using less and less air. Do they know its a "gimmick product" and are using more foams now, or is it simply a cost issue where they feel consumers are better without air. I just don't understand how consumers are suckers for air when air usage is likely at an all time LOW... Maybe on a retro front with shotty materials??

Click to expand...