In the ‘70s, Nike was still a burgeoning brand looking to make its mark on the footwear world through innovative designs. One of these early releases for The Swoosh included the LD-1000, a long-distance runner that introduced a then-revolutionary design with its flared heel meant to reduce leg torque. However, this design ironically led to injuries among runners, and the shoe was recalled swiftly. Decades later, Nike has reintroduced the model in OG fashion, with some tweaks not to cause injury, and we’ve seen the sneaker appear in collaboration with Stussy and inline variants like the Black Sesame. Now, the sneaker is getting a University of Michigan-esque Game Royal colorway.
Game Royal hues cover most of the LD-1000, with the suede along the toe, eyestays, and heel taking on this titular hue. Below this, the mesh base also takes on the blue game royal color while accenting hits of white are located on the nylon tongue, lace set, tongue tag, and sockliner. Vintage Nike branding adorns the tongue tag with a safety orange Swoosh cutting across the black Nike font. Yellow hits in the form of the Swoosh and heel tab break up the two-tone look. Finishing off the design is the white foam midsole paired with a black waffle rubber outsole.
The Nike LD-1000 Game Royal will release on September 4, 2024, via Nike and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is set at $100. Check below for images of the model and download the Sole Retriever mobile app for release updates on this pair and more in the sneaker world.
Nike LD-1000 Game Royal
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