The History of Nike Foamposites

The original Foamposite design was so off-the-wall that it took Nike an unusually long time to even figure out how to make them. The upper had to be molded from liquid polyurethane in a single piece — something that, at the time, nobody in shoe manufacturing had ever tried before. In the end, Nike had to look beyond the shoe industry for the necessary tech, with Korean car manufacturer Daewoo eventually stepping up to provide the necessary molds.

Engineering the Foamposite also proved to be a tough task. Because of the shoe’s unusual materials, it had to be completely re-engineered to meet Nike’s high standard of athletic performance, with new features like a highly reinforced midsole unit. Finally, after extensive testing and design, Nike was ready to release the first Foamposites in 1997. The only question: Who was going to wear them first?

Engineering the Foamposite also proved to be a tough task. Because of the shoe’s unusual materials, it had to be completely re-engineered to meet Nike’s high standard of athletic performance, with new features like a highly reinforced midsole unit. Finally, after extensive testing and design, Nike was ready to release the first Foamposites in 1997. The only question: Who was going to wear them first?

In a quirky twist, Mike Bibby of the University of Arizona Wildcats was actually the first to lace up a pair of Air Foamposite Ones on the court. Bibby, a dyed-in-the-leather sneakerhead, wore a pair of Air Foamposite Ones all through the Wildcats’ legendary run to the 1997 March Madness championship.

Hardaway, naturally, wasn’t far behind. He brought his new Air Foamposite Ones onto the court in April 1997 in the signature brilliance of the Dark Neon Royal Blue colorway that’s still one of the most popular today. Ironically, the NBA originally told Hardaway that his shoes didn’t have enough black to match the team uniform. Hardaway, always resourceful, grabbed a black Sharpie and customized his shoes with a design that Nike later reissued as the Air Foamposite One “Sharpie” colorway.

The original 1997 Foamposites hit the market with a silhouette that looked like something from another planet, originally in only its royal blue colorway. They were also among the priciest athletic shoes of the time, retailing for $180 in their original form due to the shoes’ expensive and complex manufacturing process.

While the Foamposites never conquered the shoe world in the way Air Jordans or Air Force 1s did, they acquired a dedicated cult following of their own. Foam-heads came to love the molded comfort of a well-broken-in pair of Foamposites, and the shoes quickly gained a reputation for being durable and easy to clean. Die-hard basketball fans played a particularly big role in keeping the Foamposite flame alive, knowing that at its core, the Foamposite is a basketball shoe — and one of the best, at that.

Today, sneakerheads still remember the Nike Foamposite Galaxy drop as an event that defined everything ridiculous (but also kind of awesome) about sneaker culture in the 2010s. The Galaxy was released in 2012, available only in a small number of stores (with no option to buy online) and in extremely limited runs. That was a recipe for a hot launch, but even Nike themselves probably didn’t realize the forces they were unleashing. 

The rush for collectors to get their hands on the Galaxy Foamposites was borderline apocalyptic, with hours-long lines and thousand-dollar online resales reported. To give you some idea of how in-demand these shoes were, check out this famous Craigslist ad, in which a desperate sneakerhead offered their car in exchange for a pair of the sought-after foams. (No word on if they ever found a taker for the deal.) Today, the Galaxies are still among the rarest of all Foamposites, and they’re almost always snapped up when they show their laces on second-hand sites.

Nike has brought back the Foamposites several more times throughout the years. Each time, their design team took advantage of the shoe’s unusual materials to deliver something out of the ordinary. When looking for a pair of Foamposites, you’ll want to keep fit and feel in mind, whether you’re trying them on for yourself or trying to fit your kids’ feet. As the shoes mold to the foot, they can help you achieve a custom, snug feel. While the Foamposites are true to size, if you have wider feet, consider going up a half-size. 

The Little Posite One is the pint-sized version of the Nike Air Foamposite One. Each shoe has the same sculpted upper along with other features, which include: 

• Full-length Nike Air cushioning 
• A herringbone rubber traction pattern 
• The 1 Cent logo on the heel and the sole
• A checkerboard chrome carbon fiber shank plate