The Nike Cortez is as iconic as it gets and has a history older than Nike itself. We’ve seen the Swoosh put countless spins on the classic, from collaborations to remakes. Even Devin Booker put a Cortez spin on his signature Book 1 sneaker. Now, over 50 years since its debut, Nike is making noticeable changes to its shape and materials.
According to Nike, this version’s leather has a wider toe area and firmer side panels to avoid warping. Consumers have complained about sizing and comfort issues for years. It’s good that Nike is considering consumer feedback without changing the overall look that made this shoe so popular. The Varsity Red, White, and Blue colorway is the first to drop with the new design and unofficially celebrates the 30th anniversary of Forrest Gump hitting theaters. In the movie, Forrest is gifted a pair of the Cortez in this colorway, creating one of the most memorable sneaker movie cameos ever. The Nike Cortez Varsity Red, White, and Blue releases May 8 for $110 on the Nike SNKRS app.
