Whether you know them as Nike's first-ever running sneakers, the iconic shoes in which Forrest Gump ran across the country, or as a staple in West Coast fashion, the
Nike Cortez is undeniably a classic.
The Cortez sneaker has a deep history that actually pre-dates Nike as a company. The very first iterations of the shoe came about in the mid-1960s when famed track coach and Blue Ribbon Sports (the company that would later become Nike) co-founder Bill Bowerman teamed up with Japanese footwear brand Onitsuka Tiger to design track sneakers.
After several name changes, they landed on The Aztec, but that named turned out to be too similar to Adidas' Azteca Gold track shoe. It is rumored that the sneaker was then renamed for the final time after the Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztec Empire, Hernán Cortés, to one-up the Three Stripes.
When Blue Ribbon Sports went on to design its own footwear and change its name to Nike, the Cortez sneaker went along with the brand and officially released as we know it in 1972.
Despite being decades removed from its former state-of-the-art status, the Nike Cortez's deep-rooted running history is most likely why the silhouette is featured in the cult-classic film "Forrest Gump" where the eponymous main character runs across the entire country.
While the design itself is sleek and stylish, the Nike Cortez's presence in pop culture has cemented it as a sneaker that will forever be cool. On top of that, it's also very affordable.
Pros: Great history behind the design, lots of cultural relevance, good traction, affordable
Cons: Material gets dirty easily, particularly for light colors (we recommend using this spray protectant), foam sole gives over time, meaning they won't last forever