Nike Fixates A Rugged Rubber Sole To The Blazer Mid Roam

Everyone's favorite gym shoe heads to the trail.

Sneaker News August 23, 2024

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The rise of function-minded brands like Merrell, Salomon and other “gorpcore” outfits speaks to a major trend in footwear: the outdoors is in again. In Beaverton, it didn’t take long to get in on that wave, and on top of retro efforts for a slew of ACG classics, they’ve been rolling out some of their tried & true mainstays with eyes on a new life (see the Air Max Plus Hiker.) Following a toolsy reimagining of the Vomero 5, Nike is pushing the Blazer into the fray.

It’s immediately apparent that though the Blazer serves as a foundation for this new silhouette, little if any of its construction sticks around for the Roam. The sole unit physically couldn’t be anymore different, changing the flat, vulcanized unit for a chunky, tread-laden counterpart that creeps onto the upper with thick rubber foxing. Though it’ll function entirely different, there is a clever nod to the mainline lifestyle model via the middle third, pronounced towards the tip of the foot to allude to the OG hardware.

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From there, the upper still bears the sectioned body and similar eyestays and toe-cap. However, the foot entrance is radically changed. An inner bootie slides in on this silo, bearing a pull-tab for an easy in and out experience. That change is matched by an additional loop grafted onto the tongue.

For the Nike Blazer Mid Roam and its market debut, four colorways are on tap: blue on black, beige on white, all-black and a decidedly outdoorsy black on olive. Early indications is that the Blazer Mid Roam will land this Holiday season, retailing at $120. Take a look at all four outfits just ahead.

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