All About Shoes
By Cole Morton
Shoes are an everyday necessity for many people, although preferences vary. Some choose to wear sandals, sneakers, while others may not wear any shoes at all. A wide range of sneaker brands is available, with notable names including New Balance, Nike, and Adidas. Let's take a closer look at some of the biggest sneaker brands.
Nike is the most popular sneaker brand globally and the largest athletic company, known for its iconic slogan, "Just Do It." Founded in Eugene and Springfield, Oregon, Nike began with former Olympian and University of Oregon Track Coach Bill Bowerman, who created a running shoe using a waffle iron to shape its rubber sole. Phil Knight initially sold these shoes from the back of his car during track meets at Hayward Field. Originally named "Blue Ribbon," the company became Nike in 1968, named after the Greek goddess of victory. This partnership led to the rise of a major sports and fitness empire. Today, Nike produces some of the most appealing shoes, including the Air Jordan 1s, 3s, 4s, and 11s. The brand boasts celebrity endorsements from top athletes such as LeBron James, Serena Williams, and Tiger Woods.
New Balance was established as the New Balance Arch Support Company in 1906 by William J. Riley, an English immigrant residing in Boston, Massachusetts. Inspired by the way chickens walked in his backyard, Riley designed a flexible arch support featuring three support points. By 1960, these arch supports had become popular among athletes, leading to the creation of the first New Balance sneaker, the Trackster. Released in 1961 and initially made in the Kidd family home, the Trackster was the first running shoe with a rippled sole for traction. This shoe became a popular choice among track and cross-country athletes in Massachusetts. New Balance has partnered with several prominent athletes, including NBA stars Kawhi Leonard, Tyrese Maxey, and Cooper Flagg, tennis champion Coco Gauff, and MLB star Shohei Ohtani.
Adidas originated in a laundry room, where Adi Dassler and his brother initially set up the 'Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik' (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory) in 1924. Adi Dassler focused on providing athletes with the best equipment possible. On August 18, 1949, at the age of 49, he founded the 'Adolf Dassler adidas Sportschuhfabrik' (translated as Sports Shoe Factory) and introduced the famous Adidas 3-Stripes design. Adidas is also known for its high-profile endorsement deals, including NBA star Derrick Rose, NFL stars Travis Hunter and Patrick Mahomes, and soccer stars Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham, and Pedri González. The brand is particularly recognized as a leading choice in soccer footwear.
In 1908, Marquis Mills launched the “Converse Rubber Shoe Company” in Malden, Massachusetts. The first Converse “All-Star” was an elite basketball shoe. Thirteen years later, Chuck Taylor, a player from the Akron Firestones, joined Converse. His name can be seen on the All-Star logo. Taylor was part of the USA’s 1963 Olympic basketball team, which significantly boosted Converse's popularity. The iconic Chuck Taylor shoe debuted in 1917. Currently, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) has an endorsement deal with Converse. Nike acquired Converse for approximately $305 million in 2003.
In my opinion, Nike offers the best style, although its shoes often lack comfort. For instance, I really like the Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 ‘Pine Green’—it’s a shoe I would love to own. According to the people I’ve talked to, they said, “Converse shoes are comfortable, but they’re not ideal to wear for a long time.” I think the classic Chuck Taylors are really nice. As for New Balance, I believe it is the best brand for a combination of comfort and style. I particularly love the 9060 model; they are very comfortable and come in a variety of appealing colorways. Thank you for reading this article! I hope I have given you ideas on different sneaker brands to choose fro
Citations
Carlson, Debbie. “Nike, Inc.” Britannica, 14 Aug. 2025, www.britannica.com/money/Nike-Inc.
“History - Adidas Group.” Adidas, 2023, www.adidas-group.com/en/about/history#1900-1949.
Smith, James. “New Balance: Brand History, Philosophy, and Iconic Products.” Heddels, 29 July 2019,www.heddels.com/2019/07/new-balance-brand-history-philosophy-iconic-products.
“The History of Nike in Eugene and Springfield.” Www.eugenecascadescoast.org,
www.eugenecascadescoast.org/explore/history-culture-museums/tracktown-usa/birthplae-of-nike/.
https://theaggie.org/2023/05/17/the-history-of-converse/
https://www.britannica.com/money/Adidas-AG
