Pro-Direct Select present classic reissues of the trainers that changed the face of running. Featuring the Nike Cortez from 1972 these lightweight, remastered icons pay tribute to the past and pave the way for the future.

In 1972 one of the co-founders of Nike Bill Bowerman realised the need for a well cushioned shoe that would be able to withstand the punishment of 100 miles per week. The Nike Cortez was Bowerman's answer to this and was also the first Nike trainer to sport the iconic swoosh. The shoe completely changed the face of running and had such a strong reaction that people said it felt like running on the moon.

The Nike Cortez was a revolutionary design at a time before people had access to computers, mobile phones or the internet. Bowerman had successfully designed a running icon which cast a fast-moving shadow across the running world for years to come and helped fuel the explosive growth of Nike as a Sports brand.

The key to grasping the importance of the Cortez model within Nike's history lies in understanding the technical prowess this shoe had. The Cortez was the first ever sports shoe to have a double-density intermediary sole for extra comfort and enhanced shock absorption.