Nike Lunarlon Sneakers: Like a Walk on the Moon
Nike is known for innovation, and its search for an innovative cushioning foam in the early 2000s created Nike Lunarlon. It started with a question for Nike designers Kevin Hoffer, in Nike’s running shoes group, and Eric Avar, a basketball shoe guru: could they find a material that provided both cushiony softness and a springy bounce? They were inspired by watching videos of astronauts walking on the moon. They wanted to find something with that gravity-defying lightness and bounce.
Which shoes first used Lunarlon cushioning?
The year was 2008, and Lunarlon was a breakthrough in the shoe market. Nike produced two shoes with the new material, the Hyperdunk Lunarlon and the LunaRacer. The Hyperdunk made a splash at the Beijing Olympics. Kobe Bryant, the captain of the “Redeem Team,” wore the shoes in the United States' gold medal victory. Soon everyone wanted a pair of Nike Hyperdunk Lunarlon shoes. It became a flagship shoe for Nike. The LunaRacer was worn at the 2008 Olympics as well, and the lightweight bounce made suitable for runners. Since that time, there have been four models of the LunaRacer.
What styles of shoes have Nike Lunarlon?
Nike didn't stop with the two 2008 models; the new cushioning technology became featured in most of Nike's athletic comfort shoes. Lunarlon was Nike's signature foam between 2008 and 2017, so you'll find it in a variety of shoes across several categories. Lunarlon has provided its characteristic buoyancy for running trainers, high-top basketball sneakers, low-top basketball sneakers, cross training shoes, and more. Many Converse shoe models use Lunarlon as well (Nike has owned Converse since 2003).
What materials are Nike Lunarlon sneakers made of?
Nike's team of designers and chemical engineers went through a lot of trial and error until they found something unexpected: a substance that had been previously discarded in the back of the Nike Advanced Material Interest Group’s closet. This material combined ethylene vinyl acetate, which was very lightweight, with nitrile rubber, which was very bouncy. They named the material Lunarlon as a nod to the weightless and bouncy way astronauts walk on the moon. It's the Lunarlon material that is used to create these shock-absorbing shoes.
Nike employs a lot of other materials for its Lunarlon shoes, too. Uppers are made of Flyknit, canvas, leather, or synthetic leather. Nike's main production components are polyester, cotton, eva foam, rubber, synthetic leather, and leather.
Which sports has Nike produced Lunarlon shoes for?
Nike uses Lunarlon in shoes geared toward a variety of sports, including running, basketball, tennis, golf, baseball, and soccer. Recent models of Nike shoes using Lunarlon include the following:
- Nike Premier 2 TF, an artificial turf soccer shoe
- Mamba Fury, a basketball shoe
- Nike Renew Run, a running shoe
- Nike Owaysis, a sandal
- Nike Premier 2 Sala 1C, an indoor/court soccer shoe
- Nike Joyride Run Flyknit, a running shoe
- Nike Vapor Street PEG, a comfort athletic shoe
- Nike Air Zoom Vomero 13, a running shoe
- Nike Roshe G Tour, a golf shoe
- Nike Alpha Huarache Elite 2 Turf, a baseball cleat
What are the main features of Nike Lunarlon shoes?
Nike uses Lunarlon cushioning in a wide variety of shoes, but one of the main features it provides is lightness. The foam is very lightweight, which gives athletes more springiness and a natural-foot feel. The first models of shoes using Lunarlon were only 13 ounces. Since then, Nike has created even lighter shoes, notably the Flyknit Lunar 3 at 8.8 ounces, the Zoom Fly at 8.75 ounces, and the LunaRacer 4 at 6 ounces.
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