As Nike stocks plummet, the long-time global leader in athletic footwear seems to not be taking its own advice when it comes to “just doing it.” Since its founding in 1962, Nike’s popularity has been propelled by marketing campaigns and sponsorships of athletes who would later attain worldwide fame. The brand’s shoes are not only a staple on tracks, courts, and fields, but also an emblem of style and popular culture. While they will remain in every sneakerhead’s collection for years, the brand’s popularity, particularly its appeal to athletes, has noticeably decreased with an upsurge in more sport-specific shoes.
Many brands market their products for a specific sport, while Nike’s shoes are solely advertised as everyday sneakers or basketball shoes. For example, many runners have switched to On Clouds or HOKAs, volleyball players have switched to Avoli, and non-athletes have switched to more comfortable or “better-looking” shoes, such as Vans, Uggs, Converse, or Adidas.
“For volleyball, you need a lot of ankle support and [Avoli has] good insoles for jumping, and they look cool as well,” said girls volleyball Captain Pearl Agel ’25, who is one of many players who transferred to Avoli.
A budding new company created only last year, specifically catered to the needs of female volleyball players, Avoli shoes are made to support and cushion a player’s feet after powerful and repetitive jumps. Nike shoes, on the other hand, aren’t made with that in mind. In fact, basketball athletes jump four times less than volleyball players do, making basketball shoes — Nike’s forte — less viable in a competitive field.
Another competitor taking sales away from Nike is HOKA. HOKA One One, known simply as HOKA, is an athletic company geared towards runners. Their shoes have a lot of cushioning, making propulsion easier and bracing the foot’s impact when it hits the ground. Their high breathability is another reason so many athletes have made the switch to HOKA.
“I wear [HOKA shoes] because they work better for me as training shoes,” said cross country runner Mila Trkov ’27.
A problem that Nike seems to fall into is that their new models seem too similar to older models, or are just plain recolors. Seeing that aesthetics is a primary reason why people wear the shoes they do, Nike has become less desirable in the long run.
“I personally think [Converse shoes] are comfortable and look cooler,” said Eve Kavookjian ’27.
Although many people have switched from Nike to other brands that are more preferable to them, it is nowhere near gone or unpopular. Their shoes are still flooding the hallways of many schools, and customers of all ages are sure to be sporting the distinctive swoosh for years to come.