Do you know the name of the running shoes you are wearing? Why is it called this name?
Naming is a science. "It sounds good, is easy to remember, and has a meaning" are the criteria for a good name. The same principle applies to a pair of running shoes.
Because many of the running shoes we wear are designed and produced abroad, sometimes we only know their names and don’t know what their code names mean. But I don't know why. Even domestic brands sometimes like to use uncommon words to name their names, which makes people look confused.
So today I will simply share with you the origins of the names of several running shoes.
Pegasus is translated as "Pegasus" or "Pegasus", which originates from Greek mythology. It refers to the winged horse in mythology. It is all white and is the symbol of Medusa and Poseidon, the god of the sea. Born in winter, as a character he is also literally translated as Pegasus. Pegasus can also refer to the Pegasus constellation in the sky.
Pegasus was the first pair of shoes equipped with Air Wedge air cushion. Nike’s October 1982 product catalog stated, “The cushioning performance of Air Wedge air cushion is relatively "The embedded EVA material has been improved." Because it was designed as a semi-air cushion shape, the designers headed by Mark Parker immediately imagined wearing this shoe as if they were able to control the wind with nothingness, so they drew inspiration from Greek mythology. The romantic name Pegasus was selected, which symbolizes rhythm, speed and the desire to soar in the sky.
Nike still likes to find inspiration from mythology. As we all know, the name "Nike" comes from the Greek goddess of victory.
Perhaps in the minds of many people, the experience that a pair of top running shoes can bring is "like flying". Nike designers are no exception, and they have always cherished a "flying dream".
"Vaporfly" is obviously a compound word. "Vapor" refers to steam and "Fly" means flying. If you have to give it a Chinese name, you can call it "Flying on steam" is a reference to "flying on water" and "flying on grass". Wearing it is equivalent to having the light skill of flying over eaves and walking over walls, and walking on snow without leaving a trace.
Vaporfly Elite
Then there is Vaporfly 4%, which is generally called "4%" by domestic runners. ". 4% is a figure derived from a comparative experiment by the R&D team - this pair of shoes can save 4% of energy consumption compared to other brands of top racing running shoes. Facts have proved that Nike is not exaggerating. Once the Vaporfly shoes were launched, they dominated the marathon like a charm. In the 6 Grand Slam tournaments in 2017, 7 champions, 6 runner-ups, and 6 third-places (including men's and women's categories) were won wearing 4%.
Vaporfly 4%
If the naming of “4%” is very scientific and practical, then “Next%” This name has a bit more of an imaginative flavor, symbolizing countless possibilities. In the words of Sir Mo Farah, “Every athlete is racing against time, seeking the next 1% breakthrough. Maybe this next 1% is just one step away from victory, and it helps you break through your limits and go further. The key” (quoted from the documentary monologue that Nike filmed for Sir Mo before the London Marathon last year).
Mo Farah&Vaporfly NEXT%
Those who have already reserved Throne, the new work of the Vaporfly series, Alphafly Next%, are also "flying" Generational. The specific origin of the name is not available for the time being, but we can guess that Alpha is the Greek letter ?, which represents "the beginning, the beginning." So perhaps Nike means that this is another pair of epoch-making running shoes that will usher in a new era.
The full name of Adios is adidas adizero Adios. It looks like it has obsessive-compulsive disorder and sounds like a tongue twister. Domestic runners give it the nickname "Adios", probably because we friends often make jokes to each other. Nicknames of a nature actually express affection. Although it sounds a bit unpleasant, it will not shake the historical status of this shoe at all.
The latest Adios Pro
In 2004, adidas set the goal of “creating new running shoes that redefine speed”. Adidas launched the adizero through the hands of legendary Japanese running shoe designer Toshiaki Omori. "zero (zero/0)" represents the "zero gravity" banner of adidas, indicating that the weight of this pair of shoes is extremely light and can greatly increase speed. , but still very comfortable to wear. "Adios" is a Spanish colloquial word, which means "goodbye, byebye". Of course, we don't know whether this "goodbye" is directed at the opponent who has been left behind, or is directed at being broken by oneself. Speaking of the record, and to a certain extent, I chose this word because I wanted to play a word game - anyway, if it starts with "adi", it will be pleasing to the eye and easy to pronounce.
Haile wore Adios when she broke the world record
In September 2008, Haile Gebrselassie won the first prize of adizero Adios. The next day, he said goodbye to the old world record at the Berlin Marathon, adding a legendary color to this pair of shoes.
In 1993, Kayano Toshikazu, a designer who had been working at the ASICS headquarters in Kobe, Japan for 5 years, received a secret mission to create a pair of multi-functional "top running shoes". The requirement was that it It can support runners in long-distance running outdoors and can also be effective in indoor gym training. Kayano Toshikazu, who has previously designed basketball shoes, volleyball shoes, and running shoes, is considered the most suitable designer for this task.
Kayano and his KAYANO
He finally got design inspiration from nature. Growing up in the countryside, he has always Favored by natural scenery, he thought of the stag beetle, an aggressive insect with a unique structure, strong body and fast movement. Combining the design concept of the staghorn insect with the most high-end ASICS technology at the time, the first generation of ASICS GEL-KAYANO running shoes was born. ASICS, who was quite satisfied with the work, also decided to name this pair of shoes after the designer.
The retro-turned-fashionable GEL-KAYANO 5 OG
Facts have proved that once the shoe was launched, it immediately received a lot of attention from the market The response was enthusiastic, and in the future, it became ASCIS's long-lasting flagship shoe series.
In the late 1990s, running shoe giants like Nike and ASICS had been working on making running shoes with stronger cushioning performance, so the former came up with Air cushions and the latter developed Gel Technology. If MIZUNO wanted to stand out, it had to find another way, so their research and development direction turned to "how to make running shoes give runners a driving force to move forward." Under this opportunity, MIZUNO WAVE technology came into being.
The first generation Wave Rider
The name "WAVE" is not just because it is made into the shape of a wave , and also because its foot feels like stepping on the waves. The waves are constantly rolling and pushing you forward. Then stepping on the waves, isn't it a "Wave Rider"? Moreover, the word also has a pun meaning, "people who are on the forefront of the trend", in other words, "people who are on the trend", people who are leading the wave. This name also reveals MIZUNO's aggressive ambition.
MIZUNO’s brochure of that year, the left is the first generation WAVE RIDER
There are many running shoe brands that have no silly tricks in their names. Basically, you can roughly understand the meaning just by looking at the name, such as Brook.
The flagship model officially certified by Brooks is the Adrenaline. Adrenaline means "adrenaline", a hormone secreted by the human body that can provide the body with more energy and enable faster response. It has been scientifically proven that our body secretes this hormone during exercise.
In the expectations of Brooks designers, this shoe is a pair of masterpieces that can make runners extremely excited and adrenaline surge, or let us understand it differently - it Just like adrenaline, it can make runners who wear it more excited and run faster.
The first generation of Adrenaline GTS
Adrenaline series of shoes generally have a "GTS" suffix. It is the "Go-To-Shoe", which is probably the "facade", "flagship", "core" and "preferred" shoe style. The birth of the Adrenaline series has indeed brought new vitality to the old Brooks brand.
What’s more interesting is that another well-known American running shoe brand, Saucony, has a running shoe named “Endorphin”, which is another kind of endorphin secreted by the human body. Hormones, the idea of ??naming them should be similar.
Using compound words, making puns, finding inspiration from mythology, and making articles from minor languages. Naming shoes is also a science. The design team must also rack their brains when naming. A good name that is catchy, has a unique meaning, and is impressive will make people curious about, and even have a good impression of, this pair of shoes.
Like domestic running shoes, they are either named after famous horses, such as "Red Rabbit" or "Chasing the Wind", or they are difficult to deal with uncommon words. For example, Li Ning launched last year Feidian's shoe sole technology "?" was originally the name of the shoe, and it really shocked the runners who didn't know the word. I believe that when choosing the name, the design team also looked through the dictionary.
There are many running shoe brands, and their branches and series are difficult to exhaust at one time. Today’s list only lists a few of the more well-known pairs of shoes. There is a special story behind the birth of each pair. Just by looking at the name, you know they are extraordinary.