Review of the Nike Waffle Debut Men’s Shoe
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Introducing the Nike Waffle Debut Men’s Shoe review. A combination of new and old school, the Waffle sneaker were originally created to be lighter and faster than the competition. We’ll be giving our feedback on how the Nike waffle debut in white/black/summit white/white men’s shoe fit and look.
Jump To:
- History of the Nike Waffle Debut Men’s Shoe
- How do Nike Waffle Debut Fit
- How do Nike Waffle Debut look on feet
- Final Suggestions & Feedback
- Where to buy Nike Waffle Debut
History of the Nike Waffle Debut Men’s Shoe
According to Nike.com, the Waffle originated in 1971 by Nike cofounder Bill Bowerman. Allegedly he was watching his wife make waffles on a waffle iron and thats all it took for him to build out the first concept of the Nike Waffles. Phil Knight says it was one of most significat technological breakthroughs in Nike’s history in his book Shoe Dog. The sole design had similar grooves to a waffle machine. He wanted to build a training sneaker that was lighter and more comfortable than what was on the market. From there, Bowerman released the Waffle Trainer in 1974 and since then various versions of the Nike Waffle have been released, including the Nike Waffle One, Nike Waffle Trainer 2, and the Nike Waffle Debut. The Nike Waffle Debut was released in 2022 so we’ll review how they fit and look on feet.
Featured Product:
Size: 10.5
Color: White/Summit White/White/Black
Other Nike waffle debut colors: White/Light Orewood Brown/Volt/University Blue, Black/Orange/Clear/White, Phantom/Old Royal/Smoke Grey/Habanero Red, Boarder Blue/Sanded Gold/Atomic Green/Mystic Navy, Grey Fog/Light Smoke Grey/White/White, White/Clear/Black/Orange
How do the Nike Waffle Debut fit?
Pros
- Very light weight
- The nylon is flexible and easy to clean
- The unique foam tongue is light and comfortable
- The waffles on the outsole are fairly large so it gives you a little extra height
- A lot of midsole cushioning
Cons
- After a few wears I noticed my toes were a bit sore. Not true to size. Recommend getting half a size up
- Took a about three wears to break in
- Like any shoe with suede, it can be difficult to clean
- The foam tongue can be prone to staining
- Crease and wrinkle fairly easily
How do Nike Waffle Debut Look On Feet
- The oversized Nike swoosh takes up the majority of the siding and wraps around the back
- The swoosh logo wraps around the heel for a unique pull tab thats helpful for taking these shoes on and off
- Clean combination with nylon and suede design
- The lower white layer is thick and wide which makes is super easy to clean. If you get a layer up into the suede material it will be more difficult to clean
- The foam tongue + the woven tongue logo gives it a clean retro look
- The waffle outsole comes up about an inch to the front of the shoe.
- Goes great with jeans, khakis, joggers/sweatpants, or traveler pants
- Widely available for purchase
Nike waffle debut outfit ideas
Nike Waffle Debut on feet worn with Joggers
Nike Waffle Debut on feet worn with Jeans
Nike Waffle Debut on feet worn with Khaki Pants
Nike Waffle Debut on feet worn with baggier pants
Nike Waffle Debut for Walking
The Nike Waffle Debut are good for walking but you need to get half a size up and break in the shoe. If you have walking commutes to work, know that the shoe takes a few wears to properly break in. The waffle outsole gives great traction and the thick foam midsole offers a lot of cushioning. I haven’t ran with the Nike Waffle Debut but they would suffice for the gym if you’re doing basic weights and non aerobic workouts.
Final Suggestions & Feedback
Nike Waffle Debut for the Office: Recommend. They are definitely more of an athletic/trainer look but they can go with pretty much any type of pants. Also great for walking and any commute. Just remember to order a size up since they’ll be a little snug around the toe. The Nike Waffle Debut’s are not the best for client visits or presentations since they fall more on the sporty side vs. formal
Nike Waffle Debut for casual outting: Recommend. As noted above the Waffle Debut’s go well with jeans, khakis, etc so they are good to go for any casual setting.
Nike Waffle Debut for the lounging: Highly recommend. They go well with any pair of joggers or sweatpants and will give off a very athletic look.
