New Balance Rated Number 1 220, 305, Trackster III and Supercomp 1977 vintage sneaker ad

Here’s an old school ad from 1977 for New Balance featuring their 220, 305, Trackster III and Supercomp model running shoes.

Ad info is below:

RATED NUMBER 1

Runner's World Magazine recently rated the New Balance 320 first among all training shoes on the market. In fact, New Balance placed three models in the top seven. That's because our running shoes keep you fit. Our unique width sizes fit virtually every foot and provide maximum lateral support. Our instep saddle adds longitudinal support and eliminates the need for constrictive lacing to the toe. Our flared heel adds solid stability, and our beveled midsole provides a more natural rolling motion, midsole to toe. And our soft, lined uppers and fully protective soles give all the comfort you need to enhance performance.

Even before Runner's World confirmed it, running experts were already calling our 320 "the best training shoe ever made.” Designed by runners for runners, the 320 has a wedge/midsole combination of thick Softee cushioning, a flared heel and molded plastic counter for maximum cushioning and great lateral stability, our super-protective Achilles tendon pad, and a leather-reinforced nylon upper to encase your foot in a nearly frictionless environment. It's the ultimate training shoe. Men and women, 3' AA to 1SEEE, in Royal blue with white trim or gold with blue trim.

220 Rated seventh by Runner's World. our 220 features a unique wedge incorporating two 18-Iron layers of Softee cushioning. The rounded heel provides maximum cushioning on heel strike, and the full midsole protects both the ball of the foot and the metatarsal head area. Maximum traction on all surfaces comes from our lightweight, extremely durable "octopus" sole. Men and women. 31/2AA to I5EEE. in Royal blue with while trim.

305 Rated third by Runners World is our tough but lightweight 305. It’s just as solidly put together and durable as the 320. but we've reduced the protective cushioning a bit to make the 305 light enough for racing too…. perfect fit and comfort features as the 320. same flared heel and Achilles tendon pad. Same heel-elevating Softee wedge and "sprint" sole for maximum traction. Our ideal combination shoe. the 305 works for training and competition both. Men and women. 31/2AA to 15 EEE. in Royal blue with yellow trim. (New sole and cosmetics available late spring.)

Trackster III The most protective of all training shoes, our Trackster has been a favorite more than a decade. Its molded Ripple sole absorbs up to … percent of road shock, while the unique foxing construction provides better lateral stability. Our Achilles tendon pad prevents strain and chafing it … another way, our foot-conforming soft suede upper Men and Women AAA to EEE, in Royal blue with white trim.

SuperComp Our hot new bright-colored SuperComp looks and performs better than ever. The soft, ultra-comfortable upper and exceptional light weight (under 7 ounces) combine with our unique width sizing to give you a glovelike perfect fit. Maximum performance is assured with out traction-enhancing -*brush" sore and solidly protective wedge/midsote combination and full cushioning under the ball of the foot. Our SuperComp is a feast for the eyes and a treat for your feet. Men and women. 31/4AA to 15EEE, in sunburst yellow, burnt orange and flare red (Available late spring )

NB
new balance athletic shoes usa

38-42 Everett Street Boston. Massachusetts 02134

Saucony Scat and Dove 1977 three stripe vintage sneaker ad

Nope, not adidas. In our last post we posted some 3 stripe vintage Sears the Winner II sneakers and today we're back with another 3 stripe pair of runners, this time from Saucony. This ad is from 1977 for their Scat and Dove model Women's running and track shoes. This original vintage Saucony print ad is available at our web store Rewind Running.

Ad info is below:

Ladies’ First.

SCAT women's track shoe, rated first by Runner's World in 1977.

DOVE women's training shoe, rated first by Runner's World in 1976.

Saucony Scat is the top-ranked women's spiked shoe because it's specifically designed for the woman runner. It's not just an adaptation of our popular men's Speedstar, or any other model in our full line of men's track shoes. The Scat's uppers are soft, well-padded blue nylon. The bottom, with a small heel lift, is suited for both sprints and distance running. Heel and ankle collars are well-padded for comfort. And the chevron-claw spike plate with seven receptacles is a Saucony exclusive. Dove, the top-ranked women's training shoe for 1976, has a flared heel and suction cup traction sole. The tongue and quarter are fully padded. The Dove's uppers are lightweight, soft, white nylon with color-coordinated blue trim. You know how important good shoes are for comfort and performance. So remember the name. Saucony. Top-ranked women's shoes for training and competition at a lower price than any ranked shoe, regardless of category.

We're out in front. And we're going to stay there.

saucony

SHOE MFG. CO., INC

A Subsidiary of Hyde Athletic Industries, Inc. 12 Peach St., Kutztown, PA 19530 (215) 683-8711

Sears 1977 Catalog featuring The Winner II four stripe runners

This is not an advertisement but instead from the 1977 Sears Fall catalog. It features Sears ‘The Winner II’ casuals, some SL72-ish four stripe runners similar to what Dale Earnhardt Sr. used to wear and some Diadora-ish looking sneakers.

Catalog info is below:

ATHLETIC SHOES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

The WINNER II . . imported sports shoe

SO WELL CONSTRUCTED IT’S WORTH TAKING a closer look

Treaded sole for great traction

High-rise sole protect counter and toe against wear

Built-up arch area for firm support

Lined, padded tongue, sueded split-leather eyelet band

Padded topline for comfort
Vinyl uppers

Nylon Uppers

Durable sueded split-leather uppers

Reebok 1977 vintage sneaker ad

Here's an old school 1977 vintage sneaker ad for the World Ten, Cougar and Marathon model kicks by Reebok. The bullet points say that the World Ten has the "The green kid upper" and I'm trying to figure out what in the world that means. I like this retro Reebok font, it reminds me of old school Atari video game fonts from back in the day, and it's also interesting that their side profile logo only had a single stripe back then and it looks like the Cougar model has no stripe at all. If you want to check out a couple of other vintage Reebok models I posted some ads here and here.

Ad info is below:

Reebok 
MADE IN ENGLAND 

REINTRODUCING THE FAMOUS 

WORLD TEN 
Probably the World's most exclusive Marathon shoe. (Average shoe weight 5 oz.).

• Boston winner in record time

• Olympic, European and Commonwealth Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winner

• The green kid upper is fully lined and strengthened with anti-roll side patches The World Ten has a cushion mid-sole and long wear outer cover with cushion heel wedge and is beautifully balanced with glove-like fitting.

$32.25

Plus $1.00 Handling

MARATHON 
Super soft white cow hide trimmed in blue / orange with anti-roll side patches. deep cushion mid-sole. heel wedge and high traction long wearing outersole. A go anywhere shoe that gives a smooth eventread. 

$26.75

Plus $1.00 Handling

COUGAR
Blue nylon 3/4 lined with suede support at toe and around the heel. A superb nylon trainer flat with the same sole as the Marathon. Both shoes are fitted with arch supports and long wear innersocks.

$25.60

Plus $1.00 Handling

STEP INTO BRITAINS LEADING ATHLETIC SHOE SEND FOR YOURS TODAY 
BRADFORD DISTRIBUTORS CORP. P.O.BOX 356
HUNTINGDON VALLEY P.A. 19006

AREA DISTRIBUTORS
We Require Distributors in The South, Midwest, Northwest. and Southwest States. For Full Details Write To Reebok International Ltd. Bolton Rd. Bury, Lancs. England.

PONY Racer I VSD vintage sneaker ad

Here's another track and field coach ad, this time Jim Bush of UCLA fame in 1978, endorsing the PONY Racer I VSD.

Ad info is below:

NORTH AMERICA'S WINNINGEST TRACK AND FIELD COACH SAYS, "PONY MAKES THE BEST RUNNING SHOES FOR MY ATHLETES". 

"The hard facts are there. By every objective standard, PONY running shoes are the best I've worn, tested and approved for my athletes in 25 years." That' s Jim Bush, head track and field coach at UCLA talking about the most advanced running shoes on the market today. Anatomically and bio-mechanically developed, and scientifically tested, this new generation of PONY running shoes represents a quantum leap in safety and comfort for runners. The heart of these great new shoes is their sole. The PONY VSD sole (Patent Pending) insures optimal shock absorption, pronation and forward motion at the ball of the foot. This is achieved through specially designed nipples on heel for maximum shock absorption; special treads for increased traction and natural transfer of forward energy as runner pushes off; and specially contoured nipples designed to absorb initial shock and promote natural pronation of foot. In total, the PONY VSD sole has created a new efficiency for runners, and, unquestionably, is the standard by which other high performance shoes will be measured. 

THE PONY RACER I VSD (PATENT PENDING) Revolutionary variable sole design conceived through computerized biomechanical techniques. Ultra-cool and light weight. Excellent durability under dynamic conditions.

PONY
Canada’s Shoe

Puma Easy Rider 1977 vintage sneaker ad

This week I'll post some of the 'Track Coach endorsement' ads. After Nike and Bill Bowerman became a model of success other footwear brands began finding track coaches to use as part of their marketing and advertising materials. This ad for the Puma Easy Rider running shoe is from 1977 and features Don Riggs who was the distance running coach at San Jose State University. Don is all about the 'toe-off' advantage in this ad.

​Ad info is below:

Who makes the best jogging shoe? 

by Don Riggs The distance-running coach at San Jose State University examines the new Puma® 'Easy Rider: 

Distance-running coach Don Riggs.

A startling find.

I've tested every major brand of jogging shoe and I've come to a pretty startling discovery: Puma is the only one that toes-off properly— that bends the right way under the ball of your foot. Only one other brand comes even close. Is this important? You'd better know it! Improper toe-off can lead to all kinds of foot and leg problems. But don't take my word for the way Puma toes-off. You can test it for yourself. Grab hold of the new 'Easy Rider' and bend the sole (see photo-graph). The bend is exactly where the foot bends, at the head of the metatarsal, and it's rounded the way your foot is rounded. Now try the same thing with other shoes. Some bend too sharply. Some bend in the wrong place altogether. I've even found shoes that bend right in the middle, which can tear the heck out of your metatarsal. 

Puma is the only big-name shoe that toes-off properly, says Riggs. 

A 1,000-mile sole?

The sole on the new 'Easy Rider' is going to make a few people sit up and take notice. Look closely and you'll see it's covered with rows of truncated cones— in two different heights. The tall cones give you traction and help to cushion impact and insulate your foot from surface heat. The comfort is fantastic, but that's only half the story. When you run, the tall cones are squashed down. This is when the short cones come into play. They're placed where the greatest wear occurs in a shoe — at the heel. They act like firm little bumpers to keep the tall cones from mashing down and wearing out too fast. Going by the three years of testing I've done — and this depends, of course, on weight, running surface, and how hard you run — don't be surprised if you rack up a thousand miles on this sole. 

The 'Easy Rider' sole. Note the two different heights of the cones. 

Beware of mushy counters.

Another way to spot a first-class jogging shoe is by checking the counter— which is what they call the part that surrounds your heel. You take a poor shoe and push against the side or back of the counter with your thumb. You'll find it's soft and mushy. When it breaks down, your heel is going to start wobbling around in there, which can cause anything from shinsplints to knee problems. Avoid this kind of shoe like the plague. Now try the same test with the 'Easy Rider: The counter is strong, firm (like the photograph shows ). It holds and protects the cal-caneus (or heel bone) and its muscle group all the way down. I like the way Puma pays careful attention to details like this. 

The 'Easy Rider' stays firm when you push here. A poor shoe is soft and mushy. 

Should you wear Puma?

Run your hand around the inside of an 'Easy Rider' and you won't find a rough edge anywhere. Look at the nylon outside and you'll see why the rate of breakdown is so phenomenally low on Puma: all the stretch points are reinforced with leather. That kind of careful thinking goes into all the other new Puma jogging-running shoes: the soft-leather `Stud' with its ventilating holes... the less-expensive `Rocket:.. the 9191 'Pavement Jogger' with its tradi-tional herringbone sole ...and the 'Whirlwind: built on the Puma spike last for cross-country competition and interval training. I'll tell you the same thing I tell my athletes: A good shoe can make a difference in how you run. If you take pride in what you're doing, you've earned the right to wear Puma. You've earned your stripe. 

The new Puma Easy Rider: 

PUMA
You've earned your stripe

UPDATE:

We recently covered the style changes to the Puma Easy Rider model in our Le Coq Sportif blog post because their Quartz model sneaker is along the same lines as the Easy Riders in this ad. You can see the differences here:

Converse World Class 1977 vintage sneaker ad

Here's a cool old school 1977 vintage ad for the Converse 'World Class' trainer running shoes. 

Ad info is below:

Converse World Class: Available in 4 color combinations. And now, in women's sizes. 

Converse World Class Trainers now come in four color combinations for men. And our original Blue and White style is now available in specially designed women's sizes. And these are not just scaled down men's shoes, but running shoes specifically designed for a woman's foot and running style. All offer you great Converse performance with the distinctive star and chevron look. Try on a pair for yourself. Discover how comfort and style combine to make a running shoe with class. Converse World ClassTM 

CONVERSE
THE SHOES OF THE STARS
an Eltra Company

Tred 2 vintage sneaker resoling print ad from 1977

Prior to making high quality running shoes Tred 2 cut their teeth in footwear by repairing old running shoes. Rory Fuerst, who began Tred 2, now is the CEO of Keen.

Ad info is below:

Tred 2 1977 vintage sneaker print ad

Tred 2 makes the difference.

Before. 👟 After. 👟

Over 300,000 tennis, running, and athletic shoe owners have relied upon Tred 2 to turn their worn out "befores" into totally rebuilt "afters:' Our factory remanufacturing process includes new soles, new arch support and inner soles, new laces, and repair of cracks and tears. All for just $13.95. So instead of throwing them away, send them to Tred 2. You'll get them back just like new, but already broken in.

Tred 2, Inc.,
Dept. 100,
2510 Channing Avenue
San Jose, CA 951

PONY Roadrunner vintage sneaker ad from 1977

Here’s a cool old school 70s vintage sneaker ad for the PONY Roadrunner running shoe.

The PONY Roadrunner.
👟
Designed to go faster than the fastest feet!

A bold claim? Perhaps. But there isn't a running shoe made that is more scientifically tested for endurance and comfort than the Roadrunner. It's designed to help you go as fast and as far as you can...and then some! So the next time you look at a beautiful pair of PONY Roadrunners, remember you're also looking at the fastest shoes made. Check these superb features.

● Nipple outsole designed for maximum shock absorption at each step.

● Overall design insures perfect rotation of the foot —from initial contact of the outer edge of the foot through the push off on the ball.

● Designed with wide contoured heel for increased protection when foot strikes the ground.

● Super lightweight nylon upper affords unique support and protection.

Available now at fine sporting goods dealers everywhere.

PONY
A STEP AHEAD
251 Park Ave.
South New York 10010, N.Y.

Etonic KM Street Fighter 1977 vintage sneaker ad

Etonic shoe company dates way back to 1876 when Charles A. Eaton opened a shoe factory in Brockton, MA. By 1915 the brand was one of the largest shoe manufacturers and was producing shoes and boots for WW I. In 1945 they began producing golf shoes and by the 1970's they moved into high quality running shoes during the “Running Boom” era. The ad above is from 1977 and is for their "Street Fighter" sneaker.

Ad info is below:

Street Fighter

Introducing more protection for pavement pounders. Every time your foot hits the hard road you experience forces up to 3 times your body weight. So, obviously, the more forces your shoes can absorb the less you must contend with. Bring on the Street Fighter. The newest model in the Etonic/km series. We recently performed bio-mechanical research comparing the shock absorbing capacity of ours and other leading shoes. Based on the findings of that study Street Fighter was developed for top performance.

What did it? The thickened heel and ball , increased shock absorbency by 20%. Yet, because of a new sole make-up it's actually lighter.

Also, the unique Dr. Rob Roy McGregor one-piece heel and arch Etonic/km support pushes your natural padding under your foot where it will further reduce force at impact.

Plus, Street Fighter incorporates a new, more abrasion resistant outer sole for increased mileage, with the many other fine features of the Etonic/km series. Hit the road in Street Fighters. 

Etonic/km
Running Shoes by Eaton

Etonic km will be sponsoring the 1977 New York City Marathon
Charles A. Eaton Co.. Brockton. MA 02403. A member of the Colgate Sports Group of Company

Onitsuka Tiger 1977 Enduro vintage sneaker ad

Onitsuka Tiger 1977 Enduro 🔥 vintage sneaker ad featuring the "aggressive 'Tuf Trak' sole." In recent years Onitsuka has brought this sneaker back as the EDR 78.

Ad info is below:

The All Terrain Training Shoe... 

Across the fields...down the road. Wherever you run, the Tiger Enduro is the all terrain shoe built to take it! The aggressive "Tuf Trak" sole design utilizes 16 round and 97 cross shaped, irregularly arranged cletes for superior gripping action in sand, mud or pavement. The durable, "Tuf Trak" sole turns up at the toe, and wraps around the back of the flared heel for maximum traction and performance. The high density rubber mid-sole virtually eliminates leg shock and achilles tendon strain. The cushioned inner sole and tall molded heel collar give support and comfort for long workouts. The lightweight ENDURO features breathable nylon mesh uppers with re-enforced suede leather heel and toe. If you run in the rough, get the shoe that's built to take it. Tiger is known for its durability. Ask your sports shoe dealer for the Tiger Enduro.

Tiger SPORT SHOES

Vintage 1977 Karhu 'Marathon' sneaker ad

KARHU—MARATHON--TRAINING SHOE
#2323
THE FINEST, THE GREATEST, THE BEST NYLON UPPER TRAINING SHOE EVER MADE. 

That's really boasting, and we sure mean it. Lightweight, extra durable—soft leather reinforced along sides, front and back of heel. 34" rubber heel pad—Tapering under arch and front. Tough wearing sole brought up back of shoe. Cushioned rubber insole and arch. Orange color. Nylon. Black trim. Sizes 3 to 13. Almost 1000 pairs shipped in 8 weeks without a complaint. Only praise. Regardless of ratings, WE still believe, as well as over 2000 runners, that the Karhu 2323 nylon shoe is the finest shoe made today for marathon training, jogging, etc., etc. 

OUR PRICE $27.50
ADD $1.25 PER PAIR FOR SERVICE CHARGES. 
CARLSEN IMPORT SHOE CORP. 524 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10012

Kinney shoe store 1977 NBA vintage sneaker print ad

Here’s a Kinney shoe store print ad for their 1977 NBA vintage sneakers. If you want to see an actual pair of these ultra rare upside down swoosh logo sneakers we posted a pair for sale here.

Ad info is below:

🏀🎾👟⚽

If you buy an athletic shoe by name, remember this one.

Kinney NBA.

Kinney NBA. A great name in sports joins forces with a great name in footwear. And the result is quality. NBA athletic shoes have most of the same features you'd expect from a high-priced label. Full arch support, reinforced stress points, wrap-around heel and toe protection, padded tongue and heel. But they're priced far less. So get ready for action. Step into a pair of Kinney NBA's. With two great names on the same label, you can't go wrong.

Kinney
The Great American Shoe Store

Sears the Winner II 1977 vintage sneaker ad

The W1nner II

IMPORTED SPORT SHOE

Super Style For Trackin' & Truckin'

🤜🏾👟🤛🏼

Split suede over choice of nylon or vinyl. Padded tongue and collar for comfort. Full cushioned insole for support. Sawtooth-tread rubber sole for traction.

At larger Sears, Roebuck and Co. stores and in the catalog.

Sears

At the Shoe Place