NIKE JAM

Nike has dropped their first-ever breaking shoe just in time for the Paris Olympics!

B-Boy Kid Karam in Nike Jam and Nike x Patta tracksuit // Photography / Emily Almodovar

Six years in the making, the NIKE JAM shoe is designed specifically for breakers, combining performance and artistic flair.

Nike gathered insights from breakers at all levels around the world to understand their style preferences and collected scientific data through motion capture and force plate analysis at the Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL) to unlock their unique performance needs. The NIKE JAM comes with well-designed overlays and material packaging that provides maximum slide-ability to breakers as they move across a variety of competition, concrete, and asphalt surfaces while maintaining strong durability. It offers protective cushioning with its foam drop-in midsole construction and giving breakers that close-to-ground feel they need with its rubber cup-sole.

To design the collection, Nike partnered with long-time Nike collaborator and graffiti artist Futura. Nike reimagined some of his most acclaimed artwork and created fresh designs to commemorate this event including prints inspired by his groundbreaking Break train and studio’s floor splatter to new iterations of his point men, atoms, and iconic signature. 

The three launch colorways were inspired directly by various elements of hip-hop and have 2000s-era metallic overlays that bring a futuristic retro vibe to the aged-look colour style. The tan/black colorway was inspired by the cardboard surface breakers used to protect them from unpredictable surfaces when moving. The black/gum colourway was inspired directly by hip-hop culture and the turntable and microphone equipment DJs and MCs use to set the vibe. The final white/black colourway was co-created with Futura and contains a reimagined print of his iconic Break train artwork made specifically for this launch.

With the Jams serving as another stamp of recognition for breaking as a sport, we’re intrigued to see how the shoe’s design enhances the artistic expression and innate style of breakers.

The Nike Jams can be purchased at a retail price of £119.99