The holiday season is fast approaching and it is never too early to think about Christmas presents which will help you work off all of the holiday pounds. From running to cross training there are many choices for shoes out there and it’s up to you to choose which is best for you. Below is a list of some of the best athletic shoe websites, with a little about their history as well. Run don’t walk to see these great athletic shoe website.
Nike
The company was founded on January 25, 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight,[1] and officially became Nike, Inc. on May 30, 1978. The company takes its name from Nike(Greek Νίκη, pronounced [nǐːkɛː]), the Greek goddess of victory. Nike markets its products under its own brand, as well as Nike Golf, Nike Pro, Nike+, Air Jordan, Nike Skateboarding, and subsidiaries including Cole Haan, Hurley International, Umbro and Converse. Nike also owned Bauer Hockey (later renamed Nike Bauer) between 1995 and 2008.[5] In addition to manufacturing sportswear and equipment, the company operates retail stores under the Niketown name. Nike sponsors many high-profile athletes and sports teams around the world, with the highly recognized trademarks of “Just Do It” and the Swoosh logo.
adidas
Adidas was founded in 1948 by Adolf Dassler, following the split of Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik between him and his older brother Rudolf. Rudolf later established Puma, which was the early rival of Adidas. Registered in 1949, Adidas is currently based in Herzogenaurach, Germany, along with Puma.
reebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German company Adidas since 2005,[4] is a producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling ofrhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle. In 1890 in Holcombe Brook, a small village 6 miles north east of Bolton, United Kingdom, After his ideas progressed he joined with his sons, and founded a shoe company named J.W. Foster and Sons in 1895.[5]
In 1958, two of the founder’s grandsons Joe and Jeff Foster renamed the company Reebok in the United Kingdom, having found the name in a dictionary won in a race by Joe Foster as a boy; the dictionary was South African edition hence the spelling.[6] The company lived up to the J.W. Foster legacy, manufacturing first-class footwear for customers throughout the UK. In 1979, Paul Fireman, a US sporting goods distributor, saw a pair of Reeboks at an international trade show and negotiated to sell them in North America.[5]
puma
Following the split from his brother, Rudolf Dassler originally registered the new-established company as Ruda, but later changed to Puma.[3] Puma’s earliest logo consisted of a square and beast jumping through a D, which was registered, along with the company’s name, in 1948. Puma’s shoe designs feature the distinctive “Formstripe”,[4] with clothing and other products having the logo printed on them.
New Balance
New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. (NBAS), best known as simply New Balance, is an American footwear manufacturer based in in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. It was founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company. Eschewing expensive advertising campaigns, it has, nevertheless, grown to be one of the largest makers of sports footwear in the world.
saucony
The company’s first factory was founded in 1898 at Kutztown, Pennsylvania, on the high banks of the Saucony Creek.[2] In 1910, Russian immigrant Abraham Hyde started a shoe company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, called Hyde Athletic Industries. Over the years, Hyde became known for making athletic footwear including brands such as SpotBilt and PF Flyers; Hyde Athletic Industries bought Saucony in the late 1960s, and moved it to Cambridge. By the late 1990s, when Saucony became Hyde’s dominant brand, the name of the company was officially changed from Hyde Athletic Industries to Saucony.
asics
ASICS Ltd. began as Panmure Co., Ltd on September 1, 1949.[6] Its founder, Kihachiro Onitsuka, began manufacturing basketball shoes in his home town of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Soon after the range of sports activities widened to a variety of Olympic styles used throughout the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s by athletes worldwide. Onitsuka became particularly renowned for the Mexico 66[7] design, in which the distinctive crossed stripes, now synonymous with the company brand, were featured for the first time. In 1977, Onitsuka Tiger merged with GTO and JELENK to form ASICS Corporation. Despite the name change, a vintage range of ASICS shoes are still produced and sold internationally under the Onitsuka Tiger label.
converse
Converse is an American shoe company that has been making shoes, lifestyle fashion and athletic apparel since the early 20th century. Converse is a subsidiary of Nike.
skechers
Skechers is an American shoe company headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, founded by CEO Robert Greenberg and his son Michael in 1992 right after Robert left LA Gear, which he had founded in 1983.[3] Michael was a distributor for Doc Martens. Importing knock-off Doc Martens boots ended in a legal battle between Skechers and Doc Martens.[4] Skechers’ early products were utility-style boots and skate shoes; the company has since diversified to include thousands of athletic, casual and dress styles for men, women, and children.[5]
vans
Vans is a U.S based manufacturer of sneakers, skateboarding shoes, BMX shoes, snowboarding boots and other shoe types.
Bonus Site
Jordan
Air Jordan(s), informally known as Jordans, are a brand of shoes and athletic apparel designed and produced by Nike for the now-retired basketball player Michael Jordan, who has served as the figurehead for the brand since its inception. The Air Jordan line is now sold by the Jordan Brand subsidiary of Nike. Air Jordans were first released for public consumption in 1985 (Jordan himself first wore them as a rookie in 1984), with new designs released annually.[1] Air Jordan 2012 is the most recent design on the sneaker market and has been promoted with the tagline: “One Shoe. Three Flights.“[2]
What Do You Think?
The list above comprise some of the best know brands in the world. Not to mention some of the best websites for corporations on the web. Were any of your favorites overlooked? Please feel free to leave a comment below and point out any sites that may have been missed.
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