On July 5, 1976, ping-pong champion and Vietnam veteran Forrest Gump began running. Little did he know that this journey would lead him across the country, spanning three years, two months, fourteen days, and sixteen hours—a legend. What footwear of choice did Mr. Gump choose? Well, that's easy.
The pair, the love of his life, Jenny Curran, gifted him the Nike Cortez shortly before she left him. At the time, the Nike Cortez was a new sneaker. Nike is only a few years old but is already a force to reckon with in the running industry. Now, this is all fiction. However, the legacy of the Cortez is nothing but.
The Nike Cortez has seen numerous colorways and iterations released over its 52-year span. No pair is more popular than the USA-themed white, red, and blue pair, synonymous with Forrest Gump. Returning for Summer 2024, this iteration of the Nike Cortez Forrest Gump comes in the classic white, varsity red, varsity blue, and metallic silver colorway.
Staying true to the OG, this version features a classic white-based re-engineered leather upper, nylon tongue, and sockliner. Varsity Red pops off the Swoosh on the sides, back heel tab, and Nike branding on the tongue tag. Varsity Blue comes into play via a strip on the foam midsole atop the classic herringbone outsole.
The Nike Cortez Forrest Gump is set to release on May 8, 2024, through Nike, SNKRS, and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men’s sizing, retail is set at $110. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app for more updates on the latest sneaker releases, raffles, and news in the streetwear world.
Nike Cortez Forrest Gump (2024)
Images via Nike
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Steve Jaconetta is the Head of Content based out of Connecticut. An encyclopedia for sneaker releases, he's covered the industry for over fifteen years. His stops have included Sole Collector, Complex, and StockX, to name a few. He considers the Air Jordan 11 Concord the greatest sneaker of all time and has a strong affection for 80s pop culture. Email: steve@soleretriever.com
