Skip to main content
SoleFeedSF
Buyer's Guide

Nike Blazer Mid Review & Sizing Guide

Published Updated

The Blazer Mid is worth it for 1973 Nike basketball heritage, but comfort stays old-school.

Shop all

Key facts

Popularity
A vintage high-top staple that looks better beaten up
Comfort
One of the least comfortable mainstream Nike sneakers; Jumbo is better
Fit
Runs narrow and slightly long; notoriously hard to put on
Value
Excellent at $100 retail; often found for $26-54 on sale
Use case
Casual fashion, vintage aesthetic, lifting (flat sole)
Risk
Ankle chafing, difficult on/off, stiff leather, minimal cushioning

Full breakdown

Introduced in 1973 and named for Portland's NBA team, the Blazer was among Nike's earliest basketball shoes, sharing that founding-era court lineage with the Bruin. The Mid keeps the tall original stance the Low later abandoned. Pushed off the hardwood by more advanced sneakers, it was rescued by skateboarding and later Off-White's deconstructed The Ten collaboration, which reframed the bare-bones silhouette as a fashion object.

FAQ

How do Nike Blazer Mid 77s fit?

Stay true to size for normal or narrow feet and go half up if your feet are wide. The Blazer Mid 77 runs noticeably narrow through the forefoot and slightly long, so length is rarely the issue, width is, as buyers weighing the 77 Vintage fit point out.

How uncomfortable are they really?

Plan for a stiff out-of-box feel and a real break-in of one to three weeks. The firm sole and leather collar chafe the Achilles early, so buy a thicker aftermarket insole up front and wear them in short stretches before committing to a full day, the fix behind the uncomfortable first-wear complaints from new owners.

Are they hard to put on?

Expect them to be snug to pull on, since the mid collar and narrow last make entry tight. Skip the top one or two eyelets, use a shoe horn, or keep the laces loose so daily on-and-off stays easy rather than a fight, much as owners weighing the Blazer 77 Vintage describe.

Blazer Mid vs Air Jordan 1 which should I get?

Choose the Blazer Mid for a slimmer, cheaper vintage-casual look that suits tapered trousers, and choose the Air Jordan 1 for a wider, more cushioned, more culturally dominant shoe. For all-day comfort the AJ1 wins, so let fit and budget decide, the way buyers do when picking the pair they keep returning to.

Do Blazer Mids age well?

They age well, which is a real reason to buy, since the leather and exposed foam back tab are meant to patina with wear. The rubber sole holds up for years, so favor the standard 77 Vintage over Nike By You builds, whose softer leather degrades less gracefully, a durability read consistent with the long-term wear breakdown.