Breaking down the size and fit of the Swoosh’s first-ever basketball shoe.



<p>The Blazer emerged in 1972 as <a href="https://www.goat.com/brand/nike"><u>Nike’s</u></a> first-ever basketball shoe. The Beaverton-based company—which had only adopted its name and logo one year prior—designed the high-top sneaker in plain white with a prominent Swoosh, naming it the “Blazer” in homage to Nike’s local NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers. Debuted by NBA basketball star George “The Iceman” Gervin, the <a href="https://www.goat.com/sneakers/silhouette/blazer"><u>Blazer</u></a> would go on to become a hardwood favorite, extolled for its durable leather uppers, polyfoam tongue padding and arch support. Athletes had the option of selecting either low or high-top variations, with an extensive range of color palettes enabling a touch of personalization.</p>
<p>As Nike innovated new, more technical basketball silhouettes like the <a href="https://www.goat.com/sneakers/silhouette/air-force-1"><u>Air Force 1</u></a> and <a href="https://www.goat.com/sneakers/brand/air-jordan"><u>Air Jordan</u></a>, the <a href="https://www.goat.com/sneakers/silhouette/blazer"><u>Blazer</u></a> found itself eclipsed on the performance front. By this point, it had already made inroads into hip-hop and street culture, favored for its simple, versatile design. And this was just the beginning of its subcultural journey. As the mid ’90s rolled around, <a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/best-skateboarding-shoes"><u>skaters</u></a> began to gravitate towards the Blazer; its vulcanized textured rubber soles offered exceptional board feel while the premium leathers stood up well to grip tape. New designs and specialized releases would follow as the Blazer's legend grew.</p>
<p>Today, the <a href="https://www.goat.com/sneakers/silhouette/blazer"><u>Blazer</u></a> is a globally recognized icon, chronicled as one of Nike’s true heritage silhouettes. It is featured across various sublines, from SB to ACG, and is regularly reimagined by outside collaborators. <a href="https://www.goat.com/brand/nike"><u>Nike</u></a> also strives to maintain the shoe’s vintage charm, applying proprietary treatments to new versions to achieve a weathered aesthetic.</p>
<p>Below, an overview of the size and fit of Nike Blazers. For an in-depth exploration of the silhouette, visit our <a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/nike-blazer-history"><u>Nike Blazer history</u></a>.</p>

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<h2>How Does the Nike Blazer Fit?&nbsp;</h2>
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<h3>High vs Low vs Mid</h3>
<p>Today, the Blazer is executed in two iterations: <a href="https://www.goat.com/sneakers/silhouette/blazer-mid"><u>mid</u></a> and low. Although the name is somewhat misleading, the mid is the ankle-grazing high-top designed to replicate the original version from the ’70s. The low-top adheres to a similar aesthetic, but is cut at the ankle for a streamlined look.</p>
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<h3>Narrow vs Wide Feet</h3>
<p>Due to its retro design language, the Blazer is a narrow-fitting shoe offering a snug, tight fit. Although it is recommended to take your normal size, people with wide feet and those in between sizes may want to take a half size up for a more comfortable fit. Conversely, people with smaller feet sometimes find the shoe to fit long and tend to take a half size down.</p>
<p>New <a href="https://www.goat.com/sneakers/silhouette/blazer"><u>Blazers</u></a> may fit tight at first but tend to loosen with wear. Undoing and redoing factory lacing may also alleviate pressure around the foot.</p>
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<h3>Women’s Nike Blazer Fit&nbsp;</h3>
<p>The women’s Blazer fits similarly to the men’s.</p>
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<h2><strong>How Comfortable is the Nike Blazer?</strong></h2>
<p>The Nike Blazer is a comfortable lifestyle shoe that is well-suited to all-day wear and light activities. Despite its basketball provenance, the <a href="https://www.goat.com/sneakers/silhouette/blazer"><u>Blazer</u></a> is not recommended for play beyond recreational level. Instead, a specialist basketball shoe is recommended. For more information, consult our <a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/best-basketball-shoes"><u>basketball shoe guide</u></a>.</p>

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<h2><strong>Size Conversions</strong></h2>
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<h3>Men’s to Women’s and Women’s to Men’s</h3>
<p>In <a href="https://www.goat.com/brand/nike"><u>Nike</u></a> shoes, women’s sizes are typically 1.5 sizes larger than men’s. This sizing convention holds true for women when converting to men’s sizes. For example, if you wear a men’s US 9, you would wear a women's US 10.5. If you wear a women’s US 10.5, you would wear a men’s US 9.</p>
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<h2><strong>Nike Blazer Size and Fit FAQ</strong></h2>

<p>Related Articles: <a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/beginners-guide-to-nike-sneakers">Beginner’s Guide to Nike Sneakers</a>, <a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/best-skateboarding-shoes"><u>Best Skateboarding Shoes</u></a>, <a href="https://www.goat.com/editorial/beginners-guide-to-yeezy-shoes"><u>Beginner’s Guide to Yeezy</u></a></p>

Nike Blazer Size and Fit Guide

From humble origins to proprietary innovations, everything you need to know about the performance brand.



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Nike Blazer Size and Fit Guide