The Nike V-series 1985

Vortex, Vector and Vengeance? Sorry it was a long time ago.

rereleased last year

The Vector was a stability shoe- White with black and a silver swoosh.

Vortex- One of the best shoes ever made, was a cushioned flexable trainer- White with blue and a gols swoosh. It looked fast just sitting there. I've seen 2 runners of the past training in them, Ken Martin and Barry Brown.

Vengence- Lightweight trainer. Light enough for speed work.

White with black and red. Had that Jorden color scheme going.

Overall great shoes. I wonder if I would have the same opinion of those shoes today.

Does that mean that they'e available? I don't remember ever seeing them in Eastbay, RRS, Holabird, et al.

cilla black wrote:

rereleased last year

Actually, the Vortex was different in that, I believe (I used to sell the thing, but the memory is going...)the midsole was polyurethane w/ heel-to-toe air bag. Personally, I couldn't get two miles w/out extreme fascia pain. (I immediately went to the Tiger Epirus.) But the roll-over factor was great in the Vortex and Vengeance - if your foot was prone to that mobility. The Vector was cool. Straight last, just a heel air bag w/ support collar - all the stuff Nike started doing to negate the bad effects of their air.

I used to have the Vengeance -- loved 'em. Kinda like the Pegasus of old, only lighter.

Follow the link to see them.

Keep your eyes peeled to ebay. Every couple of months you will see a pair or two of Vortex on there. Just search by typing in Nike Vortex and you will see them from time to time. The old early 80's Nike training shoe Epic can be seen on ebay periodically as well. I was in my late teens and early twenties when the V series was out and I thought the Vortex was one of the best shoes that I had ever worn. Now that I am 20 years older and 30 pounds heavier I doubt that I would have the same opinion. Good luck with your search.

Vector changed name to Venue after 1st run b/c of conflict with the name (I believe the Goodyear Vector tire). Sheet EVA midsole with heel air bag...no air in forefoot...straight last

Vengeance was a spike last with a huge cut out in the arch...pretty high off the ground...great flexible forefoot...full length air bag...all polyurethane midsole...heels cracked open if runners were too heavy...

Vortex...semi curve last with full length air bag inside polyurethane midsole...best seller of the bunch...

All retailed for about 75-80 if I remember correctly...

Still at the time the best shoe (both sales and performance) was the Asics Epirus...started at $70 and went up to $90 in the early 90's...

The V-Series was only $60....a super bargain, even at that time. In the winter of 89, my cat died, and I happened to go to the Nike outlet in Kissimee, Florida and bought 7 pairs of the Vortex for $19.99 each. It worked as an antidepressant.

As for the re-release of these shoes last year, they were retros that were NOT the same as the originals. They came out with the Epic at the same time, and when I saw it I was shocked at what a piece of crap it was. Def not the same shoe as in 1984.

Started running in spring of 1986 and ran for 3 mos. in Pumas bought at Walmart(to match my polyster puma outfit - disco dazzle when it was not retro hip).

My next purchase was a major upgrade - the Vortex, my first real shoe which inaugurated me into the world of "real" running. The funny thing was I was so infatuated with them that I ignored the fact that they felt awful on me. It wasn't until I slipped on the newly introduced Asics Gel-Lytes (88/89?) did I realize how crappy the ride was on the Vortex. Nonetheless, I will always remember those first pair of running shores.

I think Nike made racing flats at that time called the American Eagles and followed up with Spiridon Gold which are second only to my Brooks Hasty's as the best racing flat of all time.

American Eagles were earlier, like late 1981 to about 1983. AWESOME shoes.

This is a great post. Very timely. I have one pair of unused, never worn Nike Vengence. They are the ones in white with the red trim and black swoosh depicted in the picture at the link identified above by "gc." They are in perfect condition except that the heels have developed cracks as they were prone to do according to "FL Shoe guy." But, they are the original vintage. I bought them on or about 1987 with the hope that I would eventually be fast and fit enough to wear them for speed work and racing. Unfortunately, I never reached that state and have never wore them. They are, I believe, size 7.5. I'm thinking of listing them on eBay. They'd be a great collectible for someone who appreciates one of Nike's all time great high performance shoes.

Thanks for all the replies. At the local Rugged Wearhouse they have a few Nike t-shirts with the V-series on the front in some type of logo/design for only $9.99. Thinking about picking one up.

I had two pairs of the Vortex and one of the Vector. I loved the Vortex. Not only comfortable but one of the best looking shoes of all time (kind of an updated colorway of the Internationalist).

Anybody remember the Nike PR clothing line? I would do virtually anything to get ahold of one of the Elite Gore-tex suits again. I had almost all of it inlcuding the white lightweight competition warmup suit (still have it). The elite socks were quite possibly the most comfortable socks I have ever worn. Ah, the good old days. (not sure if the link will work or not)

i have some of the epics and the vortex... the reissues are indeed not like the originals, yuo cannot run in them, but they are very good for cruising about in... the epics have a very thin sole unlike the origianls and the vortex i think has a phylon misole... nice but not like the origianls

seehere for epics

http://photobucket.com/albums/v220/mik_git/nike%20shoes/?action=view&current=P1010001.jpg

and here

http://photobucket.com/albums/v220/mik_git/nike%20shoes/?action=view&current=P1010001.jpg

I thought the Vortex was the worst of the Nike Air. They hadn't worked out all the kinks, and it was the stiffest shoe I've ever seen (full length air sole, maybe the first one). Remember the arch cookies? Those never did anything for me, either.

I do remember those arch cookies. Never knew anyone that used them. I tried them once and at the end of a run on a hot summer day the arch cookies were sliding all over the place. The double sided tape didn't work well for me.