1970s | Nike ‘The Sting’ | Size 11.5

First released in the 1970s, 'The Sting' emerged as one of Nike’s early performance runners. Designed to be lightweight and aerodynamic, the silhouette sat low to the ground, designed to project speed from every angle. 

Comprised of a thin, rust-colored suede, the pair features green nylon side panels and is finished with stitched leather Swooshes along both sides.

Notably, 'The Sting' was among the first Nike models to introduce D-ring eyelets, offering a more secure and adjustable fit for serious runners. Additionally, the outsole pattern delivered enhanced grip on varied surfaces, built to keep pace with high-speed movement and sharp directional changes.

Though originally a niche offering in Nike’s competitive running catalogue, The Sting became a quiet cult classic, prized for its distinctive materials and stripped-back design language.

Accompanying this lot is a letter of provenance from Stanly Mavis. Mavis was a member of the storied Athletics West Track Club, which was founded by Phil Knight, Bill Bowerman, and Geoff Hollister in the late 1970s. Athletics West aimed to provide runners with the opportunity to compete outside of a collegiate setting and was a crucial part of the Nike brand. 

In his letter, Mavis states that he received these sneakers directly from one of Nike's earliest employees, Geoff Hollister.