Have you worn your Adidas Samba to the limit and are you starting to see the same pair on every street corner? A new sneaker with a waffle sole makes a discreet appearance in streetstyle looks and on Instagram. Born from the Nike running archives and the eyes of a French designer, it is already arousing everyone’s curiosity.
Its name: Nike Moon Shoe. This ultra-low sneaker, born from the fourth Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe collaboration, was unveiled on the Jacquemus spring-summer 2025 catwalk before releasing at the end of 2025, then arriving in Nike stores in 2026. Between seventies heritage, ballerina vibe and so-called sneakerina silhouette, many already see it as the new it-sneaker destined to succeed the Samba.
After the Samba, the Nike Moon Shoe stands out as the new it‑basketball
For several seasons, the Adidas Samba embodied the perfect sneaker: thin profile, retro look, ability to match with raw jeans or a trench coat. And then saturation arrived, with the same colors everywhere. The Nike Moon Shoe takes this minimal side but adds a softer flat sole, a more tapered toe and an almost ballerina spirit.
This ultra-low silhouette fully fits into the 2026 flats trend: ballerinas, Mary Janes, soft moccasins… and now fine sneakers. Classified by fashionistas in the sneakerina category, it combines running comfort and the elegance of a dance shoe. We already see her on the feet of Rihanna, Dua Lipa and Lisa, with straight jeans, beige trench coat or mini dress.
Nike Moon Shoe: a legend with a waffle sole brought up to date
To understand this success, we have to go back to 1971. Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman was looking for a lighter sole for his runners and poured rubber into his wife’s waffle iron. The Waffle sole was born, this relief imprint which earned the shoe its nickname of Moon Shoe, tested in 1972 during the American Olympic selections.
This running DNA continued in the Oregon Waffle then Waffle Trainer models, before gradually disappearing from the shelves. Simon Porte Jacquemus came across this archive a few years ago and imagined a fashion version: gathered nylon upper, ultra-low torpedo silhouette, Nike Grind outsole and oversized Swoosh, with a discreet Jacquemus signature on the tongue and heel.
How to adopt the Nike Moon Shoe in 2026
The first Nike x Jacquemus Moon Shoe drop took place on September 29, 2025 on jacquemus.com, then on October 6 on the SNKRS application and at a few retailers. Pairs sold for around $180, or around $170, and some colors are already reaching between $380 and $500 (around $350 to $460) on the resale market.
For a more accessible option, Nike also relaunched a non-collaboration Moon Shoe in April 2026, at around £90, or nearly $105, in a Soft Pearl color placed on a black sole. Fashion girls combine it with straight jeans and a camel trench coat as well as with an oversized cream suit, where the Samba remains more linked to sportswear looks and more street silhouettes.
Nike Moon Shoe: quick definition
Nike sneaker from the 70s, with waffle sole, relaunched with Jacquemus.
Why is the Nike Moon Shoe trendy?
Ultra low profile, sneakerina look and validation by Rihanna and other celebrities.
How much does the Nike Moon Shoe cost?
Around $180 (around $170) for the Jacquemus collab, £90 ($105) for the Nike version.
