There is no controversial sneaker hall of fame. But if there was, the Nike Vaporfly would certainly deserve an induction.
The running shoe has caused an uproar in the last few weeks over claims that it offers its wearers an unfair advantage. Both independent and Nike-sponsored studies have revealed that the shoe of choice for marathon world record-holders improves energetic efficiency by at least 4%, Business Insider’s Aylin Woodward previously reported.
A ban on the shoe from World Athletics, which oversees international running events, could be announced in the next few weeks.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Vaporfly, the shoe is becoming more popular on StockX, a leading resale marketplace.
“In the last few months, we’ve seen more and more Vaporfly (and Vapor Street) sneaker models enter the ‘hype’ space,” a StockX representative told Business Insider in an email.
The Nike Vaporfly isn’t the only shoe to get banned or looked down upon by major sporting organizations.
The NBA banned a pair of Air Jordan 1s in 1984 because of its colorway. A remastered version of the banned shoe is available on StockX.
In addition to the Vaporfly, here are some of the most controversial sneakers that StockX says might have been ahead of their time:
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