A vintage Nike windbreaker could be the perfect holiday or birthday gift for the sports enthusiast on your list. Whether he or she is an active participant or is more likely to be found on the bleachers cheering for a favorite team, Nike has become a name synonymous with sports activewear. Scoring a new release item from Nike is so much a big deal that people have been known to line up the night before to be one of the first to have a particular Nike sportswear item.
Nike celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014. It was founded by a track-and-field coach and a distance runner in 1965 as Blue Ribbon Sports and had its first “aha!” moment in 1971 when co-founder Bill Bowerman was inspired to create Nike’s gripper shoe sole pattern based on the design made by his wife’s waffle maker. The design was a winner, but it was the death of the waffle maker. The 1985 ad for Nike Air Max Shoes used the Beatles “Revolution” as its theme song, the first time a Beatles tune was used in advertising.
Shoes are just one item made by the sportswear company. If it is athletic wear, chances are there is a Nike garment for the occasion. Windbreaker jackets are one of those all-purpose garments that can be worn over short sleeves just as a light obstruction to the breeze or they can be layered over sweaters or sweatshirts to hold the heat in and the cold out.
What is special about Nike windbreakers? They are just a very, very good jacket that can, unfortunately, boast a fairly steep price. Students and military can get discounts, but even so, they can be a bit pricey.
Vintage Nike Windbreakers can have two advantages. The first is that if you shop carefully, you might score an excellent buy at a second-hand or vintage clothing store. The second advantage is that you might be able to find a discontinued style that is still in good condition. “Discontinued” means that it is not only a bargain but it could very well qualify as a collector’s item.