Hasta La Ideas

The original Air Trainer (above left) debuted 20 years ago, but Nike finally unveiled the long-awaited update last week. Designed for the rigors of training and preparing for competition, the new Nike Trainer 1 (above right) is the lightest cross-trainer I’ve tried.

Inspired by world-class athletes like Bo Jackson, who played both Football and Baseball at an All-Star level, the Nike Trainer 1 is an update both aesthetically and functionally. A new sole features diamond grooves which claims to provide more flexibility and support through multi-directional movement. However, during a recent workout what I noticed most was its weight—or lack there of. When I think of training shoes, I remember heavy, clunky (albeit supportive) sneakers. A lacing system connected to the mid and forefoot combined with an inner sleeve make for a great fit, but it’s the lightweight aspect that sets it apart for me.

Famed designer Tinker Hatfield shared some of his sketches from designing the original Air Trainer over 20 years ago. And designer Aaron Cooper provided us with a few sketches from the new Trainer 1 to further demonstrate the differences between the two. See both sketches and more images after the jump.

Available stateside on 1 July, 2009, look out for the new Trainer 1 at Nike for $90.