Hoop Stars: Rick Barry Adidas Top Ten 1979 Vintage High Top Shoes Basketball Sneaker ad

Today we’ve got an old school 1979 vintage advertisement for the adidas ‘Top 10’ high tops. These sneakers were one of the first pairs of basketball related shoes to move away from plimsolls. Here’s a little history from Esquire:

“starting in the late 1970s with the Adidas Top Ten, players, trainers, and sneaker makers all began to assume that a high-top was an essential tool of high-level basketball, primarily for reasons of ankle support.”

This ad features basketball Hall of Famer Rick Barry who is considered one of the top 50 greatest players in NBA history.

Ad info is below:

Rick Barry, Inventor.

When Rick Barry helped us create the adidas Top Ten basketball shoe, he knew it would have the severest critics of all: the U.S. "Top Ten" players. Rick pressed for every advantage. He insisted we develop the upper with a special Foreflex' cut that lets the foot flex easily and in the correct position. And had us add an Ankle Saver"' support system for increased protection. He had us remove a semi-circle from the heel-counter to prevent heel irritation. He watched as we perforated the toe area to ensure proper ventilation. And he demanded we build the deep herring-bone sole with a turning disc and a serrated edge for softness, traction and flex. Then Rick tested our adidas Top Ten on the "Top Ten". They all gave it their seal of approval. Now all we need is yours.

The adidas Top Ten is worn by "Top Ten" players Doug Collins, Marques Johnson, Kermit Washington, Adrian Dantley, Bob Lanier, Bobby Jones, Billy Knight, Sidney Wicks, Mitch Kupchak and Kevin Grevey.

adidas
The science of sport

Saucony 1979 vintage sneaker ad for the Trainer and Ms. Trainer 1980

Here’s a 1979 Athlete’s Foot ad for the Saucony Trainer 1980 and Ms. Trainer 1980. This ad features some horribly difficult to read text but I had the OCR machine run the translation below. Saucony should bring these back.

Ad info is below:

Flexibility!

Durability!

You get both in the new Saucony Trainer 1980 and Ms. Trainer 1980 at THE ATHLETE’S FOOT stores.

The Saucony TRAINER 1980 is the only training shoe constructed with soft foam replacing the insote board under the sock liner. It helps you to run with ease - with minimum shock, and still gives you good support. A.RUNNER'S WORLD 5-star shoe.

The MS. TRAINER-1980 is constructed with an innovative hinged insole strip providing the flexibility and support she needs for miles of training. It’s the perfect shoe for the serious woman-runner.

Men's TRAINER 1980 in blue or tan. Ladies' MS. TRAINER 198D in blue at participating THE ATHLETE'S FOOT stores. No one knows the athlete's foot like The Athletes Foot.

New Balance 1979 W320 and W355 vintage trainers sneaker ad

Back again with another 1979 ad from New Balance featuring their W320 and W355 women’s trainers.

Ad info is below:

Two new road softeners for women.

Don't let the pavement pound your feet mercilessly. New Balance's top-rated W320 and W355 trainers for women provide superior protection and comfort, a precision fit in widths as well as lengths, and total performance. Both shoes are designed on a special woman's athletic combination last with box toe and two-sizes-narrower heel.

The new vinyl Achilles tendon pads and heel strips prevent slippage; the one-piece, foam-backed uppers provide glove-like comfort; the arch-support saddles cinch your feet snugly and firmly; and the tough, well-cushioned sole/wedge/midsole materials give durable protection. Both shoes display stylish new colors too — Cal Blue with White for the W320, and Cal Blue with Yellow for the W355 — and both come in women's sizes 4-10 and widths AA-D. (Sizes 11-12 avail-able at addition-al cost.)

new balance

Puma Great Cat Family 1979 vintage sneaker ad

Here’s an old school 1979 vintage sneaker ad for Puma featuring their Easy Rider, Whirlwind, Sky Rider, Rocket trainer, Joy Rider and Rockette model runners.

Ad info is below:

THE GREAT CAT FAMILY

PUMA's Easy Rider has spawned a generation of great cats for training and racing. All of the Easy Rider features — sturdy heel counter, improved foot support system, shock absorbing cones and thick, tough wedge — are found in its bold new family.

Easy Rider and its offspring are built to cushion the foot, minimizing stress on the ankle, heel and surrounding tendons. all cones on the soles of some models cushion the shock of impact while shorter cones cut down wear by checking compression of the taller ones. Reinforced uppers provide comfort and foot-gripping support.

The Great Cat Family is designed for mile after mile of injury-free, pleasurable running using the same superior technology that outfitted nine of eleven starters on Argentina's World Cup soccer champions. PUMA — The Great Cat Family. Grrrr.

PUMA
A pride of PUMAS: Top. Rocket trainer. Middle row, from left, Joy Rider women's trainer; Rockette women's trainer:

Osaga Caliente and Feather 1979 vintage sneaker ad

Here’s a 1979 ad for the Osaga Caliente and Feather model running shoes. According to the ad both of these shoes were rated #1 in forefoot impact by Runner's World magazine.

Ad info is below:

running strong

"It is a shoe that incorporates proven or theoretically reliable features to aid the runner in preventing injuries during periods of heavy mileage or heavy racing." Description of 4-star shoe Runner's World Oct. 1978

Both these shoes were rated #1 in forefoot impact by Runner's World magazine. Each shoe has a grooved midsole for optimum shock absorption and studded bottoms for good traction. The Feather, designed exclusively for women, is constructed on a woman's last for correct fit. The Feather and Caliente help you run farther longer.

Call or Write:
OSAGA INCORPORATED
2468 West 11th Avenue
Eugene, Or. 97402 (503)484-1344

Osaga Caliente and Feather 1979 vintage sneaker ad @ The Deffest

Autry Concorde vintage sneaker ad from 1979

Here’s a 1979 vintage sneaker advertisement by Autry for their ‘Concorde’ model runners. If you want to learn more about Autry we have posted a bunch of vintage ads of theirs here, here, here and here.

Ad info is below:

INTRODUCING
A PERFECT FIT
IN AN ULTRA-LIGHT PERFORMANCE TRAINING FLAT
FROM “A” “EE”

THE ADJUSTABLE LACE-TO-TOE BLUCHER ON THE "CONCORDE" PROVIDES A CUSTOM FIT FOR ANY FOOT. FROM YOUR INSTEP THRU THE BALL OF YOUR FOOT, YOU'LL HAVE THE EXACT SNUGNESS YOU PREFER. "CONCORDE"

THE LIGHTEST, HIGH PERFORMANCE, CUSTOM FITTING TRAINING FLAT'
AUTRY THE ACTION PEOPLE
AUTRY INDUSTRIES, DALLAS, TX.

Autry Concorde vintage sneaker ad from 1979 @ The Deffest