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Osaga KT-26 REVOLUTION vintage sneaker ad from 1979. The Osaga KT-26 is a cult classic sneaker only known to a few and are now rare collector items that sell used for upwards of $300-$1000 a pair. This original vintage magazine ad is available over at our Rewind Running web shop.
We were able to piece together a brand profile from "TonyK" on the Letsrun.com forum board who posted an excellent detailed account of Osaga’s history way back in 2009. Tony’s write up:
I somehow landed on your sight today and saw your comments about OSAGA. I was one of the first people to market OSAGA in the United States and was there from day one. Most of the comments and responses you received are a bit off target. The company was started about three months after a small company by the name of "Blue Ribbon Sports" or, as the name you may know better as "NIKE". It was started by a family shoe store retailer by the name of Bill Combs in Eugene, Oregon. Although he has passed, his stores are still there and are called "Burchs Fine Shoes". we were around Bill Bowerman several times because he was a good friend of Bill Combs. We would all go to dinner during big meets such as NCAA Cross Country championships, etc.
Almost all of the shoes had names beginning with the letter "C" as research found that those words were the easiest to remember. Names like Capra (which is the brightly colored shoes your responders are talking about), Cortina, Columbia and Cochise, which was meant to compete with the Adidas Country and was green and white as well.
The logo colors where Green and Yellow, but not because of Oregon. Once again, marketing research said those were the most pleasing colors. Osaga was the first company to put emphasis on matching warm-ups, bags, hats, shirts, etc to the shoe colors.
The original idea of the company was that the shoes would be world class running and athletic shoes but not be sold in sporting goods stores and would be made available only to family shoe stores. As you might guess this took away the opportunity to have athletes as spokespersons. Alberto Salazar is the only "major" runner to have worn the shoes and that only happed for a very short time.
Your responders are right that the technology morphed into Avia. OSAGA developed a shoe called the KT-26 which was rated the #2 running shoe in the world as rated by Runner's World magazine. Although the shoes could then be found in some Athletes Foot stores, there was no base of well known runners in sponsored by OSAGA to really maximize the potential for expansion. At that time Bill Combs was running out of money and the writing was on the wall. The company was closed and the technology of the KT-26 Cantilever sole was sold to Avia for a small amount of money.
Oddly enough, the best shoe OSAGA Ever produced was called the OSAGA 2000 which,at the time, was the lightest weight tennis shoe ever produced. It used lightweight materials that are common place today but were evolutionary at that time.
OSAGA was named after the Osage Native American Indians from Oklahoma and the tag line was "For the Human Race".
Here is the original print ad copy:
Good Morning
Times
Sunny
FOR THE HUMAN RACE Volume 1, No. 1 1979
REVOLUTION
Shock No Longer Threat To Runners
Osaga, Inc., whose international headquarters are in Eugene, Oregon, has developed (and is now marketing) a running shoe with built-in shock absorption for runners. Called Bio-Kinetic Response, this patented design uses multiple layers of specially-formulated materials to cushion each step and reduce fatigue.
Every day, thousands of recreational & serious runners pound the shock of their body weight into concrete & asphalt. In turn, the shock travels up through their feet and legs, often resulting in discomfort, soreness, or injury.
Osaga’s Bio-Kinetic Response midsole is designed to absorb this shock—returning energy to the runner while protecting the body. In tests, it has been proven to be more effective than conventional shoe designs.
The KT-26 model, Osaga’s flagship for 1979, offers the runner the ultimate in street durability, comfort, and performance. Designed for the high-mileage runner, it is also ideal for daily jogging or walking.
New Shoe Available for ’79
Now is the time to place your order! We have the supply to meet the public demand. Osaga Products also available throughout Canada.
BIO-KINETIC RESPONSE
(diagram of cushioning layers)
Women Get Equal Treatment From KT-26
The Women’s KT-26 street shoe is designed with the same performance features as the men’s model, ensuring durability and comfort for serious women runners. Available in the same Sky Blue Nylon with a White Chevron. The midsole utilizes the Bio-Kinetic Response to provide protection for every stride.
Osaga KT-26 Meets Demands of Serious Runners
Osaga has designed a construction that rivals or exceeds the standards of any running shoe available. The KT-26 features:
A high-abrasion outsole compound for long wear
A lightweight yet supportive upper
Full-length midsole cushioning with Bio-Kinetic Response technology
The construction of the Osaga KT-26 is engineered for street running. The Bio-Kinetic Response midsole absorbs and returns energy. The outsole compound resists wear even on concrete and asphalt.
Upper construction provides a secure, comfortable fit, while still allowing for ventilation. The KT-26 has been tested by serious runners in the U.S., Canada, and overseas—with excellent performance feedback.
Available in both men’s and women’s sizes, and priced to be accessible for all runners.
Osaga, Inc. Makes Home in Eugene, Oregon
The international headquarters of Osaga, Inc. are located in Eugene, Oregon—one of the nation’s running capitals. From here, Osaga designs and distributes products for runners worldwide.
For further information on the KT-26, please write:
Osaga, Incorporated, 2620 West 10th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97402
Osaga, Dept. 410, North Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
National Distributors: Niko Shoes, Richmond, BC V6Y 2A
