Nike is set to release its highly anticipated 2025 Ekiden Collection, which pays tribute to the legendary dedication, teamwork, and speed of Japan’s long-distance relay runners. The collection draws on over 30 years of collaboration between Nike and Japanese ekiden athletes, resulting in innovative footwear and apparel designed to elevate performance.
The collection features four top-of-the-line racing footwear models—Alphafly 3, Rival Fly 4, Vaporfly 3, and Zoom Fly 6—all designed to push the limits of speed, comfort, and durability for runners. The standout feature of each shoe is a distinctive flame graphic pattern, symbolizing both the inner fire of runners and the torches used during the night legs of traditional ekiden races. This design draws inspiration from the Air Streak Spectrum Plus, a groundbreaking 2002 model from Nike’s Streak Series, which was developed using insights from Japanese ekiden competitors.
The flame motif extends to a complementary lifestyle apparel collection, including a Nike Windrunner jacket and long-sleeve T-shirt, which carry the same bold design and embody the same spirit of relentless pursuit.
Japanese kanji characters featured on each shoe in the Ekiden Collection further enhance the design’s tribute to the tradition of ekiden, inspiring athletes to push beyond their limits in their training and on race day. The campaign, titled “Let Your Fire Run,” will feature athletes from prestigious universities like Chuo, Komazawa, Tokai, and Toyo as they prepare for Japan’s premier ekiden race in January 2025.
Toyo University runner Kosuke Ishida shares his enthusiasm, noting that the Ekiden Collection supports every aspect of training—from easy runs to race day performance—while the distinctive designs motivate him to strive for greatness.
The 2025 Nike Ekiden Collection will first be available in Japan on November 22, with a global release at select retailers on December 4. This collection is a true celebration of the audacious spirit of ekiden racers, blending performance innovation with cultural significance.