Oregon, the birthplace of Nike, is a state of forests, harsh landscapes, and raw nature. A perfect location for Nike ACG, the brand’s outdoor division.
ACG was initially conceived in Utah, a virtual playground for Nike designers, but Oregon, where they first tested their prototypes and where the brand was established, had a significant influence on the development of the company. As a result, some ACG models have names inspired by Oregon’s mountains, lakes, and trails. The Nike ACG brand is well known for its imaginative shoe names that are based on different places in the world. These are the five sneakers that helped us discover Oregon’s landscapes.
Deschutes
The Deschutz sandals are inspired by the Deschutes River, which is named after the French Rivière des Chutes (river of waterfalls). Fly fishing is the primary activity on this Columbia tributary, some of its areas of which are included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. ideally suited for sandals with an amphibious design.
Ruckel Ridge
A multipurpose shoe that symbolized the return of Nike ACG is named after one of the most hazardous trails in the United States. Sometimes the source of inspiration is almost concealed on the shoe, but this time they were very clear: the Ruckel Ridge Loop’s coordinates are located inside the shoe.
Thielsen
Hans Thielsen was a Danish engineer who immigrated to America in 1837 and spent the rest of his life working on building railroads. Polish explorer Jon Hurlburt decided to honor him by naming the mountain the Native American Klamath called His-chok-wol-as after him. The mountain is the inspiration for the name of the Nike ACG Thielsen, but they are also the only sneakers to bear the name of a civil engineer.
Wallowa
A county, a city, some mountains, a national forest, and a lake go by the name of Wallowa; this Wallowa may have the most intriguing story. Wallowa Lake is said to be home to a monster named Wally, to whom Sufjan Stevens dedicated a song.
Steens
Multi-adventure raids became popular in the early 2000s. ACG had been developing the concept of a multifunctional outdoor shoe since its inception. The Nike ACG Steens was created at a time when the Nike ACG Balance Bar was the multi-adventure Dream Team, and many people adopted the Steens as their shoe. Steens, an Oregon mountain, is named after Enoch Steen, an American military man and explorer.
