Nike
ACG LDV Trail Sneaker
ACG LDV Trail Sneaker
Story
Before ACG, there was the LDV
In 1978, John Roskelley and Rick Ridgeway, led by legendary mountaineer Jim Whittaker, became the first Americans to not only ascend the world’s second-tallest mountain, K2, but do it without oxygen. Doctors advised against attempting the ascent without a supplemental supply. Even worse, the summit's toll was simple and grim: on average, for every four climbers who went up, only three came down.
Prior to the expedition, Whittaker and his wife, photographer Dianne Roberts, sought donations from several companies to fund the expedition—one of which, at the time, was a fledgling fitness startup called Nike. Roberts promised Nike they would receive photos of their product on the mountain. Along with a cash donation, Nike sent every member of the team a pair of their latest running shoe—the LDV—for the unforgiving 110-mile hike into base camp.
Compared to the cumbersome leather boots the climbers were accustomed to, Nike’s shoes were revolutionary. The LDVs were breathable, bouncy, and lightweight, with a waffle-tread sole for boulder hopping and a straight last for support. The climbers also loved that the LDV didn’t get bogged down when wet, unlike traditional leather boots, which kept their legs fresh for the climb.
Through boldness and bravery, they successfully summited K2—and a pair of Nike LDV running shoes helped make it possible. Before hiking out, Roberts snapped the famous photo of Roskelly and Ridgeway wearing their battered LDVs, with Ridgeway giving a thumbs-up of approval.
On the descent, the group began talking about how they would further modify the LDV. Nike "All Conditions Gear” wouldn’t formally launch for nearly a decade, but the expedition would reshape the outdoor footwear industry and lay the blueprint for what followed.
The LDV's origin story of high-altitude grit and adventure makes us proud to be exclusive launch partners of the new Nike ACG LDV, a modern interpretation of the original sneaker that features a leather and textile upper for durability and padding, a ReactX cushioned midsole for support, and an adjusted ATC (All Terrain Compound) outsole for increased traction.
Features
- Inspired by the original 1978 LDV successfully hiked to K2 basecamp
- Textile and leather upper for strength and padding
- ReactX cushioned midsole for support
- All Terrain Compound (ATC) outsole for traction
- Limit of 1 pair per customer
Sizing
- The ACG LDV Trail Sneaker fits true to size. Take your usual shoe size.
- If you're not sure, compare your foot length to the chart below
Foot Measurements
| US Men's Size | EU Size | Foot Length (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 40 | 9 11/16 |
| 7.5 | 40.5 | 9 13/16 |
| 8 | 41 | 10 |
| 8.5 | 42 | 10 3/16 |
| 9 | 42.5 | 10 5/16 |
| 9.5 | 43 | 10 1/2 |
| 10 | 44 | 10 11/16 |
| 10.5 | 44.5 | 10 13/16 |
| 11 | 45 | 11 |
| 11.5 | 45.5 | 11 3/16 |
| 12 | 46 | 11 5/16 |
| 12.5 | 47 | 11 1/2 |
| 13 | 47.5 | 11 11/16 |
| 14 | 48.5 | 12 |
All measurements are in inches
How to Measure - Foot Length: Measure from the back of your heel to the tip of your longest toe
Materials
- Upper: Textile and leather
- Midsole: ReactX
- Outsole: All Terrain Compound (ATC)
