The Nike Chapter of My Summer Story

Some years, I dress for summer. Other years, summer dresses me. This year has been the latter.

I’ve been on the go. Lots of travel for business and pleasure. Lots of guests in and out of our apartment. Concerts. Art fairs. Block parties. It has truly been what my good buddy calls “Yes Man Season.”

I haven’t had time to overthink what I wear or pack. I’ve been dressing on instinct. And now, as August approaches, I’m looking back on the past couple of months and realizing a handful of pieces have been on repeat. You know the 80/20 rule? 20% of things do 80% of the work. That’s been true for my summer wardrobe.

These are my 20%ers.

I live across the street from a massive lake.

Earlier this summer, I was in Malibu with some buddies, bouncing between the beach and the hot tub. Then Austin with my wife, where our days revolved around the pool and the grill. Then Puerto Vallarta, where I snorkeled, sunbathed, and siesta-ed.

All of which is to say, water has been a recurring theme this summer. And I’ve been in swim shorts almost as often as regular shorts.

Over the past few summers, I’ve accumulated a couple pairs of Nike swim shorts. A 5-inch brief-lined pair. And a 7-inch fully lined version.

It’s hard to explain exactly why they fit better until you put them on. My theory? Nike understands movement in a way few brands do. The fabric stretches where it should. The liner supports without feeling restrictive. Everything stays put without feeling tight. You stop noticing you’re wearing them about three minutes after you put them on. Which is exactly what you want from a swim short.

I rarely change after getting out of the water, either. I towel off, throw on a tee or sweatshirt, grab an iced coffee, and go about my afternoon.

It’s right there in the name. Twenty-four. Seven. As in all day, every day. And I find myself leaning into this collection even more during the summer.

It’s the fabric that does it for me. Lightweight. Buttery smooth. After a long day in the sun, that softness hits differently.

My favorite piece is probably the half-zip. On summer evenings, when the rooftop gets breezy, it’s almost always the layer I throw on.

It also never misses a vacation. Every trip has that one piece that gets worn far more than you’d ever admit. Mine is usually the 24.7 half-zip.

TMI, but here’s the real test of softness. After an evening shower following a full day in the sun, I’ll throw it on without an undershirt. It feels less like putting on clothing and more like climbing into luxury hotel sheets. That feeling on sun-kissed skin? Makes an ordinary Tuesday feel like a vacation.

Every summer has a shoe. This year’s has been the Waffle. Actually, Waffles. Two of them.

I’ve been rotating between the Waffle Racer and the Air Tailwind ’79 as my defaults.

Coffee. Lunch. A baseball game. Walking around the neighborhood with my wife. Running errands.

They’re so lightweight I barely think about them, and the lower-profile silhouette just feels right this time of year. Less shoe. More movement.

I’ve always loved how Nike has kept the original waffle outsole alive. There’s something wonderfully retro about it. You get all the vintage charm of an old running shoe, paired with all the modern tech/comfort features.

And maybe this part is entirely in my head… But I swear I walk faster in them. There’s an extra bounce that makes me feel like I’m getting somewhere with a little more enthusiasm than usual. Placebo? Perhaps. But summer isn’t really the season for overthinking that kind of thing.

If a pair of shoes convinces you to take the long way home, that’s real enough for me.