Our verdict
The Track spikes and XC sneakers are comfortable shoes that you can walk long distances in. Not only are they comfortable, but the shoes are also highly fashionable, lightweight, perfect-fitting, well-built, priced very competitively, and have rich and intense hues. Further, the Corsair sneakers—the Onitsuka Tiger versions of the Cortez— have excellent traction on different surfaces.
Pros
- Who should buy Track spikes and XC
- Stylish
- Perfect fit
- Top-notch quality
- Affordable price
- Vivid and alive colors
- Lightweight
- Excellent grip
Cons
- Track spikes and XC
- Lacks arch support
Who should buy Track spikes and XC
The Corsairs are beautiful leather shoes with a unisex appeal that are ideal if you are looking for retro comfortable runners sneakers to pair with joggers, jeans, shorts, and slim pants.
Customizable fit
The kicks feature a lace-up closure system of seven eyelets and flat laces. These give the shoe a customizable fit.
One special edition
The Track spikes and XC sneakers are most notable for their thick EVA midsoles that provide plenty of shock absorption. While today’s version is geared more towards fashion use, the shoes can still give some runners a bit of competition.
Lightweight
The lightweight but sturdy uppers feels stiff at first, but they soften up beautifully after a few wears.
One special edition
The Corsairs were originally named the Cortez. They were considered influential shoes from which all modern running footwear comes from. The Corsairs were released in 1969 in time for the Mexico Games, and during that period, the Blue Ribbon Sports Company held the distribution rights of Onitsuka Tiger shoes in the US.
Blue Ribbon Sports was headed by Phil Knight and his former coach, Bill Bowerman. As a technical advisor to Blue Ribbon Sports, Bill created a new silhouette from two Onitsuka Tiger models, with the blessing of Onitsuka Tiger. The new silhouette was initially called the Aztec, but since Adidas released a model named the Azteca Gold, the company decided to change it to the Cortez, who according to Bowerman, was the “Spaniard who beat the shit out of the Aztecs.”
One day, while an Onitsuka official paid a visit to Blue Ribbon’s warehouse, he discovered several pairs of the Cortez in the storeroom without the customary Tiger stripes, and which had been replaced with the Swoosh. Unknown to Onitsuka Tiger, while Blue Ribbon was distributing their shoes, they were also selling their own Cortez version under the label, Nike. This discovery started the rift between the two companies.
