A pair of old Nike trainers just sold for over £350,000 - should you be investing in sneakers?

A pair of pre-owned Nike trainers have just sold for a whopping £350,000 ($437,500) at Sotherby’s in New York, breaking the previous world auction record for a pair of sneakers and far surpassing its pre-sale estimate of £142,430.

The Nike ‘Moon Shoes’ were created by the American brand in 1972 and are described on Sotherby’s website as “one of the most significant artifacts in Nike's long history.”

The design was created by Nike co-founder and renowned Oregon University Track Coach, Bill Bowerman, who specially designed the shoe for runners at the 1972 Olympic Trials. Only an estimated 12 pairs were created in total, the pair up for auction being the only known design to exist in an unworn condition - making them a rare collectors item.

The trainers were won by collector, Miles Nadal, who had acquired 99 other pairs in a private auction the previous week. Nadal told Sotherby’s: “I am thrilled to acquire the iconic Nike ‘Moon Shoes,’ one of the rarest pairs of sneakers ever produced, and a true historical artifact in sports history and pop culture.”

As sneakerhead culture continues to grow in 2019, with resale prices of exclusive drops going through the roof, there is no denying that trainers are proving to be a worthy investment for the future.

So, if you’ve been looking for a reason to justify buying yourself a fresh pair of kicks - now is the time. Below are our top three Nike picks:

Nike Leather White Cortez Trainers from ASOS | £65 | Shop them here

Nike Air Force 1 '07 from Nike | £79.95 | Shop them here

Nike Air Max 270 Trainer from Footasylum | £114.99 | Shop them here

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