Nike Galaxy Foamposites: A Second Shot at History
Price: $250 [SOLD OUT; Check eBay for Current Prices]
Why Buy?
The Nike Galaxy Foamposite offers a nostalgic hit for those who missed in 2012.
Why Avoid?
The Nike Galaxy Foamposite is expensive, not comfortable, and a bit nerdy if we’re being honest.
Specs
| Model | Foamposite |
| Height | Mid |
| Materials | Polyurethane / Rubber |
| Size | 13 |
| Weight | 599 g / 1 lb 5 oz |
| Construction | Cemented |
| Country of Origin | China |
History
In the world of sneakers, there are a few out there that have developed a myth around them. Some of these, such as the Jordan 1, are due to how the sneaker was originally worn. Others, like the New Balance 990, come from the commitment to being the best no matter the cost. However, some – like this one today – are famous because of the launch of the sneaker itself.
When the Nike Galaxy Foamposites first dropped, it was absolute pandemonium. There were riots, with many locations not even being able to sell the pairs they had for their own safety. Easy to say, it was hard to get a pair.
While the idea of sneaker reselling wasn’t new, it was still something most people had not heard of. This was one of the sneakers that set it from an obscure to national news. Pairs were selling for thousands. There was famously even a guy who tried to trade his car for a pair. Funnily enough, given resale value at the time, the car was actually worth a whole lot less than the sneakers.
Like pretty much everyone else, I did not get a pair back then and certainly couldn’t afford retail. Even though I’m not a huge foamposite fan, the cultural significance – and the fact that I’m a space nerd – means these have always appealed to me.
That’s why I was so excited to see these come back. It’s a chance to go back 13 years and try again. I lost on SNKRS, of course. But a softening resale market means we can answer a question:
Were they worth all the hype? Let’s dive in and find out.
Looks
Upper
The upper of the Nike Galaxy Foamposities has a lot going on. Let’s start with the namesake of the sneaker – the galaxy print. The Galaxy Foamposite was the first foamposite that had any sort of all-over print on it, and in this case, it was a space theme.
The print quality is actually pretty bad. There are visible pixels all over the pattern. I imagine that was more limitations on the production process back in 2012 that Nike left in to keep them authentic. Funnily enough, one of the easiest ways to tell a fake is that the fakes have better looking print. Outside of that, there is a small, dark grey panel on the toe.
The rest of the sneaker is primarily black. Starting at the eyelet panel – which runs from almost the very front of the sneaker to the opening – it covered on a kind of cheap looking felt-like material. A mini-swoosh is up by the toebox.
The laces, also black, cover a mesh tongue with a sewn grey stripe up the middle ending at the 1-cent Penny logo. The sneaker features an internal bootie construction, and has two straps to help you get it on.
Attached to the sneaker out of the box is a red “remove before flight” hang tag. In a world where people leave their off-white hang tag on their sneaker, I’ve seen some people leave this on. It’s certainly a look I wouldn’t go for, but hey – this is a silly sneaker already. Do you.
Mid- and Outsole
The bottom half of the Nike Galaxy Foamposite won’t be left behind by the upper.
The first thing you notice is the translucent pale green rubber on the outsole. This rubber doesn’t just match the upper well, it also glows in the dark. At the very bottom of the sneaker is a herringbone pattern in black with an included grey 1-cent logo.
Right in the middle – wrapping up onto the upper and flaring way out to the side – is a carbon fiber plate.
Unfortunately, my pair had quite a bit of excess glue all around the outsole. I know that is pretty common on foamposites, but it’s still a bit tough to swallow given the retail price these now come in at.
Summary
The Nike Galaxy Foamposites are not without their flaws. While some of them are a nod to the originals, others – like the glue stains – are a bit harder to swallow. Still, if I had to guess, 99% of the people who bought these were like me. Just trying to capture nostalgia from an earlier time.
As for how to wear them, I’ve found them surprisingly easy to wear. From a few feet away they really just look like purple foamposites. Not the most subtle shoe out there, but certainly not what comes to mind when you hear that they are a galaxy-themed sneaker.
I find they work best with casual looser fitting outfits. Obviously sweatpants and a hoodie work, but even with a pair of heavier chinos and a flannel ends up looking surprisingly good.
Fit & Comfort
Fit
Look around the internet and you’ll find people saying the Nike Galaxy Foamposite, or really any foamposite, fits small. I’m not sure I’d agree with that.
The interior shape of the foamposite is very similar to other Nikes from the 1990’s – Air Maxes, Jordans, etc. The big difference is that the foamposites have almost no give to them out of the box. Even broken in, there just isn’t as much room for your foot to expand like it can in shoes made of mesh and leather.
A lot of people wear their sneakers too tight. That’s bad in general (look up hammertoes if you want to know why), but that’s really bad in these. That being said, if your other sneakers fit you correctly, you’ll want to get these in the same size.
Comfort
When it comes to the Nike Galaxy Foamposite, don’t expect cozy. These things are stiff out of the box.
The PU upper almost feels like plastic when new. They will take your foot shape with time (tip: they form faster with heat so wearing them on a summer day will speed up this process), but they’ll never feel quite as comfortable in the upper as other sneakers.
They are also heavy. In my size 13 they weigh nearly 1.5 lbs each! I have boots that weigh less than that. You’ll feel it at the end of the day.
On the positive side, there is some great cushioning in these sneakers. Not only do they have a full length zoom air unit, there is a second zoom air unit under your heel. I really like Nike’s Zoom Air technology from a casual perspective, and it’s carrying a lot of weight in these sneakers.
I wouldn’t say these are specifically uncomfortable, but they are not a pair I’d grab if I was going to be on my feet all day.
Materials & Construction
Materials
One of the most interesting parts of the Nike Galaxy Foamposites are the materials that go into them.
How can you start with anything but the upper. The majority of the upper – all of the material that features a galaxy print – is made of polyurethane. Yes, the same material that is typically found in the midsole of older Jordan retros. Polyurethane can take on a variety of forms based on the exact make up of the chemicals they put into it, which allows them to make it into this tougher form.
As mentioned above, this type of material is really interesting because it provides great durability while also slowly molding to the shape of the wearers foot over time. It also gives a bit of cushioning underfoot.
The rest of the upper materials are far less interesting. Made entirely of synthetic materials, they range from standard sneaker mesh (the tongue and heel), to a material that should not go on a sneaker this expensive. The felt-like material on the eyelets in particular is a major let down.
Underfoot, an open cell insole is fine if not spectacular. It is glued down, though, so if you want to change it out do it before you wear them. Once your foot has pressed down on the glue it’ll be much harder to remove.
Underneath that insole are two separate Air Zoom units. One that runs the length of the sneaker, and one under your heel. Air Zoom units are packets that are filled with air and strands to help them keep their shape.
Finally, the outsole is made of a fairly hard rubber which should last a long time. In fact, most pairs I see fail because of the glue holding the outsole on wears out.
Construction
The Nike Galaxy Foamposite, like all foamposites, have one of the most interesting ways of being made in the sneaker world. Typically, sneakers have the upper sewn together and then they are glued onto a foam midsole.
First, the interior bootie is sewn together, then it is placed inside of a metal mold where polyurethane is poured in around it to form the upper. After about 3 minutes that PU hardens, is trimmed down to something sellable. After the upper pops out, an outsole is then glued on, similar to other sneakers.
That means that while these sneakers are technically cemented, though in a roundabout way.
The benefit of this construction is that it offers greater durability than standard cemented construction, and is easier to duplicate and get a consistent product. As for drawbacks, the molds were famously expensive to make.
Pricing
The Nike Galaxy Foamposites launched at an already high $250 retail price. They sold out instantly, and are reselling. Right after launch most sizes were going for north of $400, though a few weeks later pricing did come down a bit, and at time of writing most sizes are closer to $325. A few really small sizes are actually under retail.
This puts the Foamposites as among the most expensive of any sneaker from a mainline brand, topping nearly every Jordan model and matching the made-in-England 991v2. At least at retail. Of course, retail doesn’t really matter for a sneaker that sold out instantly.
$325 isn’t cheap, but compared to the price that these were going for just before Nike announced their reissue, it’s a big savings. Even with fomposite hype about as low as it’s ever been, pairs were trading hands for around $1,000.
Wrap Up
The Nike Galaxy Foamposites aren’t perfect—but they were never meant to be. Some of the flaws, like the pixelated print or felt panels, are forgivable nods to the original release. Others, like the glue stains, feel more like quality control misses—especially at this price.
But let’s be real: no one’s buying these for pristine craftsmanship. These are about nostalgia. If you missed out in 2012, this retro is a second chance to own a piece of sneaker history. That emotional pull outweighs the rough edges for most of us.
On foot, they’re surprisingly wearable. From a distance, they pass as just another purple Foamposite. That makes them a little easier to style than you might expect. Loose-fitting casual pieces—sweats, cargo pants, flannels—complement the bulk well. Don’t overthink it.
In the end, the Galaxy Foamposites are less about style or comfort and more about what they represent. If you get that, you probably already own a pair.