One of Nike's Best Flyknits Almost Looked Completely Different

A look at an early sample of the Nike Flyknit Trainer.

Image via Pakho Kiva Lee

When Nike debuted its acclaimed Flyknit technology in 2012, it did so with two silhouettes, the Flyknit Racer and the Flyknit Trainer. While Nike has continued to push the uber-popular Racer, the Trainer has taken a backseat. As fans clamor for Nike to bring out another set of colorways of the Trainer, a member of a France Flyknit Club on Facebook —​ Pakho Kiva Lee — posted images of an early sample of the "Volt" Trainers.

The "Volt" Flyknit Trainers that released (featured above on the left) feature a mix between black and Volt all throughout the sneaker, while the unreleased pair mainly has a Volt upper, with the black shining through in the Swoosh. Based on appearances alone, it appears Nike scrapped this design in favor of the Flyknit Trainer we know of today.

Based on the success of the Trainers, Nike seems to have made the right decision.