13 Years Later, the Mars Yard Returns

Exactly 13 years ago, American contemporary artist Tom Sachs from New York teamed up with one of the world's largest suppliers of athletic shoes and apparel, Nike, to bring his creative vision to life. Inspired by the artist's work with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Mars Yard found creation through a blend of science, space exploration, and DIY aesthetics.

But why are we talking about a pair of sneakers that has since spawned two successors ,the futuristic Mars Yard Overshoe in 2019 and the democratic NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe in 2022?

This month Nike and Sachs have dropped the original silhouette back with completely updated tooling and materials, while keeping its signature look. The new Mars Yard 3.0 stays true to its roots while introducing several technical upgrades. The sneaker features a durable natural rubber outsole, a React foam midsole combined with a carbon fibre shank for added support, and a redesigned lacing system aimed at better accommodating different foot shapes. Additionally, the shoe includes TPU toe and heel clips for increased protection and stability.

Tom Sachs describes the shoe as “built for the sport of sculpture and the rigours of everyday life.” He emphasizes that while the design looks similar to previous versions, “every single thing is completely new”, from the sole to the packaging, which has been redesigned to be reusable.

In a unique approach, NikeCraft has introduced the I.S.R.U. app (In-Situ Resource Utilisation), where participants complete weekly challenges designed to build self-discipline and break unproductive habits. Only those who complete these challenges and qualify on the app’s leaderboard will be eligible to purchase the Mars Yard 3.0, which launched on September 5 exclusively through the Tom Sach website.

The launch is accompanied by a new documentary, A Brief History of the Mars Yard, available on Nike’s YouTube channel, which traces the evolution of the shoe and its cultural impact.

The Mars Yard 3.0 release reaffirms NikeCraft’s commitment to blending art, function, and community engagement, offering sneaker fans more than just a pair of shoes, but a lifestyle challenge.