The first Nike shoe was inspired by a waffle. After watching his wife make waffles, co-founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman, poured urethane into a waffle iron to see if would work. The Waffle Trainer debuted soon after in 1974. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/nikes-first-running-shoes-were-made-in-a-waffle-iron-2015-7