There have been a lot of great sneaker collaborations in recent years, with Nike, as usual, contributing heavily to the scene. As a sneaker fan though, you may be wondering what are the best Nike collabs around right now.
As sneaker fans ourselves, we were curious too. Therefore, we've put together a list of what we believe to be some of the most iconic and interesting collaborations released as of late to help you find the best sneakers to add to your collection.
Unsurprisingly, there have been a ton of amazing designs dropped over the last few months, some of which could even be considered amongst the best sneaker collabs of all time. So, narrowing things down did prove tricky.
We have managed to pull together a small selection of our favourites though for this list. Of course, choosing the 'best' is completely subjective; however, we've tried to include a range of different designs to suit a variety of tastes.
The Run The Jewels x Nike SB Dunks collab springs to mind as a design that might not be everyone's cup of tea. However, Nike is never one to shy away from bold, ambitious designs, and for us, the sheer level of detail is something that should be recognised.
So, without further delay, let's get into what we believe are the best Nike collaborations around right now...
Best Nike collabs
- AMBUSH x Nike Air Force 1 Low "White"
- Slam Jam x Nike Air Force 1 Low "Black"
- Run The Jewels x Nike SB Dunk High "Active Pink Black"
- Tom Sachs x NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe "Field Brown"
- Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 Mid "Sheed"
1. AMBUSH x Nike Air Force 1 Low "White"
One of the best team-ups this year has been Nike's collaboration with AMBUSH for this "White" Air Force 1 release.
The collaboration features a top-to-bottom off-white Phantom design, along with an oversized black Swoosh that extends off the heel to give the shoe a unique look over a regular pair of Air Force 1s.
Read More: Best Nike sneakers
The tongue, lace-locks, and insoles are adorned with black AMBUSH branding, adding to the overall aesthetic with references to the collaborating company.
All in all, this AMBUSH collab is relatively straightforward, but the oversized details and classic colour scheme mean the shoes are the ultimate companions to help make any outfit stand out.
2. Slam Jam x Nike Air Force 1 Low "Black"
Moving on to another simple yet effective Air Force 1 collaboration in this Slam Jam AF1 Low.
Dressed from head to toe in black, there's nothing bright or bold about the design. In fact, Slam Jam has simply provided a subtle remix of the Air Force 1s core construction.
Read More Best Air Force 1s
Some of the subtle changes made include the replacement of the usual leather mid-panel with mesh, tweaking the perforated toebox arrangement to form the Slam Jam logo, plus the "Nike Air" branding on the heel has been flipped.
Overall, the changes are rather understated, but it certainly makes this Air Force 1 unique. And, if you're not a fan of the Black colourway, Slam Jam and Nike have released a White variation as well. On the whole, a great collab.
3. Run The Jewels x Nike SB Dunk High "Active Pink Black"
Over on the Dunk side of things, the Run The Jewels x Nike SB Highs are a great example of a collaboration done right. These sneakers made their debut earlier this year, with the "Active Pink Black" colourway standing out as one of the most interesting sneakers on Nike's roster.
The shoe boasts uniquely carved Swooshes resembling precious gems adorning both sides, while the iconic signatures of Killer Mike and El-P are elegantly crafted into golden lace dubraes.
Read More: Best high-top shoes
They're also made from sleek black leather and vibrant pink faux fur, which seamlessly blends with the laces and outsole. A dash of lively yellow on the heel tab mirrors the insoles, which once again pay homage to Run The Jewels.
Ultimately, this collaboration pays tribute to Run The Jewels in a unique and vibrant way, helping to make it one of the best team-ups we've come across as of late.
4. Tom Sachs x NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe "Field Brown"
Tom Sachs and Nike continued their ongoing partnership earlier this year by unveiling a "Field Brown" iteration of the NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe.
It's a rather unique Nike collaboration, featuring a relatively simple design that lives up to its "General Purpose" moniker.
Read More: Best low-top shoes
More specifically, it's crafted from suede and breathable mesh, all of which are dressed in a brown hue. To contrast this, a white Nike-branded tag adorns the top of the brown tongue, while a black pull loop is positioned on both the tongue and heel of the sneaker.
We appreciate that the overall design may not be to everyone's taste. However, we think what Tom Sachs has brought to the table here has to be commended, so earns a spot in our selection.
5. Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 Mid "Sheed"
We're rounding things off with a sneaker that pays homage to Rasheed Wallace and his player exclusive Air Force 1s from the '00s, the sneaker being this Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 Mid named, unsuprisingly, "Sheed".
There are plenty of similarities between this shoe and its inspiration, although there are quite a few differences as well, mainly from some of the stereotypically Off-White motifs. For instance, the inside edge features a special "Rasheed" variation on the usual Off-White text. The sneaker also features a white zip-lock tag and bold spikes on the outsole.
Read More: Best black sneakers
As mentioned though, the nods to Rasheed are not in short supply. A special logo is printed on the tongue in white, plus and ankle strap features the iconic #30 jersey number from Rasheed's playing days.
Also, it's worth mentioning that the whole shoe is made from a shiny patent leather if that wasn't clear in the image above. Realistically, we've only scratched the surface on the amount of design featured here, which is one of the key reasons we had to include it on our list.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
You may have a few questions about Nike collabs when searching for the right one to add to your collection. Don't worry though, we've answered some of the most commonly asked queries right here.
Where can you buy Nike collabs?
Most Nike collaborations can usually be found at the Nike store, although more popular drops usually take place on Nike's SNKRS launch page specifically.
Not only do new sneakers arrive there, but the page also announces release dates ahead of time. You can also sign up to push notifications to ensure you're completely prepared for new arrivals.
Alternatively, you may find new collaborations released with whichever brand Nike is working with.
For instance, Supreme dropped the "Pinksicle" Air Max 98 on its own website rather than through Nike. As a result, we'd suggest you check both brands whenever you're buying a collab.
Our final recommendation for buying Nike collabs is to check out resale marketplaces like StockX or GOAT, especially if you're after a particularly sought-after release, and end up missing out on the chance to buy it at retail.
Fortunately, both companies authenticate every purchase you make to ensure the second-hand shoes you're buying are legitimate to reduce the likelihood of you spending money on counterfeits.
For more information on this, make sure you check out our list of the best places to buy sneakers right here.
When are new Nike collabs released?
Neither Nike nor the brands it collaborates with really have a set timeframe for when they release their latest designs.
As is the case with adidas collabs, new sneakers tend to just consistently drop throughout the year, seemingly at random times.
There are some instances where new collabs are released at specific times, like, for example, if a design ties into a holiday such as Christmas, or when a design is made for an anniversary.
By and large, though, there's no definitive date or time when new Nike collabs are released, so it's worth keeping an eye on Nike and its social media's to stay on top of when new collaborations come out.
That said, we try to cover any new drops ahead of time on RealKit. So, if you're looking for the latest Nike collabs, make sure you check in with us to see what's on the horizon.
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