top of page

Nike Dunk Low Skateboarding Sneaker

The Nike Dunk Low Pro SB (Skateboarding) has an intriguing history and cultural impact spanning several decades. It is a variation of the iconic Dunk sneaker, designed specifically for skateboarding. Originally, the Nike Dunk became a cult favorite among the skateboarding community in the mid-1990s, valued for its cushioning, support, and traction. This led to the official launch of Nike SB (Skateboarding) in March 2002, with the introduction of the Nike SB Dunk.

The design of the Nike SB Dunk Low included skater-friendly upgrades from the original Dunk silhouette, like a fat tongue, additional padding, elastic straps, and Zoom Air soles. The first Nike SB Dunks released were in collaboration with the company’s inaugural skate team, each with their own signature colorway. These included skaters like Danny Supa, Gino Iannucci, Richard Mulder, and Reese Forbes.

Nike SB's first official collaboration after becoming its own division in 2002 was with Supreme. This collaboration was notable for being the first time the Black Cement colorway from the Air Jordan 3 appeared on another shoe, a groundbreaking move that helped both brands reach new milestones. Other notable releases include collaborations with Futura, Diamond Supply Co., Chocolate, and Zoo York. The cultural impact of the Nike SB Dunk Low is significant. For example, the 2005 release of the Jeff Staple ‘Pigeon’ Nike Dunk SB brought sneakerhead culture into the mainstream, with police called to manage the crowds at Staple's NYC store.

In the 2010s, the style's popularity saw a dip, but it experienced a renaissance in 2020 with collaborations with Travis Scott, Virgil Abloh, and the Grateful Dead. These collaborations propelled the Nike SB Dunk back into the spotlight, making it one of the hottest silhouettes of the year.

At the retail level, Nike SB Dunk Lows are relatively affordable, typically costing around $100. However, the market price on platforms like StockX is much higher, averaging around $460, which is a 315% premium over the retail price. Collaborative models, in particular, tend to resell for more than two times the resale of non-collaborative models. Among the various types of collaborations, those with clothing brands are the most valuable, often reselling for more than 9x their retail price.



Whether used for skateboarding or as a fashion statement, the SB Dunk Low continues to attract a diverse range of fans who appreciate the design for its versatility and style. For those looking to invest in sneakers, the SB Dunk Low, especially in collaborative editions, presents a potentially lucrative opportunity

Comments


bottom of page