Nike SB Dunk

Nike had a rather tough start in the skateboarding business. Established skate shoe brands dominated the market and any attempts to get their foot in the door failed for quite some time. In 2002 all that changed. With a skateboarding version of the already popular Nike Dunk, the Beaverton, Oregon brand laid the foundation for their success in skateboarding.

From court to board - The rise of the Nike SB Dunks

The first Nike Dunks were available in 1985 and were worn particularly on college basketball courts. Peter Moore's design combined elements from successful Nike models like the Air Force 1 and Air Jordan. The Dunk gained a lot of popularity especially because of its wild colorways - a factor that played a huge part in Nike SB Dunk’s success.

The Dunk should become Nike's poster child for skateboarding. To give Nike SB a face, the brand acquired a bunch of highly regarded and respected skaters: Reese Forbes, Gino Ianucci, Richard Mulder and Danny Supa.

Nike SB Dunk Low - Colors by: Richard Mulder

Nike SB Dunk Low - Colors by: Danny Supa

Nike SB Dunk Low - Colors by: Reese Forbes

Nike SB Dunk Low - Colors by: Gino Iannucci

 

 

Nike came up with a twist: Every Nike SB team rider should have their own special colorway with an extra added personal touch from the rider. Danny Supa's Dunk paid homage to his favorite basketball team and Richie Mulder's Dunk had the same colors as his very first Nike shoe. This was the foundation for all future Nike SB Dunk releases - the story behind the colorway became important.

Collabs & colorways - the Nike SB Dunk hype

Nike SB already presented its first three collabs back in 2002. Collaborations with Chocolate Skateboards, Zoo York and especially Supreme, got the ball rolling for the Dunks. For the "City Series" in 2005, Jeff Ng from Staple Design and Reed Space NYC got the job to design a Nike SB Dunk Low that should represent New York City. No later than the notorious release of the first Nike SB Pigeon Dunk and the hype about the Nike SB Dunk Low was up and running.

Other releases like the Nike SB Dunk x Diamond also known as Dunk Low Pro Tiffany (2005) or the Nike SB Dunk Low Red Lobster designed by Concepts in 2008, were in high demand by skateboarders and sneakerheads alike.

A cornerstone in the skate scene - Dunk Low & high skate shoes

The first Nike SB Dunk Low Pro featured a lot of padding on the tongue and around the ankle. It also introduced zoom insole technology to skateboarding. Nevertheless, the Dunk was a rather slim silhouette compared to other skate shoes that were popular in the early 2000’s.

Over time, Nike SB gave its golden child an update every now and then. Models like the Nike SB Dunk Elite or the deconstructed version of the classic offer a bit more variety besides the standard model. However, the regular Nike SB Dunk Low and Dunk High which you can both order easily online in the skatedeluxe skate shop, are nearly unbeatable. Due to its durable mix of material, broad padding and long-lasting performance, the Nike Dunk SB is still one of the most highly sought-after skate shoes by skateboarders worldwide.

Whether it’s the Nike SB Dunk Low Pro for more freedom to move around or the Nike SB Dunk High Pro for added support and padding - Nike SB riders like Eric Koston, Sean Malto, Brian Anderson, Ishod Wair or Kevin Bradley are loyal to the Nike SB Dunks. As part of the Orange Label line which is only available in skate shops, the Nike SB Zoom Dunk Orange Label is one of the modern classics amongst skate shoes.

Strictly limited - Nike SB Dunk raffles & quickstrikes

For the 15th anniversary of the first Nike SB Dunk models in 2017, the brand re-released popular versions. Quickstrike models like the first Dunk colorways or special collabs like the Panda Pigeon Dunk, Black Hornet Dunk or Diamond Tiffany Dunk quickly sold out - as expected.

Because of limited stock and such high demand, we also release exclusive Dunk colorways like the Dunk Low Parra or Dog Walker in our skatedeluxe skate shop with release raffles. This means you can win the right to buy the shoe - this way the releases are fair for everyone. So stay tuned - the next Nike SB Dunk raffle is coming up for sure!

» More Nike SB

Nike SB Dunk High Dog Walker

Nike SB Dunk Low x Diamond Re-Release

Nike SB Dunk Low Panda Pigeon

Nike SB Dunk Low x Parra

Nike SB Dunk Low Purple Lobster