The 10 Best Nike Dunks of 2021
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By Stadium Goods |The 10 Best Nike Dunks of 2021
It was another huge year for the Dunk, and these are its very best releases.
Matt DeSciora
Like a phoenix rising from the smoldering ashes, the Nike Dunk emerged from obscurity in 2020 and 2021 to reclaim its former glory as Nike’s premier skate and lifestyle shoe. Just like the Dunk had been all those years ago, when it played a role in turning cult brands like Supreme and underground artists like Futura 2000 into pop culture phenomenons. Or when it made people camp out in front of skate shops and boutiques and exchange rumors on message boards. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that proves prophetic in explaining the Dunk’s popularity in 2021.
The same qualities that made the Nike Dunk a great shoe back in the early 2000s are the reason why the sneaker still resonates with collectors, and stylish people in general, today. If you want a comfortable, classic shoe in a wide range of colors to match your look, there’s a good chance that there’s a Dunk out there for you.
Widely available but not watered down, the Dunk is as iconic as ever. As we wrap up another year, let’s take this opportunity to take a look back at the very best Nike Dunk releases of 2021.
Ambush x Nike Dunk High “Flash Lime”
Few have done more to progress the Nike Dunk’s timeless style into the future than the husband and wife team of Verbal and Yoon Ahn, collectively known as the luxury jewelry brand, Ambush. Rubber Swooshes that extend off the heel, dazzling colorways, and a fearless approach to design encompass every Ambush x Nike Dunk collaboration, as best exemplified by the “Flash Lime” colorway.
With its combination of earth tone suede panels, the Dunk High “Dark Curry” best represents the retro basketball model’s standing as one of the most versatile lifestyle sneakers on the market in 2021. This is definitely our biggest sleeper pick for the Dunk in 2021.
Whether you call it the “Panda” or “Twist,” two nicknames associated with the Air Jordan 1, the Nike Dunk Low “Black/White” is in the top percentile of ultra versatile shoes, let alone Dunk colorways, that you can own. Nothing else really needs to be said about a shoe this perfect.
Social Status x Nike Dunk Mid “Chocolate Milk”
The creative chops of sneaker boutique Social Status turned the Nike Dunk Mid, the rarest of the model’s three silhouettes, into “Chocolate Milk” in 2021. From the collective’s “Free Lunch” collaboration, the “Chocolate Milk’s” design shows appreciation to federally assisted public school meal programs, and of course chocolate milk. It features a pink gel Swoosh, chocolate milk-inspired panels in various plush materials, and a list of the shoe’s ingredients, too. Social Status also released a “Strawberry Milk” Dunk as part of one of the most creative Dunk collaborations of the year.
Paul Rodriguez x Nike SB Dunk Low “What the”
In 2021, Nike SB renewed its partnership with longtime SB team rider Paul Rodriguez in a big way when it brought back all of P-Rod’s popular SB Dunk colorways from back in the day… on one design. The “What the” P-Rod SB Dunk features a dash of the “Mexican Blanket” mixed with a pinch of Air Jordan-inspired “J Rod” style from 2005. As one could imagine, Rodriguez’s “What the” collaboration was one of the loudest Dunk releases of the year.
Women’s Nike Dunk Low “Laser Orange”
The rise of women’s-exclusive Dunk colorways was a trend worth keeping an eye on this year, with styles including the Women’s Nike Dunk Low “Laser Orange” creating hype among all genders. The white-and-orange vibe is an offshoot of the model’s original “Syracuse” makeup from 1985’s “Be True to Your School” pack, one of the most coveted Dunk releases of all time.
Suede has appeared on many Dunks in the past, but most releases didn’t feature the same kind of soft-to-the-touch, hairy suede detailing found on styles like the Dunk Low “Medium Curry.” The autumnal colorway’s elevated craftsmanship, along with its retro-inspired, cream-colored midsole that gives the shoe a very “2021” ethos, was one of the best Nike releases of the year, period.
Parra x Nike SB Dunk Low “Abstract Art”
The timely release of Dutch artist Piet Parra’s Nike SB Dunk Low “Abstract Art” coincided with the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer, where skateboarding became an Olympic sport for the first time. Significant? You bet. In addition to honoring Parra’s signature geometric patterns that have appeared on so many classic Nike Air Max 1s over the years, the “Abstract Art” complimented the kits (uniforms) of the USA, Brazil, France, and Japan Olympic skate teams, all of which were designed by Parra.
Notre x Nike Dunk High “Blue Void”
The Chicago retailer Notre’s first-ever Nike collaboration puts a workwear spin on the retro basketball and lifestyle shoe that jives with the rugged materials and earth tone colors that have appeared on many sneaker releases in 2021. Released in two colorways, the “Blue Void” and “Light Orewood Brown,” Notre’s Dunk features hairy suede panels, a redesigned Swoosh turned into the shop’s “handshake” logo, a workwear-inspired “Notre” name tag on the tongue, speckled laces, and a vintage-leaning cream rubber midsole. All together, this Dunk hits nearly every on-trend design detail of 2021.
Off-White x Nike Dunk Low “Lot 1”
Before Virgil Abloh’s untimely passing in late November, the visionary sneaker and fashion designer collaborated with Nike on a Dunk collection called “Lot 50.” As its name suggests, “Lot 50” encompassed 50—yes, as in five-zero—unique colorways of the retro basketball shoe, each with dialed-in modifications that explored Off-White’s signature “do-it-yourself” style in a new light. No doubt, all of Abloh’s work, and his last major Nike project, will be enjoyed, studied, and talked about by generations to come.