Nike is arguably the biggest name in the sneaker game. But with so many models and variations, you might wonder what the top Nike shoes of all time are. In this post, we’ll break it down by most popular overall, then explain which popular Nikes made the biggest splash in each decade.
Nike Air Jordan 1
When you think of Nikes, you think of Air Jordans. These sneakers were introduced in 1985 as Michael Jordan’s signature shoe. Initially, the red-and-black colorway was banned from NBA play because the colors weren’t approved, but that only added to their street appeal. Before the Air Jordan 1, basketball shoes were almost exclusively worn by basketball players, but these sneakers brought basketball shoes to the sidewalks.
Nike Air Force 1
The Nike Air Force 1 introduced Nike’s revolutionary air cushioning design to the basketball court. It was adopted by popular basketball players and followed by streetwear lovers in areas like Baltimore and New York City. The Air Force 1 has been adapted into a legion of colorways, but the solid white and black colorways are still some of the most popular.
Nike Air Max 1
The Air Max 1 was designed by Tinker Hatfield, who first joined Nike as an architect designing office spaces. He helped implement the Max Air technology that would become common in so many Nikes, but the Air Max 1 was the first to use it. The shoe even included a visible plastic window on the midsole to show where the Max Air technology was.
Nike Air Max 90
The Air Max 90 was called the Air Max III until its re-release in 2000. It was built to accentuate and exaggerate the already-known Max Air technology built into the sole. The original design included a black, red, and grey colorway. In 2020, Nike created a construction that returned to the original’s more faithful design from 1990. Like the Air Force 1, the Air Max 90 has been adapted into an army of colorways.
Nike Blazer
The Nike Blazer was initially released in 1973 as a basketball shoe but quickly made its way to urban streetwear. It got its Blazer name after the Portland Trail Blazers, the professional basketball team based out of Oregon, where Nike is headquartered. The Blazer has experienced a lot of colorways since its inception, but the white ‘77 Mids with the green swoosh is still one of the most popular.
Nike Cortez
The Cortez was the first Nike shoe designed by Nike co-founder and coach Bill Bowerman. It was released in the late 1960s, before Nike’s foray into basketball footwear. The Cortez was built as a running shoe and quickly became a bestseller in the running shoe space. One of the more popular colorways is the white with red swoosh, often popularized as the Gumps, named after the 1994 movie character Forrest Gump.
Nike SB Dunk Low
In the early 2000s, skateboarding culture had emerged into the mainstream. Nike dropped the Nike SB Dunks in 2002, cementing its place in skateboarding. For a while, skaters had been using Nike Dunks to hit ramps and rails, but the Nike SB Dunks included more skater-friendly upgrades like a fatter tongue and firmer padding. Nike SB Dunks are still highly sought after, even twenty years later.
Most Popular Nikes of Each Decade
1970s
Nike Blazer. The Nike Blazer couldn’t stay off the basketball court. Urban shoe lovers adopted them and made them a regular fashion item. The most famous iteration is and remains the Nike Blazer ‘77 Mid.
1980s
Nike Air Force 1. The most popular colorways remain the all-whites and all-blacks, but hundreds of additional colorways have been released. This is considered one of Nike’s most iconic designs.
1990s
Nike Air Max 90. This shoe introduced a taller sole that featured a window that let you see the Air Max technology. Hundreds of colorways have been introduced, and wearers have loved the Air Max 90 for its comfort and style.
2000s
Nike SB Dunk Lows. Nike’s foray into skateboarding footwear proved to be a huge success. Nike SB Dunk Lows are still incredibly popular, having adopted a multitude of colorways throughout the years.
2010s
Nike Air Yeezy 2. Kanye West was a big name in the 2000s and 2010s due to his rap success, but his entry into footwear collaborations proved just as successful. The Nike Air Yeezy 2 included an all-red colorway that made sneakerheads salivate.
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