About

Nike Dunk SB: outside 1985, inside 2002

The Dunk SB is what happened when Nike’s skate division got hold of the Dunk from 1985 in 2002. From the outside almost nothing changed — the same panel layout, the same flat cupsole with a pivot circle. On the inside everything changed: a thick padded tongue that sticks up like a collar above the lacing panel, a Zoom Air insert in the footbed, and elastic bands inside that hold the tongue in place if the laces fail. The full story of the division is on the Nike SB page.

The three cuts each have their own page: the Dunk SB Low is the best known and the form in which most collaborations appear, the Dunk SB High applies the same recipe to the high collar, and the Dunk SB Mid adds its own identifying feature: a separate strap over the ankle. On this page all three appear together; the title specifies the cut.

Skaters had discovered the Dunk long before 2002 — flat, grippy and sturdy as it was. The SB version formalized that use and added the cushioning that board life demands. Suede often replaced smooth leather, because griptape has less effect on it. If you want to see the comparison with the regular Dunk: place them side by side and look only at the tongue — thin versus padded is the quickest distinction there is.

The Dunk SB became famous through collaborations with skate shops, musicians and artists in small runs, which made the model one of the most collected sneakers in the world. At the same time there has always been an available core: versions with Orange Label or ISO in the title are intended for skate shops themselves and keep the line rooted where it began.

On this page you can see which versions of the Nike Dunk SB are hottest right now according to the Hypescore, the starting price, and how many shops have them in stock.