As we reach the halfway point of this year, it’s a good time to step back and reflect on all of the heat Nike has given us week in and week out. It’s hard to imagine that there would already be enough new Nike shoes to fill up a year’s worth of weekend release dates, but there is. Nike has consistently delivered quality releases and the second half of 2020 looks just as bright.
From fresh colorways to innovative technology, we’re highlighting the best new Nike shoes of this year – the styles and silhouettes we think will be critical components to understanding Nike’s 2020 catalog. Some have already released and are selling at sky-high premiums. Others are on the horizon, just waiting to make their impact on the market.
These are the best new Nike shoes in 2020.
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Nike SB Dunk Low Travis Scott
When you combine one of the most influential musicians in the world with the most popular Nike silhouette on StockX, history is in the making. The Nike SB Dunk Low Travis Scott arrived in the midst of a worldwide SB Dunk craze and resale prices keep climbing like a new Travis song on the Billboard 100.
The main reason the Nike SB Dunk Low Travis Scott has been one of the most in-demand new Nike shoes in 2020 is because of its exclusivity. While most Nike releases receive a global drop on the SNKRS app, the Travis Scott Dunk didn’t. Travis Scott and Nike kept it traditional and limited the release to skate shops only, just like the OG generation of Dunk collabs. This shortage of Travis Dunk supply has driven La Flame fans to extreme lengths to get their hands on a pair – and pushed resale premiums over $1,600 in the past week.
Nike Air Max 95 Comme Des Garçons
For years, Comme Des Garçons Homme Plus has taken Nike’s most popular silhouettes and crafted them to fit their distinct aesthetic. They have mastered the art of collaboration in the past and have continued their win streak with this year’s Nike Air Max 95 Comme Des Garçons.
The Nike Air Max 95 Comme Des Garçons is the intersection where avant-garde style meets functionality. Traditional layered design features are accentuated with new materials, creating a new dialogue out of a Nike shoe that is deeply rooted in running culture. Comme Des Garçons’ experimental approach has turned this Air Max 95 into one of the best new Nike shoes in 2020 and a highlight of their extensive collaborative catalog.
Nike Air Max 90 Reverse Duck Camo
Nike welcomed in this year’s Air Max Day with a re-iteration of a beloved Air Max 90 colorway. The Nike Air Max 90 Reverse Duck Camo draws inspiration from the 2013 Nike Air Max 90 Atmos “Duck Hunter Camo”, remixing the OG color blocking in a way that brings Infrared to the forefront. Duck Camo has been prevalent in several new Nike shoes in 2020, primarily on Air Max 90s., it looks like Duck Camo is here to stay and bless the mudguards of many Air Max 90s to come.
Nike Air Max 1 London
As we have seen with new Nike shoes like the SB Dunk Low Safari and Air Max 90 Viotech OG, the Swoosh has made a habit of reviving old colorways and applying them to different silhouettes. The Nike Air Max 1 London is the latest release to receive this treatment, drawing inspiration from the Nike SB Dunk Low London that released as part of Nike SB’s 2004 City Pack that also included the Paris, Tokyo, and New York Staple Pigeon Dunk Lows.
All of the key design features from the SB Dunk Low London are very much present on the Air Max 1 London and are executed to perfection. Grey mesh and suede comprise the upper while navy blue detailing on the Swoosh and River Thames heel embroidery capture the essence of this Air Max’s Dunk inspiration.
New Nike Shoes Scheduled to Release
Nike Dunk Low University Red
Nike Dunks have taken StockX by storm in 2020 and there are no signs of slowing down. With such an expansive history of colorways to choose from, Nike has been on a hot steak remaking the classics and making them accessible to fans who might have missed out on prior releases.
Similar to newer Nike shoes like the Kentucky and Syracuse Dunk Lows, the Nike Dunk Low University Red is the latest Dunk set to release that channels an original colorway from Nike’s 1985 Be True To Your School campaign. The University Red leather overlays on the upper pay tribute to the original St. Johns Dunk Low colorway, one of the most popular Dunks in the College Colors pack to date.
Nike ZoomX Alpha Fly Next%
The Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% is one of the most innovative new Nike shoes in recent history. Critics have claimed that the shoes offer an unfair advantage due to the stacked ZoomX foam and carbon-fiber plated sole, which is designed to improve energetic efficiency by at least 4% (according to both independent and Nike-funded studies). Nike has continued to reach new heights in footwear innovation and, as a result, the Alphafly is on a path to become the industry standard for road racing.
Image by Christopher J. Morency / Highsnobiety
Nike Sacai Vapor Waffle
Sacai picked up where they left off and blessed the world with another Nike collaboration. The Nike LD Waffle Sacai has been one of the most popular new Nike shoes on StockX since their arrival last summer, and now, Sacai has added a new silhouette to its Nike catalog with the Nike Sacai Vapor Waffle.
The Nike Sacai Vapor Waffle reworks the traditional Pegasus VaporFly SP to fit Sacai’s unique identity that highlights the reconstructed design concept. Mesh and suede make up the upper while a dual-layered waffle outsole adds a familiar component that many LD Waffle fans cherish. While no release date has been set, we expect the Vapor Waffle to release this fall with the rest of Sacai’s Fall / Winter 2020 collection.
Image by @complexsneakers
Nike Rubber Dunk Off-White
In the last year, Virgil Abloh has proven that he can do more than simply add a new colorway and a few material alterations when collaborating on popular Nike silhouettes. The releases of the Off-White Terra Kiger and Vapor Street set the tone for his upcoming line-up of new Nike shoes, each featuring design elements presented in a new context. With Dunk hype at an all-time high, Virgil is releasing the unexpected with the Nike Rubber Dunk Off-White.
The Nike Rubber Dunk Off-White is the unique fusion design that we didn’t know we needed. It combines elements like the upper of the Nike P-6000 running shoe and the sole of the Nike Dunk to create a new silhouette, unlike anything we have ever seen. Besides the shoe’s cage and piped swoosh, one design choice that catches the eye immediately is the Rubber Dunk’s exposed air unit. Historically, Nike Dunks have never featured exposed air units, so this iteration is really one for the record books.
New Nike Shoes Rumored to Release
Image by Sneaker Bar Detroit
Nike SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead Bears
If you actually thought that Nike SB wouldn’t have more heat in store for the fall, wake up. Realize we are in a resurgence of Dunk hype and anything SB touches is gold. From the looks of it (and by “it” we mean Instagram photos of early pairs), we may be in store for a true gold rush this fall. Nike SB has teamed up with legendary psychedelic rock band Grateful Dead to collaborate on the Nike SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead Bears.
The Nike SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead Bears is rumored to release in five different colorways, each colorway exclusive to a region similar to the Jordan Metallic Pack. A furry textile covers the shoes upper while suede overlays deliver functionality to balance this off-the-wall design. Special edition Swooshes, Grateful Dead branding, and hidden stash pockets underneath the tongue complete the psychedelic aesthetic. We look forward to seeing how the SB Dunk Low Grateful Dead Bears stack up against all of the other best new Nike shoes that were released this year.
Image by Sneaker Bar Detroit
NikeCraft Tom Sachs Mars Yard 2.5
Rumors are leading us to believe that a new NikeCraft Mars Yard shoe may be in the works. The NikeCraft Mars Yard 2.0 released three years ago to a frenzy of demand that has remained constant over time. Tom Sachs’ success is an anomaly in the recent history of new Nike shoes; after all, he isn’t an athlete, a fashion label, or a musician. Yet his shoes continue to smash resale records. Nothing has been confirmed, but there have been rumors that the NikeCraft Mars Yard 2.5 will release in the fall of this year. If the rumors are true, we can expect the Mars Yard 2.5 to arrive with updated materials and those signature cork soles.
