Top 5 Canada Themed Sneakers

After an explosive NBA season, the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 championship win against the Golden State Warriors shined a new spotlight on Canada. Since the Raptors’ win, brands like Nike, Air Jordan, and New Balance have introduced new colorways either depicting the NBA champs or paying homage to the region. From Air Max 1s to New Balance 990s, Canada’s name has gained influence in the sneaker community.

Nike Air Max 1 “Canada/The 6”

Back in 2015, after delivering the chart-topping mixtape If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late, Drake had fans waiting for the drop of his sixth studio album, Views. All eyes were on the Canadian rapper and Canada, generating new fanfare from beyond The 6’s borders. Nike capitalized on Drake’s hype with a special Air Max 1 release. 

Exclusively dropping in Toronto, this Air Max 1 featured waxed laces, a rubberized coated outsole and airbag to prevent cracking during harsh Canadian winters, and a maple leaf on the tongue representing the country’s flag. Further pushing the national theme, the heel featured a  red printed “6” and compass, replacing the classic “Nike Air” logo traditionally found on the model. The Nike Air Max 1 “Canada/The 6” released in limited numbers back in 2015 for $130, but can be found listed for over $1K in certain sizes.

Air Jordan 7 Retro “Raptor” (1992, 2002, 2009, 2012)

Before going by its colloquial name “Raptor,” this Air Jordan 7 was originally called “Black Charcoal.” Back in 1992, Michael Jordan was crowned MVP for a second time, and his Chicago Bulls won their second consecutive NBA title, all while wearing this specific colorway.. Since then, the Air Jordan 7 Raptor gained its name after its colorway’s resemblance to the Toronto Raptors.. 

The 3-time retroed Air Jordan 7 Raptor has gone through a slew of cosmetic changes every time it has returned. Between 1992 and 2012, the upper has featured materials from suede to nubuck, and  the 2009 pair sported a grey suede instead of the traditional black. Even the sneakers’ aglets have changed from metal in 1992 to plastic in 2012. Outside of those few changes, the colorway remains intact, with the midsole keeping the same true red and dark charcoal hues and true red Jumpman on the ankle. 

Since the Raptors’s win against the Warriors, the 2012 retro of this Air Jordan 7 has seen a remarkable increase in sales. Despite the sneaker fluctuating in value when it first dropped 8 years ago, the prices for the Raptor 7 started to raise right when the Toronto team won the championship, and the sneakers have moved up well into 2020.

Air Jordan 4 “Raptor” ft. Drake 

It’s becoming more common to see traditional colorways from specific Jordan models adapted on other Jordan silhouettes. Recently, the classic Air Jordan 7 Hare colorway made its way onto the Air Jordan 6. The same colorway swapping has been done with the Air Jordan 4 Raptor. The Raptor colorway was first spotted onto the Air Jordan 7 back in 1992 and has adorned  the silhouette for 20 years. But in 2018, the colorway made its appearance on the Air Jordan 4 for the first time. A year later, a special edition of the sneaker released to commemorate the Toronto Raptor’s NBA Finals run. Despite featuring the same colors as its 2018 predecessor, the tongue featured Drake’s signature, making Canadian pride central to the release.

Air Jordan 10 OVO Black & White

Signing with Jordan Brand back in 2013, Drake has since been pledging his loyalty to both Nike and the Jumpman. Drake’s love for the athletic brand is undeniable: from on-stage appearances wearing nothing but exclusive Nike models to stating his allegiance to the Swoosh in the top-charting song “Sicko Mode” with label mate Travis Scott.. Further cementing his partnership with Jordan, the two came together to release a slew of new colorways paying homage to Drake’s music label October’s Very Own (OVO). From Jordan 8s to 12s, Drake added personal touches to some of MJ’s most classic silhouettes. 

Their first collaborative release was in the form of an Air Jordan 10. Two colorways released from Drake and the Jumpman, a white/gold pair in 2015, and a black/gold pair, which debuted during the Toronto-hosted NBA All-Star game in 2016. Both sneakers featured caviar-textured mudguards on the upper, with tumbled leather throughout. Speckles of gold are accented throughout the sneaker to match the theme of Drake’s OVO logo. 

New Balance OMN1S + 997 Sport Kawhi Leonard 2-Way Pack

Although this is more than one sneaker, this list would be incomplete without mentioning both pairs. Before Game 5 of the NBA Finals, New Balance dropped a special, limited edition pack to show support for their latest signee, Kawhi Leonard. Known as a running brand, New Balance’s release of a basketball pack was unexpected by fans of the brand. 

Consisting of two of new New Balance models at the time, the OMN1S and 997 Sport, both sneakers are entirely dressed in the exotic leather prints, each hand picked by Kawhi Leonard.  Reflective accents are placed throughout each pair, accompanied by gold to foreshadow Leonard and the Raptors’ win against the Golden State Warriors. On the day of its release, the pack instantly sold out and started selling for as high as $1k on StockX. And since then, both kicks have varied in price, spiking in certain dates as Kawhi has advanced in the NBA.