Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman, the visionary founders of Nike, would never have imagined that their shoe brand would become the phenomenon it is today.
Starting as specialized track and basketball shoes in the 1970s, the brand found itself thrust into the center of a cultural revolution in the following decades. In a culture surrounded by basketball, hip-hop and breakdancing, Nike sneakers became much more than functional wear.
Fast forward to today and the hype for Nike shoes is real. Sneakerheads eagerly queue overnight for a chance at the next sneaker drop and social media blows up when a celebrity dons an unrecognizable pair. Across the globe, rare Nike shoes have evolved into desirable investments with astronomical price tags.
We’ve sifted through the archives and found the rarest and most desirable Nike sneakers on the market today. From the iconic swoosh to groundbreaking designs, our curated selection captures the exclusivity and rarity that certain Nike sneakers have become known for.
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At Luxe Digital, we understand the tastes of sneakerheads seeking the most exclusive kicks. Our team shares your passion for sneakers, dedicating their free time to scour the internet for the latest trends in the sneaker world.
To compile our list of rare and coveted Nike sneakers, we defined rarity as exclusivity based on limited production quantities. We specifically focused on official collaborations, excluding non-collaborative releases for precision. Our data was gathered from reliable sources, including auction houses like Sotheby’s and prominent online marketplaces such as StockX.
Nike SB Dunk Low Pro Tokyo
Dripped in all muslin canvas, the Tokyo from the White Dunk City series is a minimalist dream. This raw and uncut shoe was part of a drop of only 202 pairs through a lottery. What separates this shoe from the rest of our rare finds is the missing name on the heel, making it an entirely blank canvas. Simplistic and elegant, these Nike sneakers are highly sought after by collectors worldwide.
Dunk Low Pro SB ‘Paris’
Dedicated to the beautiful city of Paris, this Nike SB features prints of late French painter Bernard Buffet’s artwork. What makes these Nike sneakers so special is that no two are the same. With only 202 ever created, this makes the shoe even more desirable for collectors. To compliment Buffet’s artwork on canvas, the shoe features a tan suede base and the recognizable red Nike swoosh. A true work of art, these sneakers sell for around USD $130,000.
Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 Low
Who would’ve thought the two biggest names in culture and fashion would combine to create an evolutionary sneaker? Designed by famous designer Virgil Abloh months before his unfortunate death, this shoe stands as an example of his incredible design legacy. The offspring of these two brands is not your typical Air Force 1. In the famous Louis Vuitton manner, the shoe is wrapped in luxe LV-stamped leather, detailed with perfect and unique gold, and embedded with their iconic monogram. Only 200 pairs were released.
PlayStation x Nike Air Force 1
Sleek, colorful, and coupled with the original Playstation logo, the nostalgia you get from these sneakers is real. The Nike shoe was introduced in tandem with the release of the PlayStation 3 in 2006, marking a celebratory collaboration that brought together the worlds of footwear and gaming. This special edition release aimed to commemorate the PlayStation 3 launch, the shoe itself blending the iconic style of Nike with the brand colors of PlayStation. Only 150 pairs were given to family and friends at Sony and Nike. This included Kobe Bryant, who was the face of the NBA video game franchise at the time.
Nike Air Jordan 4 Retro Manila
It’s a well-known fact that Filipinos have a deep love for basketball. What better way for Jordan to celebrate the opening of its first store in the Philippines than with an iconic basketball shoe?
Named after the city where the store resides, the Manila is wrapped in a beautiful green tropical upper on a black background and highlighted with yellow touches. Limited to just 150 pairs, this Jordan x Nike sneaker stands as one of the rarest in the market, not only due to its scarcity in terms of quantity but also its exclusive release in a limited geographical region.
Nike SB Dunk Low Pro “NYC Pigeon”
In celebration of the anniversary of the Basketball Dunk line in 2002, designer Jeff Staple was approached to contribute to the project, designing the NYC version of the sneaker. The pigeon, an iconic symbol in NYC and also featured in Staple’s clothing line emblem, became the focal point of this rare Nike shoe. With only 150 pairs to be released, word quickly spread about the exclusive sneaker. On the day of the release, massive crowds of sneakerheads had camped out overnight, eager to get their hands on the Nike shoe. The situation escalated to the extent that the NYC police were called in to manage the crowd. On February 23, 2005, the New York Post featured a front-page article titled “Sneaker Frenzy,” marking the first instance of sneaker hype giving rise to campout culture and large crowds.
Air Jordan 1 Colette ‘Au Revoir’
In 2017, the French fashion retailer Colette closed its doors after 20 years in the retail business. The custom Air Jordan 1 served as a tribute to the Parisian boutique, commemorating a legacy intertwined with high fashion, culture, and art. This pair is crafted from leather and features the shop’s signature blue color and double-dot logo at the back of the heel. A poignant “Au Revoir” (Goodbye in French) is elegantly printed on the sneaker, serving as a heartfelt farewell to the iconic brand.
Air Span II “GW”
The passing of the legendary streetwear and sneaker journalist Gary Warnett sent shockwaves through the sneaker world in September 2017. Renowned as a sneaker guru, Warnett was an authority on sneaker history and a pivotal voice in the community. Nike paid homage to his influential legacy by designing the Air Span II “GW”, his father’s favorite shoe. Just 40 pairs were released to align with his 40th birthday. These were gifted to those closest to Warnett.
Nike Dunk High “Wu-Tang”
As a tribute to the world’s biggest rap group, Nike designed a custom High Top to match the band’s iconic black and golden colors. The distinctive Wu-Tang signature emblem graces both the lateral panels and the tongue of the shoe. This Nike shoe can only be purchased by the most hardcore of fans, though, with only 36 pairs released in 1999 and a valuation of around $50,000 US dollars.
Nike Air Force 1 Low Lux Alligator & Case
Arguably the most distinct among the rare Nike shoes on our list, this custom Air Force 1 features uppers entirely enveloped in Alligator skin. This is bound together with an elegant leather lining and leather sole. The outer heel is embroidered with “USHER” which has stirred rumors that the shoe was designed for artist Usher, but this is yet to be confirmed. With only 25 pairs ever created, this is one of the rarest Nike shoes on our list.
Nike SB Dunk High Pro Futura “FLOM”
Named in honor of a pioneer in graffiti, the Nike Dunk Futura traces its origins to the vibrant Graffiti movement in New York. Leonard Hilton McGurr, widely known as Futura, started his graffiti career by tagging subway walls under the tag Futura 2001, a homage to his favorite movie “2001: A Space Odyssey.” In 2004, Nike collaborated closely with Futura to craft the eponymous shoe. The central concept is the acronym FLOM, which stands for “For Love or Money” and resonates throughout the sneaker. The white leather Nike Swoosh rests atop a distinctive money-themed design, and the prominent “FL” is prominently displayed on the back of the shoe. Only 24 pairs of this Nike shoe were ever released and were mostly given to family and friends of Futura, making these highly desirable for collectors worldwide.
Air Jordan 1 Shinedown
Also called Attention, Attention, named after US Rock Band Shinedown’s sixth studio album, this rare Nike sneaker was made possible through collaboration with the band’s guitarist Zach Myer. Zach is known as a huge sneakerhead and was instrumental in making this collaboration happen. If you take a look at the album cover, you’ll quickly notice some design features that have been incorporated into the sneaker. The custom Air Jordan is coated in a striking yellow hue to mirror the color of the album. Additionally, the same exclamation mark is stamped on the back of the shoe. There were 23 pairs of the Air Jordan 1 Shinedown ever made, and unfortunately, these were reserved only for close family and friends.
Eminem Air Jordan 4 Encore
In 2005, this rare Nike sneaker was created as a tribute to Eminem’s multiplatinum album, Encore. Only 50 pairs were made at the time, and these were distributed between Em’s family and friends. The color scheme of the shoe was inspired by the album artwork, with the model sporting a blue suede upper with ancillary accents of grey, black, and red.
Air Jordan III & VIII “Kobe Pack”
To this day, Kobe Bryant remains one of the all-time basketball greats. Earning 5 NBA Championships, 4 NBA All-Star Game MVP awards, 2 NBA Finals, and 2 Olympic Gold Medals throughout his career, his influence on the sport is immeasurable, and his legacy stands firmly established as that of a basketball icon. During his 2002-2003 NBA season, Kobe Bryant’s contract with Adidas had finished and every sneaker brand in the world was vying for his attention. Jordan, being one of these brands, gifted Kobe a pair of custom Air Jordan 3 and Air Jordan 8 in Lakers colors, which were worn during that season. To commemorate Kobe’s 20-year career in the NBA, Jordan created the “Kobe Pack”.
Usher Air Jordan 9 & 11 Metallic Gold
These gold nikes can not be missed. Usher debuted the gorgeous golden Air Jordan 9s during a presentation on the Voice in 2013. The complete outer of the shoe is dripped in gold with a shadow black inner. With only 8 pairs of these sneakers ever made, these Nike sneakers are one of the rarest pairs on our list. The golden Air Jordan 11s hit the spotlight in 2014 when Usher wore them during his performance at iHeart Music Festival in Las Vegas. The design differs slightly from the Air Jordan 9’s with a white midsole. The international air time for both sneakers made them highly sought after by collectors.
Waffle Racing Flat “Moon Shoe”
If there was a shoe that started it all, this would be it. The Nike Moon Shoe traces its origins back to a running show design by Nike co-founder and Oregon University track coach Bill Bowerman. The famous story goes a little something like this: Bill had the idea to pour rubber into his wife’s waffle mold, which became his innovative running shoe waffle sole. The final shoe design offered superior cushioning and grip compared to other running shoes of its time, marking a significant breakthrough for Nike as an innovative brand. Dubbed the “Moon Shoe,” its name was inspired by the distinctive waffle pattern it left in the dirt, reminiscent of the tracks from the Moon landings. There were only 12 pairs of the Nike Waffle One shoes ever created by hand for the 1972 Olympic trials.
Nike Mag
With an appearance in the “Back to the Future” franchise, the Nike Mag is potentially the most sought-after sneaker of all time. This expensive Nike shoe was released in 2011 on eBay auctions to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation, 1500 pairs of the shoes were sold in 10 days and raised $10 million for the charity. With a foot in the future, the sneaker comes equipped with power laces, an ethereal blue radiant light, and a jetstream white and blue colorway.
Eminem x Carhartt x Air Jordan 4
As the second Eminem-inspired Nike sneaker in our line-up, this one was the result of a collaboration between Marshall Mathers, workwear brand Carhartt, and Jordan. The Eminem x Carhartt x Air Jordan 4 provides a retro feel with a Carhartt canvas upper and rubber midsole. The heel of the shoe is stamped with Eminem’s trademark hockey mask and backwards “E” logo. Originally the Nike shoe was made for the rapper’s friends and family, but another 10 pairs were created to sell on eBay for a Marshall Mathers Foundation auction. The auction raised $227,000 to support the enrollment costs of local students for Michigan State University’s Community Music School.
Derek Jeter Air Jordan XI
This shoe was named after one of the greatest New York Yankees of all time, Derek Jeter. Created as a celebration of his career, the shoe was released when he retired in 2017. As one of the rarest Nike shoes ever, five pairs were won through a scratch lottery with a pop-up shop close to the Yankee stadium on the day of his retirement ceremony. These shoes are wrapped in beautiful and elegant blue suede with Jeter’s famous number ‘2’ in white on the heel.
Air Jordan I “Craig Sager”
Matching reporter Craig Sager’s unique and bold style, this Air Jordan I is unlike any shoe you will ever catch a glimpse of. The sneaker offers a chaotic yet stylish upper consisting of plaid, pinstripe, thick stripe and houndstooth. With a yellow midsole on one shoe and a blue midsole on the other, you’ll start to understand that this Nike shoe is far from normal. Raise your foot for a moment, and you’ll see ‘SAGER VISION’ imprinted in the translucent bottom of the sneaker. Truly unique, only 2 pairs of the shoe were ever created, one for Sager and the other for DJ Khaled, which he revealed on Twitter.
Nike Air Yeezy ‘Grammy’
The Nike Air Yeezy 1 ‘Grammy’ sample made sneaker history in April 2021 when it was sold by auction house Sotheby’s for a colossal $1.8 million to sneaker investment platform Rares. As the most expensive Nike shoes on our list, the one-of-a-kind sneaker took the spotlight when rapper Kanye West donned them at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008. The hype for the mysterious sneakers was unprecedented. Fans speculated that the pair would be released to the public. The Nike Yeezy Empire was born. Designed by West and famous sneaker designer Mark Smith, the shoe is wrapped in an all-black color scheme and glow-in-the-dark outsole. Fast forward to 2003, the expensive Nike sneakers were resold for only a fraction of the purchasing price, at just $180,000 in September 2023. The price drop is due to West’s fall from fame in recent years.
Frequently asked questions about rare Nike sneakers
The rarest sneaker ever is the Nike Air Yeezy ‘Grammy’, which is a one-of-a-kind pair.
The most expensive Nike shoe to sell at auction was the Nike Air Yeezy ‘Grammy’ which sold for an astonishing USD 1.8 million in April 2021.
The Nike Air Yeezy ‘Grammy’ was sold at auction for USD 1.8 million in April 2021, making it the most expensive shoe to be sold at auction ever.
Any of the Nike shoes mentioned in our sneaker list are worth collecting. Their rarity means they are highly sought after by collectors, often fetching high prices.
