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Space isn't only the final frontier, it's also the inspiration for a lot of classic sneakers. From the "Galaxy" Nike Air Foamposite One to Extra Butter's recent Space Race pack with Saucony, a lot of designs have taken cues from the extraterrestrial, science fiction, and any and all ideas and dreams that come from reflecting on the great sparkling darkness above our atmosphere. Space may be infinite, but here are The 10 Best Space-Inspired Sneakers of All Time.
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10. Extra Butter x Saucony Grid 9000 "Aces"
Year: 2014
Just because something's brand new doesn't mean that it's not one of the best. New York's Extra Butter collaborated with Saucony on a Grid 9000 dubbed "Aces," and it takes its styling from an astronaut's suit. It doesn't get much more space-inspired than that. Aside from the sneaker's orange upper, it also featured Velcro, NASA-like Extra Butter branding and laces with stars. These are prepped for a trip to the moon.
9. Nike SB Dunk Hi "Mork & Mindy"
Year: 2006
In the late-'70s, Robin Williams descended onto Earth in a red and silver spacesuit as Mork in the sitcom Mork & Mindy. A few decades later, Nike SB tapped this TV show for inspiration on a Dunk Hi. Complete with a red leather upper and silver Swoosh and panels, the Dunk perfectly matched Williams' suit. But the kicker was the translucent sole with a rainbow effect which mimicked the show's logo.
8. Nike Flight One NRG "Galaxy"
Year: 2012
No, contrary to what you may think, Penny Hardaway did not play in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. The game did, however, take place in the city where Penny's legend took flight, Orlando, Fla. To commemorate the occasion, Nike took the Flight One, a sneaker Penny wore before his first signature sneaker, and gave it the "Galaxy" treatment. Shades of grey look good on any silhouette, and the Flight One is no exception. The glow-in-the-dark sole and hits were just a plus.
7. Premier x Saucony "Life on Mars" Pack
Year: 2014
A trip into space wouldn’t be complete without a stop by our neighbors on Mars. The latest addition to this list is Premier’s recent “Life on Mars” Pack it released with Saucony. The all over suede pairs featured tones of dusty red and oranges, with black and grey on one pair, reminiscent of the red planet that’s just a little too far from the sun.
6. Nike Kobe VII "All-Star"
Year: 2012
The Kobe VII didn't use as many crazy prints as the previous Kobe VI. But there were a few pairs that had bright graphic displays. The most impressive of the bunch was Kobe's footwear for the 2012 All-Star Game. Fitting in with Nike's Galaxy pack, the VII's upper painted a starry view of outer space. But the brightest detail of all might have been the sneaker's glow-in-the-dark outsole.
5. Nike LeBron 9 All Star “Big Bang”
Year: 2012
The universe started with a big bang 13.82 billion years ago, and it left quite the impression. Much like LeBron James' kicks for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. The bright orange pair has been burned into the psyche of the sneaker community inspiring countless bright orange pairs, including another space inspired special edition sneaker releasing this season.
4. Ronnie Fieg x ASICS Gel Lyte III "Vaders"
Year: 2008
Although technically a David Z x ASICS collab, everyone knows it was Ronnie Fieg who designed these when he was still at the NYC chain. Like the collaborators, the shoes were never officially called the “Vaders." But the community has adopted this name for the shoes, appropriate for the black patent leather and small hits of red.
3. Nike Dunk SB "Jedi"
Year: 2004
It’s impossible to think about Star Wars inspired sneakers without one of the greatest special edition Nike SBs of all time. The “Jedi” SB Dunk Low draws inspiration from Luke Skywalker’s time on Dagobah training to be a Jedi with Master Yoda. He trained through the swamps and trees of that forest, inspiring the greens and muddy browns on the shoes, ultimately slaying his own fear with a neonlightsaber—represented by the stitching and laces.
2. Nike Air Foamposite One "Galaxy"
Year: 2012
Perhaps the most obvious choice for a list about sneakers inspired by space is a pair that looks like the night sky. The Nike Air Foamposite One "Galaxys" created an epic stir when they released and continue to break necks and wallets every time there’s a sighting. The print keeps getting repeated, and will go down as one of the most sought after special editions of any shoe.
1. Nike x Tom Sachs Mars Yard
Year: 2012
Stretching the typical idea of what makes an "athlete," in 2012 NikeCRAFT and Tom Sachs chose to design a pair of shoes inspired by Tommaso Rivellini: a mechanical engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Using materials a special forces boot, vectran fabric from the Mars Excursion Rover airbags, and detailing from Apollo Lunar Overshoes, they created the Mars Yard shoe. Perfect for the rugged terrain of Mars.
