Image via Nike
40.
Virgil Abloh and Nike embarked on what will be considered the greatest and most ambitious sneaker collaborations of all time in 2017. Called "The 10," the collection featured a full range of Nike, Air Jordan, and Converse sneakers that Abloh ripped apart and rebuilt, and they'd gain critical and secondary market acclaim. After the first 10 silhouettes, Abloh and Nike continued to work together on collections for the World Cup or for Serena Williams, or just random shoes in general. The designer, who is now men's artistic director at Louis Vuitton, announced that he's done with The 10, saying, "Personally I’m visually obsessed with the combination of black sneaker / white Swoosh white laces. Hence every edition of the last ever ‘10’ came as such.”
So what's his best? What's his worst? Here are all of Abloh's creations with Nike ranked.
39.Off-White x Nike Zoom Mercurial
If you’re not Kylian Mbappe, then these cleats, made for the World Cup, aren’t for you.
38.Off-White x Nike Air Force 1'Volt'
The fact that there was a nearly identical GR "Volt" colorway of the Air Force 1 available right when this Off-White edition hit lands among the very worst of these collabs.
37.Off-White x Nike Zoom Fly 'Pink'
There's no way around it—this shoe sucks. If there was a sign that this collection was dead then this was it.
36.Off-White x Nike Zoom Fly 'Black'
The first Off-White x Zoom Fly was great. This one isn't that good, and it looks like plastic.
35.Off-White x Converse Chuck Taylor '70s
Either you really like Chucks or you’re wearing these just because Virgil made them. Either way, they’re not as good as the first ones he did.
34.Off-White x Nike Court Flare Serena
The Virgil Abdullahs.
33.Off-White x Nike Zoom Fly Mercurial 'Orange'
These should have has red dots rather than white, because they look like clown shoes.
32.Off-White x Nike Zoom Fly Mercurial 'Black'
Same as before but not as bad.
31.Off-White x Nike Air Max 90 "Black"
This shoe is a no-brainer. It’s not bad. But it’s a sign we need Virgil to do something new. Only cool thing about them is Brooks Koepka wore them to play in the Tour Championship, complete with golf spikes.
30.Off-White x Nike Air Max 97 'Menta'
Squint close enough and they look like the Serena 97s, except they're not.
29.Off-White x Nike Air Max 97 'Black'
It's hard to mess up a black Air Max 97. You don't see many people talking about these, however, because they don't stand out.
28.Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 'Black'
Black and white on an Air Force 1 will always look good. It's a shame these didn't come out before the Off-White x Nike collection became oversaturated.
27.Off-White x Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 5 "White"
This shoe was a first for Virgil Abloh, as it was the first time he made a collection with Nike designed for women. And, surprise, the guys wanted it, too. Except maybe for the leggings and crop top. The shoes were much different as well. Running shoes with spikes? A far cry from Jordan 1s. Three different pairs. All came down to which colorway you like the most. I like these the least.
26.Off-White x Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 5 "Black"
Some people are afraid to wear army green sneakers, so they go with the black joints. Raise your hand if that’s you.
25.Off-White x Nike Zoom Terra Kiger 5 "Green"
This color combo should be the least hyped, but I like them the most. When it comes to Off-White x Nike, you want to wear the stuff that makes you look the least amount like a jerk. These are them.
24.Off-White x Nike Air VaporMax 'White'
These are the Off-White x Nikes everyone got who didn’t get The Ten versions.
23.Off-White x Nike Air VaporMax 'Black'
Not bad, just boring.
22.Off-White x Nike Blazer 'Grim Reaper'
Alright. Here’s the first good shoe on the list. The Halloween theme, though? What’s the connection other than dropping in October?
21.Off-White x Nike React Hyperdunk 'The Ten'
While awesome to see NBA players wear these on the court last year, it was still the weakest out of the original The Ten.
20.Off-White x Nike Blazer 'Hallow's Eve'
Virgil has done four different Blazers, but this colorway is good, if not unexpected. Tan and orange? Sign me up.
19.Off-White x Nike Air Presto 'Black'
It’s hard to say something bad about a black Presto, but they’re not as good as the white ones or “The Ten” version.
18.Off-White x Nike Air Max 90 "Desert Ore"
Now we’re fucking talking. Off-White x Nike might be played out, but this colorway is the business. The one for the true connoisseurs.
17.Off-White x Nike Blazer 'Serena'
Minus Serena flubbing Virgil’s last name, this shoe was pretty solid. They were made for the ladies, but dudes could still pull them off thanks to unisex sizing.
16.Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 'The Ten'
There were two versions of the Air Force 1 that dropped with The 10. The other one is better than these, but they’re not bad. It’s hard to mess up a white AF1.
15.Off-White x Nike Zoom Fly 'The Ten'
The Zoom Fly was a surprise hit from last year: A good performance shoe with a chunky sole. This was the best version of that shoe, so it’s a no-brainer.
14.Off-White x Nike Air VaporMax 'The Ten'
White laces in a black shoe can be corny. The VaporMax was a new model, though, and it was cool to see Nike do something out of the norm with it.
13.Off-White x Nike Air Presto 'White'
These aren’t this high on the strength of what they look like out of the box, but because people, inspired by John Mayer, started to tie dye them. It made them one of the most popular sneakers of summer 2018.
12.Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 "MCA"
It’s a good thing only two pairs of these released at ComplexCon, or it would have been a reenactment of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! in Chicago. Off-White Air Force 1s always go. Make it all-blue and it’s even more hype.
11.Off-White x Nike Air Max 90 'The Ten'
A good Air Max 90 is a good shoe. It’s hard to mess this one up.
10.Off-White x Converse Chuck Taylor 'The Ten'
The Chuck Taylor was supposed to be the weakest of “The Ten,” and didn’t even release until roughly eight months after the rest of the original collection. It ended up being a hit though, with high resell prices, and helped usher in the now-popular translucent upper trend.
9.Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 'ComplexCon'
Not only because they dropped at ComplexCon, but this white Air Force 1 felt better than the other white Air Force 1 with its more traditional upper.
8.Off-White x Air Jordan 1 'UNC'
The Carolina Blue Air Jordan 1 was a brick a few years ago, but put Off-White branding on them and they’re a success. It’s funny how that works.
7.Off-White x Nike Air Max 97 'Serena'
Maybe this is too high, but these 97s are sweet with their gradient midsole. Even if you don’t like pink and purple, you can’t deny this shoe.
6.Off-White x Air Jordan 1 'White'
Drop a pair of Air Jordan 1s only in Europe? That’s a tough pill to swallow for most Jordan collectors, as the vast majority don’t live there. That’s what Jordan Brand did, though, and it made actually scoring these shoes even more sweet. They’re off-white Off-Whites.
5.Off-White x Nike Blazer 'The Ten'
No one thought the Blazer would have been one of the best Off-White x Nike sneakers. But people actually wore them, Eric Koston skated in them, and, as corny and cliche as it sounds, they look good beat up.
4.Off-White x Nike Air Max 97 'The Ten'
This is the sleeper out of the bunch. The 97s are so good. People are going to go crazy for these in 10 years. At least that’s what people on UK collector groups are saying, and I tend to trust them.
3.Off-White x MoMa x Nike Air Force 1
Super hype. Super limited. Super artsy. Buy a pair of these and can’t afford to get into PS1.
2.Off-White x Air Jordan 1 'The Ten'
Shocker. Not number 1. This is the most hyped and pinnacle sneaker of the collection. Celebs got their own pairs from Virgil. Everyone wore them as a dick-measuring contest. That made them kind of uncool, but still cooler than most.
1.Off-White x Nike Air Presto 'The Ten'
The best of the best. The one you could wear without looking like you were trying too hard. The ones who know, knew that these were good.