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The Doernbecher Freestyle Collection was conceived in 2004 when a Nike executive and Doernbecher Foundation board member named Michael Doherty was trying to figure out a way to raise money for the hospital. One thing led to another, and later that year the first Doernbecher Freestyle Collection—featuring sneakers designed by Doernbecher patients with the help of Nike designers—was released. To celebrate the first 10 years of the project, Nike is re-releasing the Doernbecher Air Jordan III tomorrow, and we decided to reminisce over our favorite Doernbecher sneakers. Check out The Best Doernbecher Freestyle Collection Nikes of All Time and let us know your favorites in the comments.
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15. P-Rod III
Year: 2009
Designer: Collin Callsen
The little tiny skull and crossbones lasered on the toebox made these, but there was much more to it than that. Blue camo combined with a whole variety of textures and tonal prints to make these a second-look shoe.
14. Zoom FC "Floral"
Year: 2004
Designer: Leah Heilman-Pollack
The Hawaiian floral motif came off perfect on the soccer-skate shoe hybrid Zoom FC. There were actually three FCs that were part of the Doernbecher Freestyle collection, all of which were strong. Nike SB should have kept them coming.
13. Air Rift Premium
Year: 2007
Designer: Whitney McClain
The Air Rift is already a head-turning design, why not go all out? Whitney McClain did exactly that with her take, mixing woven checkerboard panels with premium leather accents.
12. Zoom FC "Pink"
Year: 2004
Designer: Krystal Salsky
Pink might be a new trend for footwear thanks to Kanye's Yeezys but Krystal Salsky was way ahead of the curve with her design of the Nike SB Zoom FC back in 2004. A little blue mixed in and this colorway is a winner. Imagine if this dropped today.
11. Air Max 90
Year: 2008
Designer: Mark Smith
To celebrate the fifth year of the program, Nike's own Mark Smith turned out this Air Max 90. The basic leather and mesh upper was offset by a decidedly Doernbecher-appropriate camo outsole.
10. Huarache 2K5
Year: 2006
Designer: Tess Beach
A high-tech look for a high-tech model, the Huarache 2K5 took on a microchip look courtesy of Kenny Clegg. Nike's newest basketball shoes may perform better, but the 2K5 still has them all beat when it comes to colorblocking.
9. Air Max 95
Year: 2011
Designer: Daniel Bair
Lightning bolts on the heels, "BE BRAVE" on the side panels, red white and blue color scheme with hits of gold. This patriotic Air Max 95 put a great new spin on a classic - and oft-used - silhouette.
8. Free Run 2
Year: 2012
Designer: Grant Olsen
The Free Run 2 takes to color like a fish to water, so it's unsurprising that it turned up as a Doernbecher model. Grant Olsen's orange and blue take also featured subtle speckling on the midsoles and laces which would have made for an excellent in-line color.
7. Air Jordan IX
Year: 2012
Designer: Oswaldo Jimenez
In the abstract, a chicken-themed Air Jordan IX sounds like a terrible idea. But with their lasered "feathers," gold lace loops and "POLLITO" tongue branding, these really, um, fly.
6. Air Force 1 Low "Laser"
Year: 2008
Designer: Brandi Berger
One downside of having sneakers designed by kids is that they often look like they were designed FOR kids. Not so much with the lasered Air Force 1 Low by Colin Couch. With the lasering complementing the all-white upper and capped off with a clear outsole and neon trim, these were more like a Bespoke.
5. Dunk High Pro SB
Year: 2012
Designer: Finnigan Mooney
Usually hearts on sneakers are Valentines Day type stuff in pinks and reds, but Finnigan Mooney - who'd already endured multiple heart surgeries - chose a more literal representation. The bold "THUMP THUMP" lettering was perfect for an action sports themed sneaker, too.
4. Air Jordan IV
Year: 2011
Designer: Isaiah Scott
You can't knock Superman.
3. SB Angus
Year: 2004
Designer: Daymon Abbott
The Zoom Angus is one of the forgotten Nike SB silhouettes from a decade ago. In the first year of the Doernbecher Freestyle Collection, there was relatively no info on the shoes, nor did anyone really understand what the colorways were. The green elephant print was something nobody had seen before and many people probably kick themselves for overlooking.
2. Air Jordan VI
Year: 2009
Designer: Jordan Dark
Gilbert Arenas actually wore these in an NBA game, giving them further official Jordan status. The navy suede with the embossed pinstripes and numbers complete with maroon and gold trim gave them an alternate Olympics feel.
1. Air Jordan III
Year: 2010
Designer: Cole Johanson
Not only is the Air Jordan III the best design of the Doernbecher Freestyle collection, it's arguably one of the best Jordan III colorways of all time. If you missed out the first time, good luck this weekend.
