The Best Halloween Sneakers of All Time

Image via Complex Original

Year released: 2014

Releasing in 2014 alongside a Halloween-themed Air Max 90, there was more than meets the eye⁠—no pun intended⁠—when it came to this pair. The sneaker’s signature panels were decked out in a⁠ variety of materials including canvas, elephant print, and a mummy-like gauze weave. Glow-in-the-dark details, a bulging eye logo on the tongue, and a red-streaked insole took this one over the top. —Riley Jones

Year released: 2021

One of two Dunk Low releases this year, this version is a non-SB offering, although it’s packed with the sort of premium details one might expect from the skate line. With a glow-in-the-dark sole and subtle tonal graphic detailing on the black leather panels, this colorway could almost pass for a new take on the popular Jordan “Shattered Backboard” theme. This pair does just the right amount without doing too much, something that can be a challenge when designing holiday-themed sneakers like these. —Riley Jones

Year released: 2007

Unlike the grail-level Nike SB Dunk Low inspired by Freddy Krueger that never made it to retail for legal reasons, this Dunk High resembling the machete wielding villain from the Friday the 13th franchise did get an official release back in 2007. Red suede and leather panels cover a majority of the upper to represent Jason Voorhees’ blood-soaked escapades in each horror film, while a white leather heel symbolizes his signature hockey mask. This is certainly one of the more popular Halloween-themed kicks to ever release. —Mike DeStefano

Year released: 2006

Patent leather, two tones of green, toebox stitching, and a metallic silver Swoosh did justice to Mary Shelley's iconic Frankenstein character on this 2006 colorway. Released alongside matching kid's Vandals and a women's Legend model, it was the AF1 that really won over sneakerheads and remains one of the most coveted Halloween releases ever. — Riley Jones

Year released: 2015

While this pair technically dropped after Halloween in 2015, its blood splattered design gives off some clear spooky vibes. Officially given a “Horror Flick” nickname, these LeBron 13s come inspired by Jason Vorhees of the Friday The 13th movie franchise, a character that King James himself dressed up as before an October 31st Laker game last season. — Ben Felderstein

Year released: 2021

Nike SB has been putting out Halloween and horror-themed sneakers since its early days, and it’s still going strong this year with the “Mummy” Dunk Low installment. Featuring a canvas upper with raw edges in fashion true to its inspiration, the shoe also includes a glow-in-the-dark outsole and eye graphic at the heel with a hidden Eye of Horus emblem on the back of the tongue. It’s not quite “Freddy” Dunk level, but it’s one of the strongest spooky season executions from Nike SB in quite some time. —Riley Jones

Year released: 2018

Off-White x Nike was groundbreaking, but it’s also became tired. When word came out that Virgil Abloh was releasing more pairs last fall, and they were going be themed around Halloween, it pained some to deal with another collection. The "All Hallows Eve" pair, with its tan upper and orange Swoosh, is good, though. Gotta give him that. — Matt Welty

Year released: 2005

Patent leather Air Force 1s are a trend that needs to come back. Only problem is they get cooked after like two wears and the toebox gets wavier than Max B. I remember my friend trying to iron out his pair. I don’t think it worked. There are two versions of this Halloween Air Force 1, one from 2005 the other from 2006. The ‘06 one is cool, if you like sneakers that are split in half with the colorway. A lot of purists don’t, so we’re not gonna talk about it. The 2005 pair, with its contrast orange heel and Swoosh, is where it’s at. Surprised your favorite rapper or NBA style icon hasn’t pulled a pair out yet. — Matt Welty

Year released: 2006

The "Day of the Dea"d Dunk is the biggest fuck you to America by Nike SB. The sneaker, which released in 2006, was only available in Mexico and Canada, and that instantly made it a grail in the States. And part of that logic makes sense: It was inspired by Dia de Los Muertos, Mexico’s semi-equivalent to Halloween. But Canada? Fuck outta here. Either way, the sneaker was a love-it-or-hate-it design for many, with its orange, purple, and black color scheme with skeleton print all over it. It’s as if 2006 threw up all over the shoes. I remember being drunk at a college party back then and meeting a Mexican kid and asking him if he had anyone who could get me a pair. Problematic, sure. But I needed them. And wish I had them. They sell for $1,500 nowadays. — Matt Welty

Year released: 2006

Arguably one of the greatest Nike SB Dunks of all time, there was no other way we could end this list. Scrapped due to copyright issues, the Freddy Krueger Dunks are one of the rarest SBs out there, emulating the iconic dream-haunting serial killer from the A Nightmare on Elm Street film series. Green and red stripes to match the killer’s sweater, brown overlays for his scarred face, a shimmering metallic silver Swoosh to symbolize his razor glove, and gruesome blood splatter make this shoe a perfect homage to the memorable villain. Due to the rarity of this Dunk, owning a pair will likely haunt your dreams as well. — Ben Felderstein