20 Nike SB Dunks That Need to Retro

Whether you were outside for the first Nike SB explosion or not, one thing's for sure: the wave is back and doesn't appear to be settling any time soon.

You can chalk it up to influencers like Virgil Abloh and Travis Scott or the perfect storm of Swoosh marketing and good timing, but regardless of the conduit, the comeback is real.

The return of excitement around SB has been bolstered mainly by two things: Nike reimagining pairs from the past with new twists (see the "Tie-Dye Raygun" Lows for a recent example, or the brand's numerous attempts to turn Highs into Lows and vice versa) and perhaps more importantly, celebrities digging out relics from years past. That's where this list comes in.

With SB hype peaking, it's simply not feasible to look to the aftermarket to build your collection. Instead, we'd like to see Nike give a proper retro treatment to some of the Dunks that helped make the line what it is today. Scroll through to see which SB Dunks we think most deserve to come back in 2020 and beyond.

Reese Forbes has a lot of excellent Dunks that could’ve made this list, but it’s the “Wheat” that we’d most like to see come back. Like many fan favorites, it was given a revised treatment with 2017’s “Reverse Wheat,” but there’s nothing like the real thing. If you’re gonna do it, you have to go all out with the plush suede. —Riley Jones

You can call the toe color of this shoe "Sport Red" all you want, but it's orange in my eyes and that automatically makes it a winner. Interestingly, the Bison Dunks were the only drop during the "Silver Box" era in which the shoe came fully done up in suede. —Ben Felderstein

Dropping back in 2004, the "Lucky" Dunks dropped alongside a contrasting "Unlucky" counterpart playing off the 7 vs. 13 superstition. Metallic gold overlays and underlays highlight the sneaker's upper while a green embroidered number 7 reinforces its "Lucky" moniker. —Ben Felderstein

“Baby Yoda” hype may have jumped the shark, but now’s still a prime time for Nike to bring back the “Jedi” Dunk Low. Whether you’re a Star Wars fan or not, the colorway combination was undeniable, and the neon green laces would fit in just right with today’s trends. Just do it, Nike. —Riley Jones

Nike SB dropped a three pack of Dunk Lows in April 2004 that featured actual woven hemp uppers. While the Cascade Blue and Red Mahogany versions were each sought after in their own rights, it was the Bonzai colorway that was the most coveted—limited to just 420 pairs that released on 4/20. The celebration of 4/20 has become a recurring theme for Nike SB, and this was the series that started it all. —Zac Dubasik

This one was never big to me. But people like it. So here we are. —Matt Welty

This was one of the shoes that came out a month or so before I started buying SBs. I rememeber seeing them on the shelves of Identity in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. They were sold out of my size 11. So I never got them. So bring 'em back, even if I'd never wear a high-top sneaker in this colorway in my mid 30s. —Matt Welty

Although it’s not the rarest Dunk in existence, the “Sea Crystal” is a great example of just how well SB colorways were hitting during the mid-2000s. They may have been a pain to keep clean, but that’s all the more reason for Nike to dig in the archives and bring them back. —Riley Jones

This is a beautiful shoe. The color of the suede is unreal. Nike ended up making them into a high top later on, but it wasn’t the same. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime sneaker. —Matt Welty

“But the Boca Junior Dunks already DID come back.” Well, sure, if we count 2017’s Nike SB Zoom Dunk Low Pro variation—which we don't. Like their 2005 counterpart, the colorway was inspired by Argentina’s famous Boca Juniors soccer club. But unlike that 2005 version, it had a stripped down shape, less padding, and a suede upper—all things that made it superior and made fans actually want it. —Zac Dubasik

One of Nike’s numerous 4/20 weed-themed shoes, the “Skunk” Dunk High is arguably the best. The interesting thing about this pair is that it didn’t come out during the Dunk’s heyday—it came out in 2010—but thanks to artist Todd Bratrud and some premium suede, this managed to be one of the best releases of its time. Of all the 4/20 shoes Nike could retro, this is the one they should do first. —Riley Jones

A fitting tribute to Nike co-founder Phil Knight, the “Buck” Dunk Low is still one of the more fondly remembered SBs despite dropping 17 years ago. Covered in green and yellow suede as a nod to his alma mater, the Oregon Ducks, and finished off with Knight’s “BUCK” nickname embroidered on the heel in place of the usual “NIKE” script, these tell a good story. Honoring the man who helped start it all is always a good idea to bring back around. —Mike DeStefano

Kylie Jenner recently laced up the "MF Doom" Dunk Highs on Instagram and got a lot of sneaker purists mad for silly reasons. The design was shown to an entirely new audience with that photo. Hardcore MF Doom fans are still equally as excited by these. Above all else, the 2007 design is just one of the most classic colorways in SB history. Nike dropped a very similar pair in 2016 as an homage to the Black Box series, but it comes nowhere close to how big a true retro would be. —Mike DeStefano

Legendary graffiti artist Futura has had name and work associated with a number of Dunks over the years—most recently with Virgil Abloh’s Off-White variation—but the first one came with Nike SB in 2003. While known for his graphics, this collab featured a relatively low-key aesthetic, letting the color blocking and mixed materials of leather, suede, and mesh do the talking. —Zac Dubasik

Skate brand Huf was putting tie-dye on its Dunk Highs long before teenagers were dipping their Grateful Dead tees⁠—and maybe before some of them were even born. Released in 2004, the colorway was a nod to Huf’s roots in San Francisco and would look just as fresh today as it did then. —Riley Jones

One of the most beloved Dunk Highs, this 2004 release paid homage to trip-hop artist Unkle of Mo Wax records (who Nike did numerous other collaborations with around this period). With art by the legendary Futura, it’s not hard to see why these are coveted, and why a true-to-form comeback would be extremely welcome by everyone from SB to vinyl heads. —Riley Jones

The “Heineken” Dunk came at a time before cease and desist orders were rampant and there was still a bit of a “wild wild west” feel around unofficial collaborations. It wasn’t licensed by the beer company, but it did feature its trademark colors and signature red star. If they come back, Nike will either have to make some changes or better yet, go all out with a legit collab. —Riley Jones

The collaboration that started it all and arguably the best Nike SB sneaker ever. Do we need to say anymore? —Matt Welty

This is a favorite of true skaters. To the outside, a black suede SB with a cross logo on the heel isn't remarkeable. But given that it's a collaboration with Chocolate Skateboards, who Richard Mulder skated for, made it more special. From 2002, it's one of the earliest Nike SBs. That's reason to bring it back. Or its history. Or maybe just the fact that it has a gum sole and that it looks good. —Matt Welty

The hype around Stüssy’s Neapolitan ice cream-themed SB Dunk Low from 2005’s “Team Manager” series has skyrocketed over the past year, thanks to Travis Scott frequently wearing the pair. However, it was already one of the more celebrated colorways before the rapper’s valuable cosign. The pink and brown colorblocking is just too good. The waffle cone insoles and cherry tag on the tongue are, well, the cherry on top. People would go crazy if these got the retro treatment, especially considering how hard these are to come by on the aftermarket for a good price these days. —Mike DeStefano