Facts
Low Top
Extremely popular sneakers because of their price range, versatility when it comes to style, and freedom of movement. Almost everyone is guaranteed to have low-top sneakers in their shoe rotation.
Mid Top
Mid-top sneakers extend toward the ankle for a little more support and hold. These lie somewhere in the middle between low-top and high-top sneakers in terms of usage and popularity.
High Top
Sneakers with collars that go above the ankles for optimal hold and support are some of the most sought-after models in lifestyle shoes. Most of these shoes take their roots from basketball and have easily or fashionably crossed to mainstream wear.
Good to know
Regardless of cut, it's always good to start with sneakers that can be worn for the daily grind, also called as "beaters" by some, as these are usually cheaper, easy to clean, and still gives that lifestyle "edge" before going for those wallet-thinning models.
Sports
Sneakers dominantly take their heritage from running, basketball, skate, tennis, training, hiking, and football. Still retaining a few of their performance-based technologies, these sneakers have transcended their respective niches and have successfully and popularly transformed themselves as staples of fashion footwear.
Casual
Sneakers designed for a laidback, "cool" vibe that is built for lifestyle wear right from the get-go.
Good to know
Brands are now blending elements of performance and casual appeal in basically every sneaker. One can hardly go wrong with a sports-inspired sneaker or a simple casual shoe.
Good to know
Shoes sharing the same inspiration, history, materials, or technologies are routinely assembled under one compilation for the convenience of those who may wish to categorize or label their own collection as such. The classic collections like the Adidas Originals, Air Max 1, Air Force 1, new balance classic sneakers, and the Classic Leather head the pack of frequently asked about collections.
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who does not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who needs arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overproanation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.
There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
Summary
We spent 6.4 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what sneaker fanatics think:
10 reasons to buy
- A good number of reviewers highly recommended the shoe to other potential buyers for its function and appeal.
- Some users superbly appreciated the Nike Dunk Low's low top profile and overall aesthetics.
- A handful of customers experienced exceptional durability harbored by the shoe.
- Some users exclaimed the shoe's excellence, and holistic awesomeness and a small percentage of them even stated the sneaker to be perfect.
- Few purchasers commended the shoe's considerable value for money.
- A couple of reviewers expressed their satisfaction with the shoe's small amount of time to break in.
- A minute amount of users loved the shoe's variation in different colorways and styles.
- The shoe catered a perfect fit for a tiny number of wearers.
- With its vintage design and adequate function, the Nike Dunk Low was quickly loved by more than a couple of users.
- Improving the original materials used for cushioning and coziness, a good number of reviewers asserted their appreciation for the comfort the shoe brought.
3 reasons not to buy
- A handful of wearers were appalled by the tough and rigid structure of the shoe and even detailing that material from the upper to the sole contributed to its sturdiness.
- The shoe's tighter snug that runs narrow and smaller size was experienced by a couple of customers.
- A user did not like the shoe's perforations at the toe box because it prevents water to seep inside.
Bottom line
Imbibing rich culture and legacy starting from the original release up to the recent years, the Nike Dunk Low commercializes class in its unique designs and colorways. Due to the institution it represents, the shoe became highly recommended by sneakerheads in all age ranges.
With enhanced elements of cushioning technology derived from its first release, the shoe catered superior comfort and is stapled to be an everyday wear. Meticulous material selection is observed from the shoe's outsole up to the upper reinforcing the shoe's durability that outlasts other shoe brands in a reasonable span of time.
Rankings
Popularity
Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are sneaker fanatics, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
Are you an expert? Apply to contribute here.
Nike Dunk Low History
The Nike Dunk shoe releases started off as a sponsorship between Nike and the top college teams proliferating during the mid-80s. Peter Moore, the designer of the first Air Jordan, sketched an initial design for the shoe series that would later innovate customization in a shoe. Team universities from Georgetown, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, St. John's, UNLV, and Syracuse were ranked as the top schools of the basketball zeitgeist thus securing a collaboration with Nike that enabled availability of different colorways that match their school.
Different color combinations were not only deliberately customized for the top teams but are also made available in various hues as well, catering a myriad of other groups. The shoes, depending on the school's preference, were released distinctly in high top and low top forms.
The low top form's aesthetics is inspired by a handful of previous designs that hailed from pioneer shoe models of Nike. The Nike Legend, one of the most innovative models from the Nike origins, exhilarated technological breakthrough with the creation of the perforated toe box and colored outsoles.
Another iconic design which gave the holistic concept of the Nike Dunk was the Nike Air Force 1 which advocated the Dunk's unique contour and shape. Another prominent contributor to the Nike Dunk Low's image was apparently the silhouette of the Air Jordan I, which was also coincidentally made by the same shoe architect, Peter Moore. His design of the Nike Dunk reflects that of the Jordan I which was made purposely in a vast variety of colorways.
The shoe made its retro return in 2011 with the release of the Nike Dunk Low vintage pack. The series displayed an inverse of the Michigan Dunk colorway alongside the Curry Dunk Low and the Ultraman. Several hues of white, red, and blue were also released subsequently in the same year.
Nike Dunk Low Style
Due to its low to the ground profile, the shoe can be sported in an excellent number of ways. The classic design, as some reviewers gave testimonials to its unique character, can be fashioned with almost every outfit ranging from shorts for men to skirts and dresses for women. For more formal events, the shoe also complements suits and long sleeved shirts.
Fit & Sizing
The Nike Dunk Low proportionately emphasizes its customization feature by its availability in a wide range. For men's, the shoe is made available in D medium width from sizes 6-15. It can also be purchased in women's sizes ranging in sizes from 5-12.
Notable Features
Probably the remarkable difference between the Nike Dunk Low and the Nike SB Dunk are the grooves found at the outsole. The SB Dunk contains more grooves and fine lines as compared to the Nike Dunk Low. The latter remained almost similar to the outsole design of the Air Jordan I.
A visible SB marking can also be seen in the tongue of the SB Dunk Low, while in the retro Dunk Low, only the Nike Logo can be seen. The Nike Dunk Low also retained the detail of the original release where the lace patch overlaps the toe overlay.
Additional Info
- The Nike Dunk Low top was re-released first in 1998, which was the spark plug for creating the SB Dunk series in 2002 after several disappointments penetrating the skating industry.
- The shoe had its first Flyknit release in August of 2017 and was timed to be an outfit during the summer.
- The Nike SB Dunk Low has thicker tongues as compared to the Nike Dunk Low which stayed similar to the original release.
- Laces in the SB Dunk shoes are thicker as compared to Dunk Lows.
