October means a lot of things to different people. For some, it’s pumpkin spice lattes and dress-up parties, but for sneakerheads, it’s all about the kicks. While we appreciate the regular fall releases, there’s something extra special and creative about sneakers inspired by All Hallows’ Eve. Here are a few of our favourite Halloween Nike Sneakers from over the years.
Nike Air Force 1 Low Halloween (2006)
Back in 2006, folks in Beaverton, Oregon, gave sneakerheads a taste of Halloween sneaker history with the Nike Air Force 1 Low Halloween. The crew created a black and orange patent leather design, symmetrically divided into two sections. These pairs also included an embroidered skeleton with a slasher-themed mask around the side and tongue.
Nike SB Dunk Low Day of the Dead
Nike’s skateboarding division knows their way around themed releases (as the rest of this list is sure to demonstrate). In 2006, they delivered a Day of the Dead-inspired Dunk Low that is still one of the most coveted grail sneakers. The design is the ideal combination of Orange Blaze leather on the base and black overlays with purple piping. But the standout feature is the graphics showing off the Aztec god of the underworld breathing souls into existence. Needless to say, their resale price is just as haunting as the design itself.
Nike SB Dunk Low Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger may be the stuff of nightmares, but these Nike SB Dunk Low kicks inspired by his signature ‘fit and gloves are every sneakerhead’s dream pair. The design isn’t without its controversy, though. New Line Cinema, the studio behind the Nightmare on Elm Street films, never actually consented to the design and issued a cease-and-desist letter to Nike before their distribution in 2007. The Swoosh label had to destroy the shoes, but fortunately, a few pairs survived the horror and ended up safely in the hands of collectors. They’ve become the stuff of sneaker legend ever since, and their high resale prices are testament to that.
Nike SB Dunk High Jason Voorhees
While the Freddy Krueger Dunk Lows couldn’t be included in the 2007 Halloween Horror pack, another popular horror villain got his moment to ‘slay’. The design is subtle but effective in its tribute to the iconic Friday the 13th character. You get dried red blood uppers, black leather to match his weapon of choice, and a touch of white to represent his hockey mask. The funny thing is, these kicks are just as elusive as Jason himself.
Nike Dunk High Day of the Dead
There was obviously something in the water at Nike in the early 2000s. They delivered on almost every themed release they put out. One of the many memorable pairs they offered fans was a Nike Dunk High release to celebrate Day of the Dead 2009. Think smooth black leather uppers with purple skeleton and floral graphics on the overlays. The Swoosh label also threw in Poison Green Swooshes and orange contrast stitching to fit into the festive theme.
Nike Air Force 1 Low Halloween Savage Beast
2009 was also the year Nike dropped a “Savage Beast” Air Force 1 Low design covered in Ginger pony hair. The sneaker took design cues from Gossamer, the orange-haired monster of Looney Tunes fame. We’ve seen the Swoosh Label deliver plenty of pony hair designs since then, but these are still one of the coolest pairs.
Nike SB Blazer Blood Splatter
Nike’s Blazer silhouette has had its fair share of epic Halloween releases, including the Off-White pack and the “Spider Web” design from 2020. But our favourite design is still the Blood Splatter edition of 2009. The white upper with red splatter details gives a gruesome effect that’s the perfect touch for the spooky season. Unfortunately, these kicks don’t come cheap on the resale market.
Nike Dunk High Coraline
Although not specifically designed for Halloween or Día de Muertos, the “Coraline” Dunk Highs fit seamlessly into the spooky season aesthetic. Nike created 1000 pairs of these Dunk Highs (including ones with movie props, huge buttons and 15 pairs delivered in a special wooden box) to mark the release of the Coraline film. You immediately think of the Other World when you look at these stylish kicks.
Nike Air Foamposite One ParaNorman
Fast forward to 2012, when Laika and Nike joined forces again for an Air Foamposite One design inspired by another of the stop-motion animation studio’s classic horror films. The ParaNorman design shows off a black shell upper with volt-colored flames to complement the film’s look. These sneakers were released in limited quantities, with only an estimated 800 pairs produced. A large chunk of this sum was offered to lucky Twitter users who shared their “weirdest” childhood images, but a smaller batch of less than 100 pairs made their way to fans through eBay auctions.
Nike SB Dunk Low Night of Mischief
Sneakerheads love it when Nike and its subsidiaries embrace the tricks and treats of Halloween, and the Nike SB Dunk Low Night of Mischief delivers on both counts. The 2021 design draws from the Swoosh’s signature Halloween palette of black, purple, green, and orange, while adding plenty of seasonal symbols like spiders, vampire pumpkins, and oozing slime. This is one of the team’s best designs in recent years.
