Nike is releasing the Air Max 90 “Grateful Ducks” this October, and it might be one of the strangest (but smartest) collaborations of 2025.
The shoe is a three-way mashup, pulling from the Ducks’ green-and-yellow pride, the Dead’s psychedelic past, and Nike’s obsession with making sneakers that double as conversation starters.
First revealed by Bodega, who teased the pair online before pulling it almost as quickly as it went up, the collab instantly stirred sneaker forums. One Instagram comment summed it up: “These look great, hopefully available in the UK.” Another was less convinced, calling it “a cool idea, poor execution imo.” Either way, people are talking.
The design leans heavily into both legacies. A tie-dye canvas mudguard echoes the Dead’s SB Dunk Lows from 2020, while chenille Swooshes nod to the fuzzy bears that Deadheads know too well. Except this time, those hand-holding bears get swapped out for Ducks on the hangtag. That’s a cheeky Oregon shoutout. Rainbow contrast stitching runs across white mesh and suede, green and yellow hit the tongue and outsole, and the whole thing feels like a jersey you could wear on your feet.
Now, why does this Air Max collab even exist? That’s where history steps in. The Grateful Dead and Oregon go way back. The band played more than 20 shows at the University of Oregon between 1974 and 1994, including 10 at Autzen Stadium alone. With the Dead’s 60th anniversary coming in 2025, it makes sense that Eugene gets a sneaker-shaped tribute. In fact, the school is already planning a “tie-dye out” game against Wisconsin on October 25, and merch fusing Ducks and Dead logos is already flooding The Duck Store. One easter egg even shows a yellow bear wearing these exact Air Max 90s.
At $140, the “Grateful Ducks” priced the same as other Air Max 90 drops, but good luck grabbing a pair when they release through Nike and select retailers.
