Who doesn’t love Christmas? It’s a time of cheer, of getting together with your family to celebrate the holiday season, and when everyone looks forward to closing the year with the people they love…and presents. Nike seems to love Christmas just as much as the rest of us do and has created a ton of stunning Christmas-themed releases over the years, using many of their most-loved silhouettes to bring the Christmas cheer to life. Let’s explore some of Nike’s best Christmas-themed sneakers without further ado.
Official Nike Christmas-Themed Sneakers
While custom sneakers are a thing, Nike has seemingly always loved celebrating the Christmas holidays with their fans and customers, as they have made a ton of official Christmas-themed sneakers for us to enjoy. With everything from sneakers that celebrate the “ugly Christmas sweaters” that we love to wear during the season to celebrating fiction and folklore around the season, like the Grinch and Krampus, respectively, here are the best official Nike Christmas-themed sneakers out there.
1. Nike Kobe 6 “Grinch” / Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Grinch”
While they might not be furry or have anything on them that connects them to Whoville, these sneakers were quickly adopted by the sneakerheads who love Christmas and renamed “Grinch” thanks to their vibrant green colourway complemented by a subtle red accent.
The pair was initially released during the Christmas season as a green homage to Kobe Bryant’s Mamba nickname (you can see the inspiration in the snakeskin-esque upper); it’s easy to see why the sneakerhead community had some other ideas.
They might not be a direct nod to Christmas, but thanks to the community, these sneakers are among the best Christmas-themed sneakers ever.
Release date: December 15, 2023
2. Nike LeBron 10 “Christmas”
LeBron James’ 10th signature Nike basketball sneakers were masterfully adorned with a daring red and green colourway in 2012, the unspoken uniform of the Christmas season. LeBron James is a big fan of the festive season because these weren’t his first Christmas-themed pair and won’t be his last.
The Nike LeBron 10 was a robust pair of sneakers with excellent performance. Still, the Christmas edition just made it all that much better, entering the hearts of players and sneaker enthusiasts alike and making a permanent home there.
Release date: December 2012
3. Sean Cliver x Nike SB Dunk High “Krampus”
The story of Krampus is a darker take on the conventionally happy thoughts around Christmas. Still, it has been a part of German and Scandinavian folklore since the thought of Christmas began. This pair is perfect if you are looking for a pair of Christmas-themed sneakers that doesn’t scream the clashing red and green.
First released in 2012, the Sean Cliver x Nike SB Dunk High “Krampus” takes on a “Black” and “Gym Red”, embellished with devilish detailing that adds to the dark allure of these sneakers. Besides dark, these sneakers are captivating, unique and unforgettable.
Release date: December 5, 2012
4. Concepts X Nike SB Dunk High “Ugly Sweaters”
Unanimously thought to be one of the most memorable sneakers of 2013, these “Ugly Sweaters” sneakers earned their name as they were inspired by exactly that: kitschy holiday pullovers. The sneakers were actually offered in two distinct colourways; one was a deep, black fleece, and the other was a more understated grey. Both colourways were richly embellished with enchanting festive details like sullen snowmen, vibrant snowflakes, and holly motifs.
They may be inspired by something ugly, but these stunning sneakers are anything but gorgeous in their joyous celebration of the Christmas season. Unsurprisingly, these quickly rose to fame among sneaker fans, making it one of the best Christmas-themed sneakers of all time.
Release date: December 7, 2013 and 2017
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5. Nike SB Dunk “Candy Cane”
While many candies and food embody the spirit of Christmas, one of the most notable is, without a doubt, candy canes. Of course, the influential candy had to be the subject and inspiration for a pair of Nike sneakers.
In 2015, Nike dropped the stunning Christmas-themed SB Dunk “Candy Cane,” and the sneakers were as cheerful and sweet as you could possibly imagine them to be. Using eye-catching red and white stripes along the entire upper, mimicking the traditional candy cane look. The stripes are complemented by touches of Christmas green (sorry, we couldn’t get away from it) on the lining.
These sneakers are definitely one of the best Christmas-themed sneakers ever made, as finding these kicks on the resale market can cost you around five times the original retail price. If there was ever an indication of the popularity of a pair of sneakers, that would have to be it.
Release date: November 12, 2015
6. Nike Kobe 6 “Reverse Grinch”
We had a Grinch, so obviously, we must have a Reverse Grinch. The festive all-red upper and green accents take the colourway of the Nike above Kobe 6 Grinch and basically invert it, bringing the Christmas delight to life.
The hype for these sneakers was massive in 2023, and it’s easy to see why. If luminescent green wasn’t their thing, sneakerheads now had a stunning red option that gave the same effect and is a favourite sneaker silhouette.
Release date: December 15, 2023
7. Nike Air Max 90 “Christmas Wrapped”
Sometimes known as the Nike Air Max 90 “Candy Cane”, Nike chose “Christmas Wrapped” because the former was already taken. These sneakers have a perfect Christmas theme, with a green lining and a touch of gold throughout, complementing their bright and exciting uppers.
The upper is entirely adorned with little Nike Swooshes that are candy canes. The actual Nike Swoosh is a glittery red that works perfectly with the red ribbon laces, really making these sneakers feel like sneakers that have been gift-wrapped in a harmless prank.
Release date: December 5th, 2015
8. Nike Air Tech Challenge 3 Christmas
Yet another gorgeous pair of Christmas-themed sneakers joined the ranks of the best Nike Christmas-themed sneakers in 2015 as a loud colourway for the Air Tech Challenge 3 silhouette that rivals the busyness of the SB Dunk “Ugly Sweaters” range.
Boasting a colourway that includes Dark Obsidian blue across the majority of the sneaker, Metallic Gold making up the Nike Swoosh logo, and University Red on aspects of the sneakers like the outsole, patterning of the upper and the laces. The patterning of the upper is where these sneakers shine, though, as they boast green and red candy canes and stars along the length of the sneakers.
Release date: December 5, 2015
9. Nike LeBron 11 “Christmas”
As mentioned with LeBron’s other pair on the list, King James seems to love Christmas and the festive season, and this pair from 2013 proves that statement further. Providing yet another stunning and eye-catching pair of sneakers, this bright green pair with red accents seems to be the inverted pair when compared to the Nike LeBron 10 “Christmas” sneakers.
Unlike the foresty green you might see on usual Christmas sneakers, this pair uses Green Glow to mark its stunning upper, from the rubber outsole to the gorgeous and intricate snowflake graphics all over the sneakers. Complementing the Green Glow is Light Crimson, making up the Nike Swoosh, laces, and all of the inner workings of the sneaker that peek over the edges of the collar and from within.
Release date: December 26, 2013
Custom Nike Christmas-themed sneakers
Official Nike releases aren’t the only sneakers that have made their way onto the market to celebrate the festive season. The range of customisation and elements that artists can use is much more vast than the mass-produced colours and sneakers that Nike has to limit themselves to, allowing them to make gorgeous sneakers. Let’s look at some of the best Christmas-themed custom sneakers.
10. Nike SB Dunk Low x Nightmare Before Christmas “Jack & Sally”
Some people might fight with me for including this pair on the list, saying that the sneakers are better suited to Halloween. Still, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Christmas movie in my house. It literally has it in the name.
Whether you agree with me or not, only true Tim Burton movie fans will see the Christmas theme in this pair of Nike SB Dunk Low x Nightmare Before Christmas “Jack & Sally”.
Lacking the usual bright reds and greens of a Christmas pair, one could argue that Sally’s side of the pair definitely still has a bit of red and green in there, however, muted it might be. Dariyn Enriquez did an excellent job bringing these two characters from the Tim Burton film to life.
11. Nike Air Jordan 1 Low “Grinchmas”
We caught a glimpse of the Grinch with the official sneakers. Still, that pair was named that way because of fans, not because it was initially intended that way. Sneakerheads and custom artists sought to rectify this by making beautiful Grinch sneakers. Jeremy Lacin did so with his Nike Air Jordan 1 Low “Grinchmas”.
While it incorporates a somewhat snake-skin-like leather across many parts of the upper, clearly taking inspiration from the Nike Kobe 6, the rest is bright green tufted fluff. The Grinch’s red hat is incorporated into the sneakers by the laces, the Nike Swoosh, the inner lining of the sneakers, and the stunning outsole, and finally, the last fantastic addition to the sneakers is white writing along the heel where “Air” might be on a pair of Off-White sneakers, this pair reads “Grinchmas”.
12. Nike Air Jordan 4 “Grinch”
The Air Jordan 4 sneakers are widely a favourite in the world of sneakers, so it should come as no surprise that they’re a prime choice for customisation. The hardware of the sneakers has just five customers, so there are many options, especially for artists equipped with a 3D printer.
These might be the funniest “Grinch” sneakers on the list, as they feature his dubious eyes and the upper support wings of these sneakers, which have been replaced with his slightly creepy, nailed hands.
With its different shades of flocking making it furry, you will either love or hate these Grinch sneakers and possibly even hate them so much that you love them anyway.
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13. Nike SB Dunk Low “Rudolph”
We all know the story of Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, and how he is an integral part of Christmas lore, so who better to be a mascot of Christmas than the little guy with a very shiny nose? Brett Battaglia and Isaac Apley had the same idea when they created the adorable Nike SB Dunk Low “Rudolph” sneakers.
The upper is a combination of suede and mottled brown fluff that perfectly resembles the fur of a reindeer or a little fawn, giving the sneakers an undeniably cute vibe, along with a bright red Nike Swoosh, tongue label and outsole that perfectly represents Rudolph’s bright red nose that Santa uses to guide his sleigh at night.
Which of these Nike Christmas-themed sneakers is your favourite? Do you prefer the official sneakers or the customs? Let us know in the comments below.
