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Since once again becoming a focal point for Nike in 2019, the Dunk and its many derivations have been one of the most popular sneakers on the market.
During the first several years of the silhouette’s resurgence, every version of the sneaker would sell out quickly. The hype has died down enough so that it’s now easier to land a pair at your leisure, although there are still an abundance of collaborations and historical colorways that continue to fly off shelves rapidly.
The Dunk was first introduced as a high-top basketball sneaker in 1985, and the low-top iteration that’s now the more popular of the two wasn’t a part of the shoe’s original run. It wasn’t until much later that the Dunk Low would be introduced, arriving in the pre-Nike SB period in which the brand was still trying to figure out how to capture the skateboarding market.
Having seen skaters adopt the Dunk High much like they had the Air Jordan 1 — both of which happen to be Peter Moore designs — Nike introduced the experimental Dunk Low Pro B on the West Coast in 1999. That same year, another low-top version began to release exclusively in Japan as part of the CO.JP series (Concept Japan). The silhouette would then be refined and launched as the SB Dunk Low in 2002 to coincide with the launch of the division. Months later, a retooled SB Dunk High was also introduced.
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Recent years have seen the introduction of more Dunk variants introducing new ideas to the historic silhouette such as the Dunk Low Twist and Dunk Low Remastered. With so many types of Dunks available, Footwear News has created this sizing guide so you know how each version fits.
Nike Dunk Low
The Nike Dunk Low fits true to size.
Nike Dunk High
The Nike Dunk High fits true to size.
Nike SB Dunk Low
Although the Nike SB Dunk Low fits true to size, those with wider feet may want to go a half-size up. Compared to the regular Nike version, the SB Dunk Low features additional padding throughout the upper. It also boasts a thicker Zoom Air insole that could be swapped out for another if you want more room.
Nike SB Dunk High
Like its low-top counterpart, the SB Dunk High is true to size, but those with wider feet may want to go a half-size up. It features the same additional padding, albeit higher up the ankle, along with the thicker insole.
Collaborations
Because of the variability of Dunk collaborations, there’s no sweeping rule when it comes to sizing. Different materials and features for any given collaboration could make for different fits — one Reddit user, for example, reported the Tightbooth x Nike SB Dunk Low ran a full size small. Thicker or more rough materials could also require more of a break-in period.
Women’s-Exclusive Nike Dunks
Women’s-exclusive Nike Dunk Highs and Lows are no different than others in that they fit true to size. If you’re a man looking to purchase a pair, however, it’s important to note that your equivalent size in women’s will be 1.5 higher (e.g. if you’re a men’s 9, you’ll wear a women’s 10.5).
Nike Dunk Mid
The Nike Dunk Mid fits true to size.
Nike Dunk Low Twist
The Nike Dunk Low Twist fits true to size.
Nike Air Dunk Jumbo (aka Nike Dunk Remastered)
The Nike Air Dunk Jumbo runs small, so you should purchase a half-size higher than you’d normally wear (e.g. if you wear a size 9, select a size 9.5)
Nike Dunk High ’85
The Nike Dunk High ’85, which is available in both men’s and women’s sizing, also runs small. Once again, you should select a half-size higher than you’d normally wear.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
