Hybrid Havoc: Nine of the Dopest Nike SB Mashups Ever
Long before the ‘collaboration’ buzzword entered the sneaker lexicon as a catchall term for shameless cash grabs, were grinding. Known for their irreverent, often unofficial homages to pot and pop culture, Nike’s iconoclastic skate division sparked a golden age for killer colourways and campouts. With Nike SB’s resurgence in recent years, we’ve also seen some rather unexpected mashups. From the Nike SB x ‘Pine Green’ to rumours of an upcoming Nike SB x Nike’s skate division have never been more eager to drop in on diverse categories. In light of recent developments, we figured it was high time to revisit some of the dopest so far.
Nike SB x Air Trainer 1 'Chlorophyll’
Originally launched in 2003, the Nike SB ‘Chlorophyll’ has seen several retros over the years. With perennial hype man stoking the flames with his collaboration in 2022, the Nike SB edition was once again served up later that same year. Retooled specifically for skaters, the chameleonic cross-trainer featured a sturdier design with additional stitching, extra cushioning loading the insoles, and reinforced leather and suede in high-impact areas. Equipped with 'Zoom' cushioning, the outsoles were also modified with a stickier rubber compound to improve grip on the skateboard – allowing better control and traction.
For its part, the Air Trainer 1 arrived in the late 1980s and was marketed as your all-in-one, cross-training solution. Another heavyweight design by the model launched right at the advent of a cross-training explosion. The hybrid design was built for the court, concrete, gym, and everything in between, and soon skyrocketed in popularity thanks to the likes of and John McEnroe on the tennis courts. Backed by advertising heavyweights Wieden+Kennedy and 'Revolution 9' by the Beatles (Nike was controversially the first brand to use a Beatles song in an advertisement), the Air Trainer 1 was bound to become the baron of bench press.
Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 'Pine Green'
It’s no secret skaters absolutely love to thrash Falling in love with Jumpman silhouettes way back in the 1980s with the debut of the Air Jordan 1, the performance-driven models were embraced for their stoic durability on the park. A particular favourite among skaters is still the Specifically re-engineered for skateboarding last year, the Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 ‘Pine Green’ came as a shock. Enhancing cushioning and support, the model reinforced areas around the toe box and sides, which typically cop a beating when skating. Extra padding around the tongues and ankles also gave extra protection. Riding on a two-tone foam midsole, the Air Jordan 4 was fitted with an exposed air sole in the heel and gum rubber outsoles for increased grip. One of the more difficult cops for sneakerheads in 2023, the ‘Pine Green’ was a straight-up bucket for skaters and hoopers alike.
Eric Koston x Nike SB Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Midnight Navy’ and ‘UNC’
Legendary skater was a pivotal force in the success of Nike SB. Joining the still-fledgling imprint in 2009, Koston’s peerless poise and industry know-how helped shape the brand and provide credibility in the ensuing years. Feeling like ‘a kid in a candy store’, Koston dropped several signature shoe models over the years, including the classic Eric Koston 1 – the first skate shoe to incorporate 'Lunarlon' cushioning.
A decade after he originally inked a deal with Nike SB, Koston collaborated on the Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 Low – one of our all-time favourite Nike SB Jumpman crossovers to date. Interestingly, the ‘Midnight Navy’ colour of the Air Jordan 1 was originally released in 2001 as a Japanese CO.JP exclusive. Friends and fellow pro-skater Gino Iannucci had a pair and Koston wanted one as well. Well, nearly 20 years later, Koston finally scored his pair. We’re also giving a special shoutout to Eric Koston’s Air Jordan 1 ‘UNC’ that dropped in 2019. According to Koston himself, on a back-to-school shopping trip at the off-price department store, Marshalls, he spotted a pair of Air Jordan 1s in the 'UNC' colourway for $24.99. He wanted them not because of Mike, but because his favourite skaters (Bones Brigade) were wearing AJ1s to skate in. After being denied the sneakers as a kid, he brought the UNC colourway to the Nike SB Air Jordan 1, which features a $24.99 orange tag on the inside as a part of the storytelling of the sneaker.
Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 ‘LA to Chicago’ and ‘NYC to Paris’
Cue Ric Flair’s ‘Woooo!’ soundbite – the Nike SB Air Jordan 1 ‘LA to Chicago’ and ‘NYC to Paris’ were darn pretty. Launching in 2019, the collaboration paid homage to the iconic cities for hoops and skating. Over time and with wear, each model was designed to reveal a colourway underneath, effectively giving the wearer a two-for-one. And don’t skaters just love a bargain! But it wasn’t just the idea of a sweet score that had sneakerheads smitten. Both the ‘LA to Chicago’ and ‘NYC to Paris’ felt like luxurious remixes of a 1980s hoops classic. Of course, MJ’s signature sneaker has long been a favourite for skaters. Forever immortalised by Lance Mountain and his Air Jordan 1s in 1987, the modern city slicker pack was an instant teal-box classic.
Nike SB Stefan Janoski Max
Born in Vacaville, California, Stefan Janoski lived and breathed skateboarding. Developing his laidback, fluid style in the 1980s and 1990s, Janoski first hooked up with Nike SB in 2009 for the Zoom Janoski, a signature shoe that would go on to become one of the best-selling skate models of all time. Years later, the Janoski was updated with Nike Air Max cushioning, the hybrid design incorporating Janoski’s signature visuals with the lifestyle comfort of the Air Max line. After more than a decade-long wait, Nike SB finally introduced the highly-anticipated sequel, the Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski 2. Traditionally incorporating Zoom cushioning, Nike SB also released an Air Max mashup for fans of Nike’s patented cushioning tech. Retaining the sleek, minimalist visuals that made the OG Janoski so popular, the Air Max edition was often viewed through a lifestyle lens, as the line had largely deviated from its performance running heritage.
Lance Mountain x Air Jordan 1 SB
The Lance Mountain x Air Jordan 1 pays homage to the legendary 1987 skate video, The Search for Animal Chin. In it, Pasadena pro skater Lance Mountain wears an Air Jordan ‘Royal’ on his left foot and a ‘Carolina Blue’ Air Jordan 1 on his right. Back in those days, West Coast skaters adopted the Air Jordan 1 en masse thanks to its hard-nosed durability, ample ankle covering, and a multitude of colourways available – many of which were frequently worn mismatched. Some skaters even took things one step further, taking a page out of the DIY punk handbook to customise their Jordans. The Lance Mountain x Air Jordan 1 SB actually featured a coat of white paint that would wear away as you thrashed them, revealing a black/red and black/royal colourway underneath. The collaboration dropped in 2014 as a two-pack alongside a murdered-out black pair.
Craig Stecyk x Air Jordan 1 SB
Craig Stecyk III is a pivotal figure in the development of skateboarding culture. Widely recognised for his involvement with the Z-Boys, a group of pioneering Californian skateboarders in the 1970s, Stecyk and his compatriots helped bring a more aggressive surf-inspired style to skateboarding. Landing in March 2014, the Craig Stecyk x Air Jordan 1 was one of three Air Jordan 1 hightops to pay homage to skateboarding legends that year. Composed in iridescent green and matte black, the model featured dotted threads woven into the tongues, quarter panels and collars. Handwritten ‘AJ ONE SB’ in tribal script was also printed on the heels and interiors.
Nike Zoom P-Rod 1 Elite ‘J-Rod’
was a huge game changer for Nike SB when he signed in 2004, switching over from core skate shoe brand éS. A commercially successful skateboarder who still has credibility with the skate community, P-Rod knew how to toe the line between being with a big brand like Nike without ‘selling out’. In 2005, Rodriguez was the first Nike SB athlete to get a signature sneaker, the Nike Zoom P-Rod 1, which came in a bevy of colourways.
Like most kids that grew up in the 90s, we all wanted to be ‘Like Mike’, and P-Rod was no different. Designing a colourway alongside Tinker Hatfield himself, the ‘J-Rod’ Nike Zoom P-Rod 1 featured elephant print overlays on top of the sterling grey nubuck upper. And with the Jumpman appearing on the tongue and heel, it was the only non-Jordan Brand sneaker to feature the Jumpman at the time.
Nike Zoom P-Rod 9 Elite ‘J-Rod’
10 years after Paul Rodriguez’s ‘J-Rod’ colourway, the elephant print-clad look returned on the Nike Zoom P-Rod 9 Elite. Look quickly and you’ll not even realise that the P-Rod 1 and P-Rod 9 in the Air Jordan 3-inspired look aren’t the same shoe; the colourway is recreated almost exactly on the later model. It’s virtually the same upper sitting atop the newer P-Rod 9 sole. The same hues and elephant print overlays are featured on the slimmer silhouette, but this time, the Jumpman appears only on the heel. Hex Zoom Air units are featured on the heel and forefoot with a Nike Free-inspired outsole for flexibility.
With a colourway this good and the fact that Rodriguez is still a Nike SB rider, it’s a shame we haven’t seen another ‘J Rod’ since. P-Rod’s signature line has come to an end, so we’d love to see the ‘J-Rod’ theme on a regular old SB Dunk.