Worth the Hype? Part 1: Nike Dunks

In this series, I’ll look at certain popular shoes, and give you my opinion on whether the sneakers are worth buying, or if they should be left alone, and will rank them on a scale from 1-10, 1 being avoid them like the plague, and 10 being purchase by any means necessary.

For this first entry, I thought it would only be appropriate to start with the Nike Dunk. After all, they are wildly popular, and as they have released in several Valentine's Day colorways and with Valentine's day approaching, they should certainly be on your radar as the perfect romantic gesture.

I make absolutely no attempt to hide the fact I am a huge fan of the Nike Dunks, both low and high. They have a unique blend of style, wearability, function and price.

To begin, the style of the shoe is a classic Nike silhouette crafted from four of its predecessors, the Air Force 1, the Terminator, the Jordan 1, and the Legend. The result? A shoe very reminiscent of 80’s hoop culture. With the meteoric rise of the Jordan line and the technology that came with it, the Dunk temporarily fell to the side, but was quickly picked up by skaters in the 90’s. The shoes' relatively light weight and sturdy build made it perfect for skating, and Nike has since released it in colorways that fit that culture, as well as collaborated with skate companies for designs. Skate culture has maintained its influence on fashion and style since, and with it the Dunk.

For those unfamiliar with the term, wearability in the sneaker community often refers to a speaker's ability to be worn and styled with outfits. When it comes to the Dunk, it scores very high in this category. As mentioned before, there are a plethora of different colorways to choose from, meaning you are certain to find one that matches your personal style. The silhouette of the shoe ensures that it can be dressed up and made the statement piece of an outfit, or dressed down and blend into the background. Both the highs and lows can be worn with long pants or shorts or even with skirts or dresses. These shoes go best with Y2K, skate and streetwear style, but with enough creativity, they can be worn with anything.

Given the Dunk’s high scores in the other categories, is it any surprise they knock it out of the park in this one as well? The Dunk has a strong sole, midsole and a sturdy upper, making it a highly functional shoe. While you could wear it hoop in, there are certainly more comfortable options available. But as a skate shoe, or just an everyday wear, dunks will be sure to last you a long while, which is good because of the now borderline exorbitant price for the shoe.

Once upon a time, you could purchase a pair of Dunks for $59-$100. My very first pair, the low in the Dessert Silt colorway, I bought off Amazon for $45. Now, your best bet is to find a pair on a major reselling site such as Goat or SockX. However, you’ll have to pay anywhere upwards of $150 for a pair. Are they worth this price? This question can ultimately only be answered by you, the buyer. However, to me having a sneaker that will last for years and is so versatile is worth the investment. So what are you waiting for? Happy sneaker hunting.

Overall Score 9/10