You’ve seen the shoes that look like a preschooler’s fever dream. The ones where the left foot doesn't even remotely match the right foot. Honestly, if you were around the skate scene in 2007, you remember exactly where you were when the Nike SB Dunk Low What The Dunk dropped. It wasn't just another release; it was a chaotic, beautiful mess that shouldn't have worked.
It did work.
In fact, it changed everything. Before this shoe, sneakers were generally symmetrical. You had a colorway, and you wore it on both feet. Then James Arizumi—the designer behind this madness—decided to take 31 separate Nike SB silhouettes and mash them into a single pair of shoes. It was intended to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Nothing But The Truth, Nike SB’s first feature-length skate film. But it became much more than a movie promo. It became the ultimate "if you know, you know" trophy for collectors.
The Anatomy of a Frankenstein Masterpiece
Let's get into the weeds of what actually makes up the Nike SB Dunk Low What The Dunk. It’s basically a history lesson you can wear.
On the right shoe, you’ve got the toe box from the "Pigeon" Dunk, which is arguably the most famous sneaker in the world because it literally caused a riot in NYC. Then you look at the side panel and you see the "Huf" tie-dye. Flip it over, and you’re looking at the "Buck" green heel. It’s overwhelming. Your eyes don't know where to land first.
The left shoe is a completely different story. It pulls from the "Jedi," the "Supremes," and the "Medicoms." There’s even a hit of the "Cali" Dunk in there.
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Why This Design Philosophy Mattered
Nike wasn't just being lazy and throwing scraps together. They were rewarding the people who had been there since the "Orange Box" era. If you were a newcomer, the shoe looked ugly. If you were an OG, you saw the "Paris" rope laces and the "Heineken" star and felt like Nike was speaking directly to you. It was a secret handshake in leather and suede form.
Most people don't realize that the production numbers were incredibly low. We’re talking roughly 300 to 500 pairs worldwide. That’s it. In a world where "limited edition" now means 50,000 pairs, the Nike SB Dunk Low What The Dunk remains a legitimate unicorn.
The 2007 Hype vs. Modern Resale Reality
Back in '07, you could potentially snag these for a few hundred bucks if you had a plug at a local skate shop. Fast forward to today? You’re looking at five figures. Easy.
I’ve seen pairs go for $15,000, $20,000, and even higher for deadstock (unworn) pairs with the original box. Why? Because the "What The" concept became a franchise. Nike eventually did a "What The" LeBron, a "What The" Kobe, and even a "What The" Jordan 5. But none of them have the soul of the original SB Dunk.
The Durability Factor
Here is the thing no one tells you: these shoes age.
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Since they were made in 2007, the glue is starting to fail on many original pairs. If you buy a pair today to actually skate in—which, please don't—they would likely fall apart within ten minutes. The materials are premium, but time is an undefeated opponent. Collectors now buy them strictly for display. They are pieces of art, not footwear.
Spotting the Fakes in a Flooded Market
Because the Nike SB Dunk Low What The Dunk is so valuable, the market is crawling with "reps" or high-quality fakes. Most of them are terrible, but some are getting scary good.
- The Embroidery: Check the "Nike" on the heel tab. On the real deal, it’s thick and slightly raised. Fakes often have thin, shaky stitching.
- The "Pigeon" Logo: The embroidery of the pigeon on the heel of the right shoe should be crisp. If the bird looks like a blob, walk away.
- The Colors: Because there are so many textures—denim, suede, buckskin, leather—the fakes almost always get one of the shades wrong. The "Pigeon" grey is usually too dark on replicas.
It’s also about the "feel." The original SB Dunks from that era had a very specific, chunky padding in the tongue that modern fakes struggle to replicate perfectly.
The Cultural Impact That Never Faded
The Nike SB Dunk Low What The Dunk essentially birthed the "Mashup" era of streetwear. It proved that you could break every rule of design—symmetry, color theory, restraint—and still create something that people would fight over.
It’s loud. It’s obnoxious. It’s "too much." And that’s exactly why it’s a masterpiece. It represents a time when Nike SB was the undisputed king of the sneaker world, driven by skate shop culture rather than corporate boardroom metrics.
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How to Handle an Investment of This Magnitude
If you are actually looking to acquire a pair of the Nike SB Dunk Low What The Dunk, you need to treat it like a real estate transaction.
First, never buy from an unverified individual on social media. Use platforms that offer physical authentication services, though even those aren't 100% foolproof. Second, ask for "tagged" photos—photos of the shoes with a handwritten note of the current date and the seller's name.
Preservation Steps
- Climate Control: If you get them, keep them out of direct sunlight. UV rays will destroy the "Paris" and "London" elements of the shoe.
- Avoid Plastic Boxes: Long-term storage in airtight plastic can actually accelerate the crumbling of the midsoles due to trapped moisture. Use acid-free tissue paper.
- Authentication: Get a second and third opinion from SB Dunk specialists. There are forums and Discord groups dedicated solely to the "Gold Box" and "Pink Box" eras of Nike SB. Use them.
Owning this shoe isn't just about having a cool pair of kicks. It’s about owning a piece of the 2000s skate boom. It’s a messy, chaotic tribute to the era that defined modern sneaker culture. Whether you love the look or think it’s an eyesore, you can't deny its gravity.
The Nike SB Dunk Low What The Dunk didn't just follow the trends. It broke them so badly they stayed broken for two decades.