Nike bringing back shoes like the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 and Virgil Abloh Archives x Air Jordan 1 “Alaska” taught us that there may be nothing that’s off limits when it comes to retros. Retroing sneakers has long been part of the footwear world, but there were previously sneakers that were thought to just be too rare, too special, or too “big” to ever come back.
That all began to change in 2021 when the Nike Air Max 90 “Bacon” returned—a 2005 project from Dave’s Quality Meat that had long been chased by collectors. Then came shoes like the Wu-Tang Clan x Nike Dunk and “Galaxy” Nike Air Foamposite One—sneakers whose return once seemed unimaginable, and gave us hope for even more.
The return of such coveted sneakers comes with both positives and negatives. We’re sure some people that paid four or five figures for the originals haven’t been happy, but for those who’ve only dreamed of acquiring a pair, it’s a chance to own and wear a sneaker we never even imagined possible.
As the new year approaches, we’re taking a look at more sneakers we’d like to see return. Some of these are classics celebrating anniversaries, like Virgil Abloh’s “The Ten” collection, and some are more niche. Here are 10 sneakers we want to come back in 2027.
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ADIDAS X BAPE WARM UP TOP BLACK
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ADIDAS X BAPE BABY MILO TEE WHITE
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Gazelle Indoor 'Solar Gold'
ADIDAS X MERCEDES BENZ SAMBA MAGIC BEIGE
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ADIDAS X MERCEDES BENZ SAMBA BLACK/BLACK
Virgil Abloh Archives x The Ten
Last Released: 2017
The late Virgil Abloh’s Off-White x Nike “The Ten” collection is arguably the greatest sneaker collaboration of all time. The range released in 2017 and featured Abloh’s reworked versions of 10 iconic Nike, Air Jordan, and Converse silhouettes. The collection was broken up into two assortments. There’s the “Ghosting” lineup that features translucent panels and the “Revealing” range using exposed and reconstructed elements throughout. With 2027 being the 10-year mark since the original release and the recent retro of the “Alaska” Jordan 1 collab with the help of Abloh’s estate, it makes sense for the brand to bring back some of the pairs from “The Ten” too. Specifically for this writer, the original Presto from the set is my favorite colorway of the silhouette ever. —Victor Deng
HTM x Nike Air Force 1 Low
Last Released: 2002
The HTM collective, consisting of Hiroshi Fujiwara, Tinker Hatfield, and Mark Parker, has worked on sneakers including the Nike Kobe line, multiple Flyknit models, and even the HTM2 Run Boot that saw the addition of Mark Smith to the group. But the shoe that started it all, 2002’s HTM Air Force 1s, are arguably the best. While we’d be happy to see any of the sneakers return in 2027—or even just new HTM creations—our top pick goes to the original Air Force 1 Low. Both the black and brown colorways were limited to just 1,500 pairs and featured premium leather uppers and linings, and white contrast stitching. The understated formula has withstood the test of time, and would be just as effective now as it was when it was released almost 25 years ago. —Zac Dubasik
Nike Air Tech Challenge 4
Last Released: 2016
Andre Agassi’s Nike Air Alarm is reportedly returning in 2027, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t more sneakers from the tennis legend’s catalog we want back. We’ve seen semi-regular returns of sneakers like the Air Tech Challenge 2 and 3 over the years, but the 4 has been more elusive, last appearing as a part of the mash-up ATC Hybrid in 2014 and a true retro in 2016. The Air Tech Challenge 4 pushed the design boundaries with a Swoosh-less upper and an even bolder take on the exploding graphics of the better-known Air Tech Challenge 2. With more attention coming to the Agassi line as of late, it’s time to revisit this under-appreciated model from the early ‘90s. —Zac Dubasik
New Balance 990v4 'Sunrise Rose'
Last Released: 2017
This isn’t the New Balance that started it all, but it was the moment that New Balance went from an old dad shoe to a cool dad shoe. The year was 2017; I remember it like yesterday. The 990 was having a moment, thanks to the rejection of putrid sock shoes. And New Balance had just launched the v4. It wasn’t much different than the v3, save the tongue, but it had energy. New Balance didn’t put out a limited collaboration, rather an exclusive colorway, the “Sunset Rose.” Salmon NBs. Joe La Puma loved them. New Balance gave me two pairs, so I gave him one. He wore them on Sneaker Shopping. Macklemore wanted a pair, but New Balance was sold out. The “Sunset Rose” was gone. They’ve since put the color on the v5 and v6, but they’re not the same. We need these back. —Matt Welty
Nike Air Terra Sertig
Last Released: 2005
With the reboot of Nike’s ACG line, and the Air Max Goadome as popular as ever, timing is perfect to bring back one of the most iconic sneaker boots from Nike’s archive: the Air Terra Sertig. It’s a bit surprising that it’s been 20-plus years since we’ve gotten a proper retro of the original yellow version. There have been some variations released in the time since, like the Air Max edition and the modernized NikeLab Terra Sertig 16. But what we really want is just a true-to-original retro of the most overlooked sneaker from He Got Game. And while we’re at it, let’s get a Terra Albis retro too, a low-cut sneaker from the era that shares the same tooling. —Zac Dubasik
Air Jordan 16 ‘Cherrywood’
Last Released: 2001
We really haven’t seen these since 2001, and I think right now is the perfect window for a return. We’re seeing Jordans beyond the 14 get so much love lately. Free the Youth brought back the 16 silhouette, which even made our top 10 sneakers of the year, and Yaxel Lendeborg has been hooping in them. The 16 just works so well with today’s fashion to—it’s a luxurious-looking shoe with so many ways to style it. I think the juice is worth the squeeze. Enough time has passed that bringing these back wouldn’t feel like the same recycled story. There’s still that nostalgia, and it’s also a pair people would genuinely be excited to see again. —Douglas Jase
Acronym x Nike Air Presto
Last Released: 2016
Reinventing one of the best Nike sneakers and making it completely your own is a tall task to accomplish. For German technical apparel label Acronym, it did exactly that with its Air Presto Mid collabs in 2016. Acronym’s version of the Presto featured new technical elements that aligned with the brand’s typical design language. The original “Bamboo,” “Olive,” and “Multicolor” trio is the best in the full range, but even the later styles are worth bringing back. —Victor Deng
Air Jordan 5 ‘Laser’
Last Released: 2007
What else do I gotta say man? Just bring the damn shoe back already. Clearly the Jumpman is firing up the Laser machine—we got new Laser 3s, we’re getting Laser 4s back. It’s time. —Ben Felderstein
Factory Records x Adidas FAC51-Y3 Hacienda
Last Released: 2007
This is probably one of the rarest and most sought-after shoes that people in America have no clue about at all. And I’m OK with that. The Adidas Y-3 FAC51 “Hacienda” was made to represent the 25th anniversary of the Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, England, and served a cultural center for bands such as New Order, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, and even served as inspiration for Oasis. Basically everything that is cool now. The shoe itself is pure Euro Trash, and that’s sort of the beauty of it, as it was designed by the legend himself, Peter Saville. But it’s built to hit the dance floors and maybe a bit of sneaker madness. —Matt Welty
Kaws x Air Jordan 4
Last Released: 2017
With rumors of a return of the Kaws x Air Jordan 4 already circulating for 2027, consider this our official request. Brooklyn-based artist Kaws was connected to sneakers for over a decade before his Jordan Brand collab dropped in 2017, but the Air Jordan 4 connected on a broader scale than his previous work with Nike and Bape. Rather than taking a more obvious approach and using vinyl details from his collectable toys or bright pop art-inspired pieces, Kaws went with inspiration from his grayscale Companion work. The approach has aged well, and makes it prime for a comeback. We’re not sure what to expect for this rumored return, whether it will be a straightforward retro, a new colorway, or an entirely new concept, but we’ll be anxiously awaiting the unveil. —Zac Dubasik
