Back when it first debuted in 1997, the Nike Foamposite was an innovative sneaker that used brand new sneaker technology. The shoes were designed by Nike’s Advanced Product Engineering group, led by Eric Avar, who wanted to create a high performance basketball shoe. The team developed a new technology that they dubbed “Foamposite,” which was a polyurethane liquid that is heated and molded to create a glove-like fit on a shoe.
While the Nike Foamposite was unlike anything else on the market at the time, surprisingly the shoe was not that popular with consumers. Some basketball players, particularly Penny Hardaway, wore Nike Foamposites during their games, which did help the shoe slowly gain popularity.
These days, however, the Nike Foamposite is a pretty popular sneaker and people pay thousands of dollars for certain colorways on the secondary market. This list contains some of the most expensive/rarest Nike Foamposites ever released.
- Nike Air Foamposite Pro “Class Of ’97”
- Nike Air Foamposite Pro “Gym Red”
- Nike Air Foamposite One NRG “Galaxy”
- Nike Air Foamposite Pro “University Blue”
- Nike Air Foamposite Pro “Voltage”
- Nike Air Foamposite One Premium “Wheat”
- Nike Air Foamposite One QS “Tianjin”
- Nike Air Foamposite One x Sole Collector “Penny Signature Pack”
- Nike Air Foamposite One “ParaNorman”
- Nike Foamposite Lite “Kryptonate”
Year Released: December 19, 2015
Colorway: White/True Red-Black
photo source: Sole Collector
In 2015, Nike re-released two of its most popular old school kicks, the “Pearl” Nike Air Foamposite Pro colorway and Nike Zoom Hawk Flight. The redubbed Nike Air Foamposite Pro “Class of 97” sneakers were highly anticipated and sold out right away. The two models, which both made their debut in 1997, will be in a box set called the Nike Make Up Class of ’97 pack. It originally retailed for $385.
Did you know?
Both the original Nike Air Foamposite Pro Pearl and the Nike Zoom Hawk Flight were worn by Ray Allen’s character Jesus Shuttlesworth in the classic Spike Lee film He Got Game, which made the shoes popular with fans of the movie and sneakerheads.
Year Released: April 11, 2015
Colorway: Gym Red/Gym Red-Black
photo source: sneakerbardetroit.com
One of the most vibrant pairs of Foamposites is the Nike Air Foamposite Pro “Gym Red” that was originally released in April 2015. This Foamposite sports a red-on-red upper, with touches of black on the carbon fiber shank and herringbone traction pods. The laces that came with the Gym Red Foamposites have gold tips, adding a touch of luxury to the shoes.
Did you know?
The design of the Nike Air Foamposite Pro Gym Red sneakers ripped off the design of the Nike Air Yeezy 2 “Red October,” which is also a monochromatic red with subtle snakeskin print.
Year Released: February 24, 2012
Colorway: Obsidian/Anthracite-Black
photo source: anpkick.co
During the 2010s, clothing and accessories with galaxy print were in fashion and Nike didn’t hesitate to jump on the galaxy train. In late February 2012, the brand released the Nike Air Foamposite One NRG “Galaxy,” which immediately sold out – only a limited number of the shoes were produced. As the name of the shoes suggests, this special colorway features an image of a colorful galaxy dotted by white stars. Additionally, the outsole of the Galaxy Foamposites is glow-in-the-dark.
Did you know?
The Nike Air Foamposite One NRG Galaxy had a tag attached that said, “Remove Before Flight,” which is typically found on objects destined for space travel.
Year Released: 2003
Colorway: University Blue/White-Midnight Navy
photo source: sneakernews.com
For whatever reason, the Nike Air Foamposite Pro “University Blue” shoes were the only Foamposites released by Nike in 2003. At the time, Foamposites were still not very popular, so not many people picked up the University Blue colorways, which is why they’re pretty hard to come by now that Foamposites are popular.
Did you know?
The Nike Air Foamposite Pro “University Blue” sneakers were the first Foamposite Pros to have a solid white outsole as well as leather uppers (on the lace collar).
Year Released: 1997
Colorway: Black/Voltage Yellow-Black
photo source: Flight Club
One of the OG Foamposite colorways from 1997, the Nike Air Foamposites Pro “Voltage” are still a favorite among sneakerheads. Of course, because of their age and history in the Nike Foamposites line the Voltage colorway is incredibly difficult to come by and worth a pretty penny. Although they don’t look too different from most of the earlier Foamposites, the Voltage shoes did have an electric yellow Swoosh, which was pretty novel for the time.
Did you know?
According to the website Sneaker News, the Nike Air Foamposite Pro “Voltage” was one of the few times that Nike released a Foamposite with a non-black Swoosh.
Year Released: October 18, 2014
Colorway: Haystack/Track Brown
photo source: weartesters.com
The Nike Air Foamposite One Premium “Wheat” shoes are another pair of distinct Foamposites because they look similar to the popular tan boots from the brand Timberland. The Foamposite part of the shoes are overlaid with a faux suede in a light tan color. Darker brown accents add contrast to the Foamposite. Instead of the traditional sneaker laces, the Nike Air Foamposite One Premium Wheats have boot laces.
Did you know?
Initially, the Nike Air Foamposite One Premium Wheat shoes were released in overseas markets before making their debut in the U.S. in October 2014.
Year Released: February 7, 2015
Colorway: Black/Black-Lava Glow-Lakeside
photo source: sneakernews.com
Another incredibly unique colorway that has since become expensive on the secondary sneaker market is the Nike Air Foamposite One QS “Tianjin”. The shoes were released in early 2015 during Chinese New Year. They were designed to pay tribute to the basketball culture of the Chinese metropolis of Tianjin.
The sneaker is wrapped in intricate graphics that reference the cultural heritage of Tianjin, and of China at large. There are lotus flower patches on the tongues and heels, fish graphics as a nod to the homonym status of the words for “fish” and “lotus,” and more.
Did you know?
The Nike Air Foamposite One QS “Tianjin” sneakers were released exclusively in China, which is why the shoes are now worth thousands of dollars as they’re sought after by sneakerheads in the West.
Year Released: October 29, 2011
Colorway: Black/Metallic Copper-Varsity Royal
photo source: sneakernews.com
In 2011, Nike collaborated with Sole Collector to release a special collection of shoes in honor of basketball legend Penny Hardaway, who is responsible for popularizing the Nike Foamposite sneaker. A set of five Nike Air Penny signatures colorized in a classic Orlando Magic colorway was released exclusively at Nike Las Vegas in October of that year.
The Nike Air Foamposite One x Sole Collector “Penny Signature Pack” pair was only available in very limited quantities and originally retailed for $1,000. Since then, this colorway has remained popular, but pairs rarely come up for sale. When they do, they fetch thousands of dollars.
Did you know?
The Nike Air Foamposite One x Sole Collector “Penny Signature Pack” shoes are a flip of the original signature colorway of the Nike Foamposite.
Year Released: August 1, 2012
Colorway: Black/Neon Green
photo source: sneakerbardetroit.com
While it might seem like a pretty weird pairing, that was the idea behind the Nike Air Foamposite One “ParaNorman” collaboration. To celebrate the release of Laika’s ParaNorman back in 2012, Nike made a unique Foamposite that featured electric green smoky graphics, glow-in-the-dark outsoles, and the words “Weird Wins” on the heel tabs.
The reason that the Nike Air Foamposite One ParaNorman shoes are so expensive is because they were never released for sale to the public. Nike only made 800 pairs and the only way to get one was to enter a social media giveaway which challenged people to submit their “weirdest” childhood photo.
Did you know?
A silhouette of Norman, the titular character of ParaNorman was also embroidered on the heel tabs of the Nike Air Foamposite One ParaNorman shoes.
Year Released: March 17, 2009
Colorway: Electric Green/Green Spark-Black
photo source: sneakerbardetroit.com
With a current value of $5,521 – $9,000 on the secondary sneaker market, the Nike Foamposite Lite Kryptonates are the most expensive and rarest Nike Foamposites ever. The shoes were originally made for basketball star Nate Robinson for the 2009 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest. Sneakerheads and basketball fans immediately went nuts over the shoes and no one knew if Nike had plans to release the shoes to the public.
After a lot of buzz, Nike announced that they were releasing 100 pairs of the Nike Foamposite Lite Kryptonates on St. Patrick’s Day 2009 at Foot Lockers Harlem House of Hoops that included an exclusive release event with Nate Robinson in attendance. More than a decade later, the Nike Foamposite Lite Kryptonates are still highly sought after.
Did you know?
The Nike Foamposite Lites were dubbed “Kryptonate” because they were made to help Nate Robinson beat Dwight Howard and his “Superman” alter ego to become the new Slam Dunk Champion. The shoes did their job and Howard was crowned that year’s Slam Dunk Champion.
