The All-Time Greatest Sneaker Double Packs (Part 1)
Double the sneakers means double the fun. The era of limited editions has resulted in an increased frequency of brands dropping two pairs of shoes in the one box or multiple colourways of a collaboration. Here’s a mix of those big box picks and some two-pair packs that have had collectors scouring the globe to cop.
Air Jordan 6/11 ‘Defining Moments Package’Air Jordan 6/11 ‘Defining Moments Package’
In 2006, Jordan Brand released a two-pair pack consisting of the Air Jordan 6 and Air Jordan 11 – corresponding to the pairs MJ wore to kick off each of his two three-peats. It was the first-ever double pack for the brand, and from there, it spawned all sorts of legendary Jordan pairings, including the ‘Countdown Pack’, ‘Old Love/New Love’ and ‘Infrared Pack’. In fact, this entire list could just be of Jordan double packs, but let’s simply pay tribute to the ‘DMP’ that started it all.
ASICS GEL-Kayano ‘20th Anniversary’ASICS GEL-Kayano ‘20th Anniversary’
The year 2013 marked the 20th anniversary of the ASICS GEL-Kayano running line, which the Japanese brand celebrated by reissuing the OG model alongside the then-incumbent GEL-Kayano 20. The only way to cop the Kayano’s debut edition in this specific colourway – which still hasn’t been retroed to this day – was to purchase it in the big two-pack. Also, it was a limited edition of 1993 in reference to the line’s founding year.
Sneakersnstuff x New Balance 577 ‘Round 3’Sneakersnstuff x New Balance 577 ‘Round 3’
Sneakersnstuff co-founders Peter Jansson and Erik Fagerlind expressed a particular penchant for the 577 in their earliest New Balance collaborations (a model still favoured by the boutique’s linkups with the brand). In 2008, ‘Round 3’ consisted of two 577s, one of each allocated to the founders’ individual tastes. Peter played it straight with black suede; Erik hit green, purple, teal and navy. The best part about these pairs is the ‘E’ and ‘P’ of the midsole’s ENCAP badge printed in contrasting colours to denote which founder the colourway corresponded to.
Converse x Jordan Brand ‘The 2 That Started It All’Converse x Jordan Brand ‘The 2 That Started It All’
Okay, Jordan Brand gets another mention on this list because of this unprecedented crossover that hasn’t happened all that much. The Converse Fastbreak (which MJ wore before joining Nike) and Air Jordan 2 featured in the same massive shoebox, both adorned with UNC colours. It’s a long story, so the abridged version is that MJ simply loved basketball, and he had a clause that allowed him to play during the off-season at pickup games. These reimagined Player Exclusives share UNC blue hits and co-branded detailing to accommodate that.
Overkill x Adidas ZX8000 ‘No Walls Needed’Overkill x Adidas ZX8000 ‘No Walls Needed’
The fall of the Berlin Wall is a significant moment in world history that has been referenced a number of times in the sneaker scene. Germany’s Overkill shed light on an interesting tidbit regarding that event with their adidas ZX8000 ‘No Walls Needed’ double pack. It sheds light on the ‘welcome money’ given to East Germans by their Western neighbours upon crossing the border. At the colab’s release – limited to 1989 examples – Overkill handed out 100 euros of ‘welcome money’ to customers who bought the pack!
UNDEFEATED x Nike Kobe 5 Protro ‘What If’UNDEFEATED x Nike Kobe 5 Protro ‘What If’
Nike Kobe sneakers remain among the most in-demand basketball shoes ever. More specifically, the Kobe 5 Protro serves serious chops on-court and off, thanks to limited editions like this UNDEFEATED effort from 2020. The duo offers a glimpse into the origins of Kobe Bryant’s entry into the NBA – one pair depicts the colours of the 12 teams that passed on him in the NBA draft, while the other drops in the Charlotte Hornets’ hues in reference to the team that finally picked him up before promptly sending him to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent his entire playing career and picked up five championships along the way. Oops.
Sneaker Freaker x PUMA Blaze of GlorySneaker Freaker x PUMA Blaze of Glory
It’d be remiss not to include some of our own work here. The original PUMA BOG project from 2008 was inspired by sharks lurking in local waters, birthing the ‘Great White’ and ‘Black Beast’ editions. In hindsight, it was perhaps a grizzly theme to debut the Big Cat’s new model to the market, but when has SF not been irreverent? Finding OG pairs today in deadstock condition is about as difficult as stumbling across a Great White tooth washed up on the beach.
With so many more double packs in the mix over the decades, expect this topic to be revisited in the future. Hit up the SF IG if your favourite pairing deserves mention in part two!
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