Nike Dunk Low vs. Nike SB Dunk Low: What's the Difference?

The Nike Dunk Low has quickly become one of the Swoosh’s biggest lifestyle silhouettes, but if you’re clued up on your sneaker history, you’ll no doubt know about the model’s roots in both skateboarding and basketball. Destined for the hardwood, the first iteration of the Dunk originally dropped back in 1985, but as b-ball models evolved the Dunk failed to keep pace. Soon, the style found its way to the sale racks, only to be saved by skateboarders, who were looking for a cheap pair to thrash. Years later (it took Nike a little while to navigate its turbulent relationship with the skate scene), an SB-specific Dunk was born, though it featured a few minor tweaks for better performance. That being said, to a sneaker newbie, it might be a little difficult to tell the difference between the Nike SB Dunk and normal Dunk, so allow us to break it down for you.

Well, it goes without saying, but the Nike SB Dunk pretty much just looks like a Dunk. Its overall shape is pretty similar, and it usually features the same two-tone colour blocking, although some of the collaborations this year have pushed the boundaries.

It’s not a visible difference, but if you’re skating your Dunks then this is something you’ll want to know. The normal Dunk Low features pretty basic foam midsoles, while the SB version has the added benefits of a Zoom Air pod at the heel, and spongy Poron foam at the forefoot. This means the SB Dunk comes packed with tonnes more cushioning and a more responsive feel to make it a better skate shoe. And, if that wasn’t enough, the insoles are also made from a comfy terry towel material, which helps to combat any sweaty feet.

Much like how the AJ1 Low Golf’s outsole differs from the lifestyle version, the same runs true for the Dunk and SB Dunk. Here, the team at Nike SB decided to increase the number of rings around the forefoot area, while also making distance between them smaller in the process. Not only does this make the sole more flexible, but it also helps to increase the grip on the skate deck.

Maybe the most obvious difference of all, is that (most) SB Dunks feature a thick, padded tongue, which basically acts as a pillow for your foot. This also helps the pair to better mould to your foot, which in turn provides a more secure fit. Dialling things up even further, the SB Dunk’s tongue is also held down by elastic straps, which also allow you to slip the sneakers on and off, without having to tie or untie the laces.

Last but not least, one of the main differences boils down to the laces. Most lifestyle Dunks feature standard flat laces, but to cope with skateboarding the SB version comes with round, puffy laces, which prevents them from fraying as easily.

So, there you have it - a list of all the differences between the Dunk and SB Dunk. Now that you're all clued up on that, be sure to check out our Dunk size guide before buying a pair, and stay locked to The Sole Supplier for all the latest and greatest Nike SB Dunk releases.