The Original Nike Shox R4 Is Coming Back

Of all the technologies in the Swoosh Brand’s laundry list of innovations, there are few as unique as Nike Shox. Featuring twin midsole plates with four dense & durable foam columns, Shox footwear made the wearer look as if they had literal springs under their feet. The tech was first rolled out in 2000 with a genius “Boing” marketing campaign featuring high-jumping NBA star Vince Carter, who was wearing Shox BB4s in the 2000 Olympics when he soared over 7’2 French center Frederic Weis for one of the most iconic dunks of all time. Carter’s amazing feat cemented Shox as shoes that would make you run faster and jump higher, and the technology became one of Nike’s most memorable running and hoops innovations of the ’00s.

Although Carter was the face of the Shox basketball push, the very first Shox product to hit shelves around the turn of the century was the Shox R4. A running shoe that was known for shiny textured silver detailing on the upper, the R4 was an instant hit and received sporadic re-releases over the last decade, but hasn’t been seen recently — at least until now. The very first colorway of the R4 to release eighteen years ago is now returning to shelves, and all the OG detailing is intact. A white leather serves as a base for the upper, while the aforementioned large silver overlays provide an instantly recognizable contrast. Grey mesh on the tongue, toe box, and collar ensure exemplary ventilation, and the springy heel unit is molded from a combination of silver plastic and dense red foam. Reflective hits appear on the toe and heel for extra visibility, and the shoe is completed by a simple black outsole. These classic runners are set to re-release on Nike.com September 6th for $140 USD, so check out a full set of official images below, and let us know if you think Shox can find a place in today’s maximalist sneaker climate.