No shoe defines the 2020s sidewalk like the Panda Dunk. Love it or mock it — you've seen ten today.
Born a team shoe
The Nike Dunk arrived in 1985, built for college basketball's 'Be True to Your School' era — team colorways for the bleachers. It might have stayed a retro footnote, except skateboarding adopted it in the late '90s: flat sole, padded collar, perfect board feel. Nike SB turned the Dunk into the collab canvas of the 2000s, and pairs like the SB 'Chunky Dunky' now trade like art.
Then came the Panda
Released in January 2021 at around $100–$110, the black-and-white 'Panda' Dunk Low (DD1391-100) did something rare: it crossed from sneakerhead grail to civilian uniform. Early pairs resold for multiples; Nike responded by restocking it again and again, deliberately grinding the resale premium down and putting the shoe on everyone. TikTok did the rest. It became the first shoe many Gen Z buyers ever camped an app for — and the punchline of a thousand 'not another Panda' jokes. Both things made it iconic.
Dunk vs. SB Dunk — know the difference
Regular Dunks and SB Dunks are different builds: SB adds a padded tongue, Zoom cushioning, and skate-shop distribution. Confusing the two in the wrong company is how you lose a debate. There's a quiz question about that waiting for you.
On the chart
The Panda's flat leather panels make it a beginner-friendly canvas, and Dunk customs flood our battles. Check the Panda's live price on its catalog page, rate a few in the Rate game, and see whether the culture is as tired of it as the internet claims. Spoiler: the flames say no.
