May 4th unofficially became Star Wars Day in reference to the date sounding like the film’s iconic phrase, “May the Force be with you.” In honor of the holiday, we decided to take a look back at some of the best Star Wars-themed sneakers ever made.
This list features a good mix of official Star Wars sneaker collaborations with Adidas Originals to unsanctioned releases like the “Jedi” Nike SB Dunk Low, with a majority of the styles referencing different characters in a galaxy far, far away. The selection includes drops as recent as 2021, all the way back to 1977, tied to the film’s original release.
Here’s our ranking of the 10 Best Star Wars Sneakers of All Time, in celebration of May 4th and Star Wars Day.
Star Wars x Clarks
Year: 1977
This Clarks collaboration makes our list of the best Star Wars sneakers of all time not because it’s the coolest looking sneaker out there, but for what it represents. Decades before collaborative sneaker projects became commonplace, it only seems fitting that one of the most merchandised franchises of all time would have been this far ahead of the curve and represented in sneaker form. —Zac Dubasik
Nike Air Presto Mid Utility ‘Darth Vader’
Year: 2021
While not an official collaboration, this three-pack of Nike Air Presto Mid Utilities from 2021 featured three colorways inspired by the Star Wars franchise. In addition to the Darth Vader colorway seen here, versions for bounty hunters Boba Fett and Bossk were also released. This was an unexpected project from Nike, and the colorways worked surprisingly well, almost giving an ACG feel to the mid-cut of the brand’s “t-shirt for your feet.” —Zac Dubasik
Star Wars x Adidas Ultraboost S&L ‘X-Wing’
Year: 2019
The Star Wars x Adidas Ultraboost S&L “X-Wing” feels like it was pulled straight from the Rebel hangar. This pair draws from Luke Skywalker’s starfighter through flight-suit orange, greys, and mechanical-inspired details. While the pair does stand out a bit, the design keeps things sleek and functional—the kind of pair you could actually picture the X-Wing crew wearing in the movie. It’s a smart blend of performance and fandom that turns one of sci-fi’s most iconic ships into something surprisingly wearable. —Douglas Jase
Star Wars x Adidas Rivalry High ‘Chewbacca’
Year: 2020
Star Wars and Adidas felt very little to the imagination with their Chewbacca-inspired Rivalry High that released in 2020. The entire upper features brown crackled leather and fur panels resembling the film’s iconic Wookiee character. Subtle details like his signature satchel and additional lace dubraes also appear on the tongue. It’s a shoe that pays homage to one of the franchise’s most iconic characters without being overly tacky. —Victor Deng
Nike SB Dunk High ‘Tauntaun’
Year: 2011
The Nike SB Dunk High “Tauntaun” dropped in 2011 and took one of Star Wars’ more unexpected creatures to the silhouette. Inspired by the snow beast Luke Skywalker famously sliced open for warmth in The Empire Strikes Back, the sneaker used shaggy brown textures and earthy suede panels to mirror the Tauntaun’s rugged exterior and survival scene. It could’ve easily come off as gimmicky, but Nike SB leaned fully into the reference while still delivering a wearable, creative design that made it a standout. —Douglas Jase
Star Wars x Adidas ZX 700 Boat ‘Yoda’
Year: 2010
A Yoda-themed Adidas ZX 700 Boat had the potential to be ridiculous—it certainly sounds silly on paper. Yet, it somehow is one of the more subtle sneakers on this entire list, and doesn’t scream “Star Wars” at all. That wearability, along with its action figure-style blister packaging, secured its spot on our list of the best Star Wars sneakers of all time. —Zac Dubasik
Star Wars x Adidas Top Ten ‘Luke Skywalker’
Year: 2009
This orange-colored Star Wars x Adidas Top Ten decided to pay homage to not Luke Skywalker: The Jedi, but Luke Skywalker: The Pilot. The color scheme itself is a direct reference to his orange jumpsuit that he wears when flying his X-wing. The sneaker also came in an action figure-styled packaging and regularly resells for $1,000 on the secondary marketplace. —Victor Deng
Nike SB Dunk High ‘Boba Fett’
Year: 2008
Released in 2008 during Nike SB’s golden era of storytelling, the Dunk High “Boba Fett” pulled directly from one of Star Wars’ most feared bounty hunters and turned his battle-worn armor into a sneaker. I like it when a themed sneaker can tell the story without being too campy, and this sneaker is one of the best examples. It features an olive and grey upper with yellow hits and red accents inspired by Fett’s helmet and suit; the pair captured the character’s look without feeling like movie merch. Much like the SB concepts of that era, it balanced niche inspiration with wearable design, turning an iconic sci-fi character into a sneaker that felt authentic both to collectors and skaters. —Douglas Jase
Star Wars x Adidas ZX 8000 ‘Darth Vader’
Year: 2010
This “Darth Vader” collaboration gets a lot of things right. It starts with one of the best Adidas silhouettes of all time in the ZX 8000. It stays true to the model’s ethos of having interesting mixed materials, but switches them up to perfectly represent the dark lord. And it toes the line of being unmistakably a Darth Vader-themed sneaker without looking like cheesy licensed merch. Those elements combine to make for one of the best Star Wars sneakers of all time. —Zac Dubasik
Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Jedi’
Year: 2004
The “Jedi” Nike SB Dunk Low is not only the best Star Wars-inspired sneaker but also one of the best Nike SB Dunks of all time. This sneaker wasn’t an official collaboration between the Star Wars franchise and Nike, but its ties back to the movie franchise are unmistakable. The khaki and brown color scheme is unofficially inspired by the Jedi master Yoda, but that’s not all. The upper has contrasting neon stitching and matching neon shoe laces representing his lightsaber. Even more than 20 years after this pair was originally released it holds up strong on multiple levels, and that’s why we’ve ranked it as the best Star Wars-themed sneaker. —Victor Deng
