There are examples of crazy sneakers out there, but generally speaking, sneakers need to be somewhat serious. Their use may be needed for things like playing basketball, running a marathon, or just general protection. Slides, on the other hand, allow for a level of playfulness that’s generally not as acceptable with sneakers.
One reason for this is through construction techniques like injection molding, which lends itself to more daring designs. Another is typical use cases—slides are frequently called upon for errands like running to the corner store or wear inside of a gym shower. The point is, thanks to a different set of expectations, slides allow for a lot more creative expression.
One of the first slides that comes to mind when thinking of crazy designs is Takashi Murakami’s Ohana Hatake Full Bloom. The bold model recently released in a multicolor variation, and further established its status as a truly unique piece of footwear. In celebration of Murakami’s new Complex cover with JP THE WAVY, we’re taking a look at the Full Bloom as well as some other wild pairs. These are the craziest slides and mules of all time, ranked.
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Martine Rose x Nike Shox MR4 Mule
Year: 2022
When you thought the design of the Nike Shox couldn’t be any more polarizing, enter London-based designer Martine Rose and her reinterpretation of the sneaker as a mule. Dubbed the Nike Shox MR4, the silhouette has a slip-on design on the upper and paired with an elongated Shox columns at the heel. The sneaker even made it onto the feet of Kendrick Lamar, who famously wore the collab at the 2023 Grammy Awards when he took home Best Rap Album that year. —Victor Deng
Adidas Yeezy Foam Runner
Year: 2020
The Adidas Yeezy Foam Runner may be stretching the definition of “slide” or “mule” a bit, but the ethos still fits. And so does the crazy design, when it comes to this list. We may have gotten used to seeing Foam Runners by the time Kanye’s Adidas tenure came to an unceremonious close, but unlike anything we’d seen when they were first spotted on North West in 2019, prior to their full tease at a Fast Company summit later that year. It may have normalized the organic, injected molded footwear found elsewhere on this list and all over the TikTok shop, but it was a legitimately shocking design at the time. —Zac Dubasik
Matthew M. Williams x Nike 005 Slide
Year: 2022
1017 ALYX 9SM founder Matthew M. Williams brought his signature high-tech aesthetic to his Nike slide collaboration, and the result was a wild look that was also functional and innovative. The MMW x Nike 005 was expensive by slide standards—$190—but featured tech including a dual-foam sole that had a stability plate between layers, strategically placed holes for both ventilation and drainage, and also included a travel bag. Impressively, unlike some of the entries on this list, the slide was even wearable for being such a crazy design, with minimal branding and mostly subtle colorways. —Zac Dubasik
Nike Air More Uptempo Slide
Year: 2023
I’m not a footwear designer, but I’d imagine it would be quite challenging to convert a sneaker into a slide without losing the integrity of the design, but Nike nailed it with its Air More Uptempo Slides. It features a stripped-down upper with a cross strap but still incorporates the sneaker’s signature “AIR” graphics across the sides. The slides also retain the full-length Air cushioning in the soles, which means it isn’t lacking in comfort. —Victor Deng
Salehe Bembury x Crocs Pollex Clog
Year: 2021
It’s hard to top the lasting power of the Crocs Classic Clog, but Salehe Bembury was able to do that with his Pollex Clog back in 2021. Bembury’s design is essentially a modernized version of the Classic Clog that features a series of ridges on the upper that’s inspired by his fingerprints and has perforations for breathability. Despite it being a wild mule design, it’s also one of the more wearable styles on this list, so that’s a plus. —Victor Deng
Mschf AC.2
Year: 2023
It should come as no surprise that the brand that brought you the Big Red Boot, Wavy Baby, and Satan-themed custom Nike Air Max 97s would also have a wild pair of slides in its archive. The MSCHF AC.2 is a chopped down variation of its orthopedic boot-inspired AC.1. As with many MSCHF projects, it was more of an art project-slash-meme, designed to go viral on social media rather than being worn by the masses. But it certainly fits the bill as one of the craziest slides of all time. —Zac Dubasik
Supreme x Nike Clogposite
Year: 2024
Supreme took advantage of the mule trend in 2024 by joining forces with Nike to reintroduce the Clogposite that first released in the early 2000s. The lineup included two motorsport-inspired colorways designed in partnership with Drudi Performance and a more subtle all-black pair. Despite how absurd the silhouette may look, it’s still a very wearable shoe. —Victor Deng
Nike Mind 001
Year: 2026
Unlike many of the entries on this list, the objective of Nike Mind 001 is to help wearers feel calmer. This is achieved through the 22 independent nodes on the outsoles that push onto the soles of the feet, which activate specific sensory areas of the brain. In addition to the scientific aspect, the aesthetic design of the Nike Mind 001 also fits the bill, making this one of the craziest designs for a slide. —Victor Deng
Takashi Murakami x Ohana Hatake Full Bloom
Year: 2024
Close your eyes and imagine what a Takashi Murakami take on a slide might look like. Bright? Fun? A little wild? Having never seen an Ohana Hatake Full Bloom, the mental image would likely be very close to the final product for anyone that’s familiar with Murakami’s art. The three-dimensional design brings the artist’s flower motif to life via footwear that you can’t help but smile when you see. Subtle? No, there’s the Surippa Ohana if you want that. But if you want Murakami’s artistry in all of its glory, the Full Bloom delivers exactly that. —Zac Dubasik
Jeremy Scott x Adidas Adilette ‘Teddy Bear’
Year: 2021
Jeremy Scott’s Adidas line helped pioneer taking footwear design outside the bounds of typical construction. The partnership gave us now iconic models like the JS Wings with their protruding feathers, an Attitude with triple stacked tongues, and of course, the JS Bear, with its plush teddy bear head and arms emerging from the tongue. That concept was later adapted to this slip-on version, giving the classic Adidas Adilette slide a bear head. When it comes to crazy sneakers and slides, Jeremy Scott has been a major influence on the industry, and that’s why his “Teddy Bear” Adilette lands in our number-one spot. —Zac Dubasik
