Nike Dunk Low Twist

Dunk Low Twist

The Nike Dunk first came out in the mid 1980s, but over the years it has maintained a strong following. As a result, Nike continues to iterate on this retro icon, and in 2023, the brand launched the women’s exclusive Dunk Low Twist model as an intriguing alternative to the core design.

The Nike Dunk Low Twist has the exact same sole unit as the original Dunk, with a grippy rubber outsole and a midsole filled with soft EVA foam, thus providing traction as well as comfort. The upper is also similar, incorporating a leather base layer with perforations in the toe and curved leather panels on the forefoot, eyestay and heel. However, the Twist has been decorated with a selection of captivating features that give it a distinctive aesthetic.

Translucent rubber piping has been placed around the toe and heel, with Nike lettering etched into the latter. These two shiny cylinders protect each end of the shoe from impacts while also establishing a puffed up theme that continues across the Nike Dunk Low Twist.

The heel is one of these puffy areas, its glossy surface bulging out in three bands between two lines of stitching without any sign of the usual branded tab. Meanwhile, the tongue has also been enlarged in all its dimensions, creating a bold, bulky look up top. Emerging from its peak are a Nike wordmark and a swoosh that appear in an eccentric three-dimensional bubble. To further enhance this exaggerated design, the shoe is tied up with an extra-wide set of laces, and as a subtle detail, there is a little extra stitching just below the eyelets on the rear overlay.

Alongside all of these inflated features is perhaps the most striking of all the updates on the Dunk Low Twist: its swoosh logos. Placed on each flank, these brand symbols have been moulded out of rubber and sewn down through the front portion only, leaving the tail floating over the sides of the collar. Here, they stop in a tapered point, not continuing to stretch around the back of the foot like on many other designs, which creates a quite unique visual effect.

Amongst the earliest colourways to be released was the iconic Panda, which was shortly followed by a collection of other designs with the classy two-tone colour blocking that the 1980s original was so well known for. Although not too dissimilar from this famous model, with its sleek sidewall swooshes and padded out features, the Nike Dunk Low Twist has a dynamic look all of its own. This captivating style is backed up by excellent levels of comfort, making the Twist an appealing sneaker and a strong addition to the Dunk series.