Nike SB P-Rod skate shoes

SB P-Rod skate shoes

Following the establishment of Nike SB in 2002, the sub-label worked closely with the skateboarding community to ensure they received the very best footwear. As part of this, a popular young skater by the name of Paul Rodriguez was chosen to develop the very first SB signature shoe, resulting in the iconic Nike SB P-Rod series.

The original Nike SB Paul Rodriguez Zoom Air Low was released in 2005 with a performance build and classy look. Its popularity helped the SB P-Rod become Nike SB’s longest-running signature shoe, stretching to ten models incorporating cutting-edge technologies like Lunarlon cushioning and Flywire lacing. This culminated in 2017’s suave, minimalist P-Rod 10, which was renowned for being a great all-round skateboarding silhouette.

In the years that followed, there was still plenty of nostalgia for the fan-favourite SB P-Rods, so in 2021, Nike honoured the series with the special SB Dunk ‘What the P-Rod’. Colourful and charismatic, this sought-after collector’s item blends aspects from classic colourways including the P-Rod 1 ‘Cinco de Mayo’, the P-Rod 2 x Tinker Hatfield and other Rodriguez-related designs like the Dunk High ‘Boxing Glove’ and the Delta Force SB x P-Rod. Four years later, in 2025, Nike SB celebrated the P-Rods 20th anniversary by rereleasing the original Nike SB Paul Rodriguez Zoom Air.

Rodriguez was closely consulted when designing the 2005 Nike SB P-Rod, a role he reprised to update the 2025 edition. Its upper features durable leather overlays and an especially robust forefoot panel secured with a double-stitched seam. The perforated toe box adds breathability, the padded collar and tongue deliver comfort, and a slim plastic clip brings stability and support around the back of the foot. Traditional laces with reinforced topmost eyelets produce classic lockdown, while a small pull tab adorns the heel. Underfoot, a durable stitched in cupsole and visible heel Zoom Air offer low-profile impact protection and boardfeel as the herringbone tread gives dependable traction and the new shank plate improves support through the midfoot.

As well as reproducing the fine flick and feel of the original SB P-Rod, the 2025 edition also reproduces its classy style. Cutout Swooshes decorate the flanks, a Nike SB tongue patch adorns the tongue and capitalised Nike embroidery punctuates the heel above the sophisticated P-Rod diamond pattern of the rear overlay. Lastly, three Zoom Air windows appear in the midsole to complete the stylish throwback aesthetic. The debut white and black colourway harks back to a classic 2005 design with its fine silver detailing and eye-catching ‘SHS’ dubrae, while the iconic ‘Bred’ and vibrant ‘All-Star’ editions reference Rodriguez’s love of basketball, the latter by replicating the Western Conference kit from Kobe Bryant’s magnificent 37-point performance during the 2011 All-Star game.

The original Nike SB P-Rod was a culturally groundbreaking shoe offering elite-level performance, and today’s version is just as stylish. Now, though, it carries the added weight of Rodriguez’s skating legacy, the design heritage of a ten-shoe series and the technical brilliance of modern technological updates.