Some retro shoes whisper, and then there’s this one, all ribs and royal blue and a collar built for days. Nike’s Air Bakin High SP is back in Varsity Royal and Black, and it dropped on SNKRS today at $170.
It’s the model’s second trip out of the vault, and Nike kept the shape gloriously chunky for the return trip. Royal blue everywhere. The style code is IQ5365-400, if you’re matching pairs across listings later tonight. The launch lives on Nike’s SNKRS page right now, one colorway, one price, no variants to decode before coffee.
Nike Air Bakin High SP in Varsity Royal and Black
Ribbed upper in Varsity Royal and black · Max Air in the heel, Air in the forefoot · Generous high cut around the ankle · Style IQ5365-400
Price: $170.00 at Nike
Where to buy: Buy at Nike
The closest seat in the same era is Nike’s Air Max 2 CB ’94, another chunky nineties hoops high-top with visible Air sitting under the heel. Different shoe, same decade.
Nike Air Max 2 CB ’94 Sneakers
Chunky nineties hoops high-top · Visible Air in the heel · List $200.00
Price: $190.00 (save $10.00, 5% off) at Amazon
Where to buy: Buy on Amazon
Ribs over black, padding everywhere
The upper is the whole look, ribbed Varsity Royal panels laid over black from the toe all the way up that tall collar. Black carries the toe, the heel, and the chunky midsole, so the blue lands even louder against it. It’s gloriously extra.
Worn loose or laced tight, the collar stands tall either way, every single time.
Nike loaded it with padding, which is why the collar looks stuffed in the best possible way. Ankle hugs included.
Air in the heel, Air up front
Max Air sits in the heel and a second Air unit rides in the forefoot, so both ends of the shoe carry their own bounce. That setup suits long days on concrete, hard floors, and cold bleachers. It’s a lot of shoe.
The catch is real, though: this is a big, padded high-top, and slim-shoe people bounce off it. Everybody else gets the loud one, exactly as intended.
Buy it if you grew up on chunky hoops shoes, your rotation runs plain lately, and one loud blue pair at $170 fixes that fast. Skip it if your closet is all slim runners, low-tops, and quiet colors. This one’s for the nostalgic.
