Nike Air Jordans to Yeezy X Adidas: the 9 most valuable sneakers worth thousands of dollars at resale

Oct 1 , 2019

The 2011 Nike MAG sneakers with a limited edition plutonium case are estimated to be worth US$9,900 at resale. Photo: The RealReal

Secondhand sneakers are on the rise.

Cowen & Co estimates suggest that the sneaker resale market could be worth US$6 billion globally by 2025.

Luckily, online marketplaces like StockX and Stadium Goods ensure that almost anyone can cash in on the hype. Sneakers on those resale platforms have resold for as much as US$20,000 – a pair. One 15-year-old has made a six figure sum simply by reselling sneakers on StockX.

Styles and trends are constantly shifting but high-profile collaborations and limited releases keep the sneaker culture fresh and thriving.

Online luxury consignment retailer The RealReal combed through its data to find the sneakers with the highest resale value at the moment: The 2011 Nike Mag sneakers with a limited edition plutonium case release ranks as the pair with the highest resale value – costing US$179 at its release and now going for US$9,900 on the resale market, making for a 5,530 per cent growth in value.

“These sneakers have been able to retain their high resale value because of the limited edition Nike Mag plutonium display case,” said Sean Conway, a sneaker and streetwear expert with The RealReal.

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Here are the nine sneakers with the highest resale values right now, according to The RealReal.

9. Yeezy X Adidas Black White Boost 350 V2 with tags

Yeezy X Adidas Black White Boost 350 V2 are special because of the unique colourway.

Estimated retail price: US$220

Estimated resale value: US$895

Value increase: 407 per cent

Shoes from Kanye West’s Yeezy collection with Adidas are generally valuable on the resale market. But this unique colourway is what gives this specific pair such a high resale value.

8. Nike Air Jordan x KAWS 2017 4 Retro with tags

Nike Air Jordan x KAWS 2017 4 Retro – a rare collaboration.

Estimated retail price: US$350

Estimated resale value: US$1,750

Value increase: 500 per cent

Air Jordans are some of the most sought-after shoes to come from the Nike brand. Pairs have gone for US$20,000 on various resale marketplaces. Demand for this specific silhouette and colourway has risen in the last few months, Conway said, and it is a rare collaboration.

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7. Nike Air Jordan x Union 1 Retro High Black Toe with tags

Nike Air Jordan x Union 1 Retro High Black Toe, a collaboration between Nike and the streetwear brand Union.

Estimated retail price: US$190

Estimated resale value: US$1,195

Value increase: 629 per cent

This limited model was born out of a collaboration between Nike and the streetwear brand Union. This remake of a signature classic blends vintage and current styles and has generated a fair amount of hype on the resale market, Conway said.

6. Off White X Nike Air Force 1 Low MCA with tags

Off White X Nike Air Force 1 Low MCA, from Nike and Virgil Abloh.

Estimated retail price: US$185

Estimated resale value: US$1,875

Value increase: 1,015 per cent

This sneaker from Nike and Virgil Abloh was released in connection with Abloh’s “Figures of Speech” exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

5. Off White X Nike The Ten Air Jordan 1 High Chicago

Off White X Nike The Ten Air Jordan 1 High Chicago, the first sneaker released from Virgil Abloh's collection.

Estimated retail price: US$190

Estimated resale value: US$2,000

Value increase: 1,053 per cent

This was the first sneaker released from Virgil Abloh’s collection and was a remake of the classic Jordan 1.

“It’s a deconstructed take on a classic,” said Conway.

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4. Nike X Tom Sachs Mars Yard 2.0

Nike X Tom Sachs Mars Yard 2.0, a collaboration with contemporary artist Tom Sachs.

Estimated retail price: US$200

Estimated resale value: US$3,000

Value increase: 1,500 per cent

Released in 2012, this Nike collaboration with contemporary artist Tom Sachs was inspired by Nasa and space travel. The Mars Yard sold out almost immediately at its release in 2017, Conway said.

3. Nike x Kanye West Air Yeezy 2 Red October

Nike x Kanye West Air Yeezy 2 Red October, Kanye's last collaboration with Nike for the Air Yeezy 2 collection.

Estimated retail price: US$179

Estimated resale value: US$2,900

Value increase: 1,620 per cent

This sneaker was Kanye’s last collaboration with Nike for the Air Yeezy 2 collection.

“When these sneakers were released, monochrome sneakers were very in at the time, with red being one of the most popular colours,” said Conway.

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2. Jordan 3 Retro ‘Oregon Ducks PE Promo’

Jordan 3 Retro ‘Oregon Ducks PE Promo’ were originally released to athletes and the friends and family of the University of Oregon.

Estimated retail price: US$194

Estimated resale value: US$2,000

Value increase: 2,062 per cent

These sneakers were originally released to athletes and the friends and family of the University of Oregon.

“What’s really unique about these [is] that instead of the signature Jumpman logo, the sneakers have embroidered duck feet on the back,” Conway said.

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1. 2011 Nike Mag with the limited edition plutonium case

Estimated retail price: US$179

Estimated resale value: US$9,900

Value increase: 5,530 per cent

Nabbing the spot as the pair with the highest resale value, the Nike MAG sneakers were based off the pair worn by Marty McFly in the 1989 film Back to the Future Part II.

Conway said that the high resale value of this specific pair is because of the limited edition add-ons, such as the Nike Mag Plutonium display case, which includes a charger, special edition T-shirt, commemorative Nike Air Mag pin, paperweight, commemorative booklet with DVD, and Tinker Hatfield drawings.

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This article originally appeared on Business Insider.

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Fashion

Online luxury consignment retailer The RealReal crunched the numbers – and has revealed the sneakers that command eye-watering prices on resale platforms like StockX and Stadium Goods