You would be surprised at how many St. Patrick’s Day sneakers there really are. Over the last two decades, brands around the world have celebrated the patron saint of Ireland. The religious holiday has been celebrated in Ireland for over 1,000 years and is now a key part of festivities around the world. Although St. Patrick’s Day may be different in 2021, it hasn’t stopped brands from getting into the spirit of things with some great St. Patrick’s Day shoes.
In this post, we’ll be taking a closer look back at some of the best St. Patrick’s Day sneakers to ever release. Whilst some may be terribly cliche, they certainly do the job of celebrating the event. From Nike to New Balance and adidas to ASICS, there are far more St. Patrick’s Day sneakers than you may expect. With that in mind, we’ll be listing a few of our favourites below. Without further delay, let’s take a closer look at some of the best St. Patrick’s Day shoes!
Nike SB Dunk Low “St. Patrick’s Day” (2005)
It should come as no surprise that there is at least one St. Patrick’s Day Nike SB Dunk. At the very height of Dunk madness, Nike SB could seemingly do no wrong. The underground of division at Nike was churning out some of the best sneakers the brand had ever produced. Not one to miss out on the chance to create a seasonal pair of SB Dunks, Nike dropped one of the most versatile colourways we’ve ever seen.
Opting for a very simple white and green colour combo, the Nike SB Dunk Low “St. Patrick’s Day” is a low key banger. White leather and matching mesh offered a solid base for the lucky green detailing to take pride of place on the shoe. Rich green adorned the Swoosh, “Nike” heel tab, tongue tag and outsole to make one Dunk that we’d rock to this day. We had to kickstart this list off with some heat, and this SB Dunk is probably one of the best St. Patrick’s Day sneakers out there.
adidas Originals Archive Dublin “St. Patrick’s Day” (2018)
adidas‘ St. Patrick’s Day sneakers tend to be on the bolder side of things. All the way back in 1976, adidas launched its City Series. The lightweight training shoes were each named after popular European cities. One of the most successful models, however, was the Dublin. Named after the Republic of Ireland’s capital, the Dublin was a smash hit. In fact, adidas even replicated the shape of the Dublin for the London, Koln and Berlin sneakers.
In 2018, adidas launched an Originals Archive Dublin exclusively at size? for “St. Patrick’s Day”. The minimalistic design featured premium green suede overlays and off white leather stripes, complete with a black midsole unit. Gold detailing on the “Dublin” and tongue added a sense of luxury, but it was the insole that brought this adidas St. Patrick’s Day sneaker together. Featuring gold Shamrock graphics on the inside, these were a must have for many. It’s no wonder these are one of the best St. Patrick’s Day sneakers!
Saucony Jazz Low Pro “St. Patrick’s Day” (2013)
Find us a more obvious pair of St. Patrick’s Day sneakers. Go ahead, we’ll wait…Back in 2013, Saucony dropped one of the best St. Patrick’s Day shoes that we’ve probably ever seen. Taking it’s much-loved Jazz Low Pro, Saucony opted for a bold colour scheme. Black mesh, suede and patent leather worked with green stitching and a large green heel. Elsewhere, Shamrocks featured on the mudguard, heel and tongue, with a hidden Celtic cross on the insole. These may not be for everyone, but they are one of the best St. Patrick’s Day sneakers out there.
Nike Air Force 1 Low “St. Patrick’s Day” (2006)
It would be difficult to make a list of St. Patrick’s Day sneakers without at least one Nike Air Force 1. For over 15 years, Nike has been dropping St. Patrick’s Day shoes with the AF1 being the preferred model of choice. In that time, there has been multiple colourway renditions, premium materials and clever details. However, it is the 2006 Nike Air Force 1 Low “St. Patrick’s Day” that we’ll be discussing today.
Opting for a patent leather finish, this Nike Air Force 1 Low “St. Patrick’s Day” was always going to be destined for great things. Contrasting white and green created a nice balanced, with a light green “Nike Air” on the heel and tongue. On the rear panel, a three-leaf clover inside a leprechaun hat can be seen, hammering home the St. Patrick’s Day feel of this AF1. Released in limited quantities, this has to be one of the best St. Patrick’s Day sneakers ever.
New Balance 990v4 “St. Patrick’s Day” (2018)
It is no secret that Boston is one of the most important cities in American history for Irish immigration. As a Boston-born brand, New Balance knows only too well the influence that Irish immigrants had on the city. To celebrate the rich history of American-Irish citizens, New Balance dropped a special pack back in 2018 for St. Patrick’s Day. Of the three pairs that released, it’s safe to say that the 990v4 was our favourite.
Opting for a bright green construction, the New Balance 990v4 “St. Patrick’s Day” was an instant hit. The traditional suede and mesh featured a rich green hue, working nicely with contrasting white accents on the “N” motif and “990”. A small Shamrock was also used on the heel too, adding to the St. Patrick’s Day feel. Sitting atop the iconic ENCAP midsole, these were always going to be a big hit. These had to make it to the list of the best St. Patrick’s Day sneakers.
adidas Originals Spezial “St. Patrick’s Day” (2019)
These could quite possibly be the best adidas St. Patrick’s Day sneakers of all time. The Spezial has played an important part of the adidas line up for decades, coming in a variety of new colourways. Back in 2019, adidas created a special two-pair pack of the Spezial to celebrate the Emerald Isle with some pretty killer results.
A simple black and sail pair was contrasted by a rich green and orange pair. Both shoes featured premium suede and the classic gum sole, but it was the little details that made this pack great. Sitting above the gold “Spezial” logo on the side was a small Shamrock – a feature that was also on the insole. It’s no wonder that these are one of the best St. Patrick’s Day shoes of all time.
Nike Air Max 90 “St. Patrick’s Day” (2021)
Tinker Hatfield’s iconic Nike Air Max 90 design has remained a constant in the sneaker game for well over 30 years, with a number of playful takes on the silhouette. In that time, there’s been crazy collaborations, classic colourways and a number of versions on this Air Max model. Although this may be the newest pair on this list, the Nike Air Max 90 “St. Patrick’s Day” is already going to be a future classic.
Opting for a patriotic combination of green and white, this Air Max 90 screams “St. Patrick’s Day”. Using the OG shape, the pair balances mesh and smooth leather, but it’s the mudguards that are our favourite detail. Embossed Shamrocks add a subtle texture and create a nice feature for you to take a second look at. Sitting atop a white midsole and lime green air unit, these are definitely one of the best St. Patrick’s Day sneakers this year.
Final Thoughts
That concludes our list of the best St. Patrick’s Day sneakers of all time! As you’ve seen, there’s been a number of high profile sneaker releases for St. Patrick’s Day. Things have really got interesting in the past decade or so, with brands you may not have expected dropping some neat pairs for the celebrations. If you’re looking for a new pair of St. Patrick’s Day shoes, head over to KLEKT and grab yourself a fresh pair today!
