Year: 1985
Listing Price: $5,313
Size: 9.5

The Jordan I is so solidified within sneaker culture, whenever we come across an original pair from 1985 that looks like it still has some life in it, you can bet it will be included in this list. This OG White/Neutral Gray pair is listed as deadstock and is in remarkably good shape, however, it does feature the usual cracking and yellowing that comes with 34 years (even after the most thorough storage procedures). There are very few of this specific colorway available on Grailed, especially in this condition.

Year: 2018
Listing Price: $5,000
Size: 9

In 2017, French boutique Colette shut its doors after two decades as the de facto high fashion-meets-streetwear retailer in Paris. A few months later, Colette founder Sarah Andelman and Jordan Brand crafted a special Jordan I commemorating the iconic store and its 20 years of service to the culture. The blue and white Jordan I featured Colette’s signature double dot logo on the back heel with the years “1997” and “2017” on the sides, accompanied by the words “Bonjour” and “Au Revoir” on the icy soles, perfectly bidding the boutique adieu. This pair was never released to the public and is in absolutely pristine condition. It is a stunning piece of French sneakerhead history.

Year: 2018
Listing Price: $3,600
Size: 11

Undefeated, the legendary streetwear retailer, teamed up with Nike to release a collection of Kobe 1 Protro models, beginning at NBA All-Star Weekend 2017. This “Flight Jacket” model, however, proved slightly more difficult to procure. In July 2018, Undefeated’s new Tokyo store released just 10 (!) pairs via an in-store raffle. If you made a purchase, you were automatically entered into a drawing to participate in a basketball competition with the hopes of winning one of the 10 pairs. The olive/black/orange colorway is identical to Undefeated’s iconic 2005 Jordan IV collaboration (good luck finding a pair of those too). The exclusivity--not to mention how much luck was needed to buy in the first place--makes these some of the rarest sneakers on the market.

Year: 2012
Listing Price: $1,900
Size: 13

If you’re ever a college athlete weighing your decision about which school to take your talents, my advice would be to always go where you get the best Air Jordan PEs (aka: “player exclusives”). In that case, no one comes close to the University of Oregon. Just a stone’s throw from Nike headquarters, the athletic programs are always outfitted with flashy uniforms and ridiculous Jordans, like this Jordan IV PE from 2012. This version has black netting on the sides and white leather on the tongue, with an Oregon-embossed logo on a chrome green heel tab. If you don’t have some affiliation with the athletic program or have friends in very high places, you can’t get your hands on these player exclusives when they release. Thankfully, there are very limited quantities available on Grailed as of writing, so get them while you can.

Editor's Note: Since the time of publication, the original listing has been deleted.

Year: 2007
Listing Price: $3,456
Size: 8.5

Before Kanye West was creating an empire at adidas, or even designing for Nike and Louis Vuitton, he was collaborating with A Bathing Ape on its flagship sneaker, the Bapesta. Complete with his then-signature bear logo and accompanying color palette, West’s Bapesta paid homage to his breakthrough debut album, The College Dropout. Aside from it being a collector’s item for Yeezy enthusiasts, it’s an extremely rare sneaker to find (obviously long out of production), with only a handful available on Grailed at the time of writing.

Year: 2007
Listing Price: $12,000
Size: 11

You don’t have to be a horror fan to want a piece of one of the rarest sneakers on the market, the “Freddy Krueger” [Nike SB Dunks](https://www.grailed.com/drycleanonly/sb-dunk-sneaker-history from 2007. First and foremost, it’s a really cool homage to a horror movie legend, complete with Freddy’s signature striped shirt design, splattered blood accents and shiny silver claw...we mean Swoosh. Originally designed to be released as part of Nike SB’s Halloween Pack, New Line Cinema sent a cease and desist letter halting the release of the shoe. The release was effectively killed, but not before some samples hit the streets, making this one of the rarest (and scariest?) sneakers you’ll ever see.

Year: 2002
Listing Price: $850
Size: 10

Not every sneaker on this list has a secret release or requires you to be “in the know” to secure a pair. Sometimes dope shoes fly under the radar and go under appreciated until, of course, you can’t find them anymore. That’s the case with this pair of 2002 Nike Dunks, dubbed the “Shark.” It was one of the first colorways released by Nike SB after the line’s launch and despite its relatively modest price point compared to some of the other entries on this list, it remains an incredibly hard shoe to acquire—there are currently only a handful available on Grailed at time of writing. This outstanding combo of nightshade leather and red suede is a must for any SB fan.

Year: 2019
Listing Price: $24,995
Size: 11.5

By now you’ve probably heard the story. Nike was preparing to release a USA-themed Air Max 1 to tie in with 2019’s July 4th holiday when—after reportedly receiving some internal pressure from brand ambassador Colin Kaepernick and others—Nike pulled the plug on the release. The sneaker features the original Betsy Ross 13-star flag, which was at the forefront of the controversy. That particular flag recalls America’s inception, but also an era where slavery was a major facet of American life. Before the release was rightfully killed, some people were able to secure some pairs while talk of the decision dominated the news cycle. The asking price for this pair is currently the same price as a car, but it may become the most infamous sneaker to never release.

Year: 2009
Listing Price: $8,100
Size: 11.5

In 2006, Nike released a Playstation-themed Air Force 1, limited to just 150 pairs. The black, white and blue patent leather sneakers with the Playstation logo on the side was an immediate hit among sneakerheads, partially because of its hyper-exclusivity. It was brought back in another limited run in 2009 for the 10th anniversary of Playstation 2, with minor tweaks to the back panel gradient. This 2009 listing is one of the most sought after shoes ever and while the price tag may be intense, these listings rarely pop up.

Year: 2017
Listing Price: $3,200
Size: 8.5

When a sneaker is only released in limited quantities in one city, over one specific weekend at select retailers, you can understand how it might fly under the radar. That’s exactly what happened with this Jordan I “Igloo,” which was released at Art Basel Miami in 2017. It’s really hard to improve on a Jordan I, but the South Beach-inspired pastel green is one great way to do it. An equally-exclusive “Rust Pink” pair also released that same weekend, both featuring OG Nike Air branding and premium leather construction. Despite its scarcity and art deco-inspired design, this remains a rare, under appreciated Jordan I.