Ranking the #VeryRare Colorways of Nike Flyknits

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Image via Hypebeast
Image via Hypebeast

No. 10 – Free Flyknit “City Collection”

Release date: July 2013
Current eBay price:
$180 -$250

To commemorate the launch of the Free Flyknit collection in August 2013, Nike treated fans in select cities to special colorways of the sock-like racer. The variations were minimal, consisting of accent and midsole color changes, but the pack was solid nonetheless. If you were able to get your hands on a pair, consider yourself lucky, because eBay’s pickings are slim, and only select cities are currently available.

Image via Freshness Mag
Image via Freshness Mag

No. 9 – Free Flyknit HTM SP

Release date: September 2013
Current eBay price: $400-500

Using a tweaked version of the upper from the Flyknit Lunar 1+ and a Free outsole, the Free Flyknit HTM SP was straight from the minds of Hiroshi Fujiwara, Tinker Hatfield, and Mark Parker. In September 2013, three colorways dropped in limited numbers at spots like Nike’s X158 Shangai concept store. Our favorite of the bunch is this yellow and teal head turner, which has yet to be replicated on any Flyknit since. Catch the others below.

Image via Freshness Mag
Image via Freshness Mag

Image via Sneaker News
Image via Sneaker News

No. 8 – Free Mercurial Superfly HTM

Release date: June 2014
Current eBay price: $300-650

The Free Mercurial Superfly is one of the dopest lifestyle Flyknit models yet. Unfortunately, only a couple colorways were released, and both of them were limited as hell. This model took the Flyknit upper from the Mercurial Superfly soccer boot, made a few changes, and added a Free outsole to convert them to a casual model. Take your pick between volt and black, but black seems to be the rarer of the two, because there isn’t a single pair under $500.

Image via Eu Kicks
Image via Eu Kicks

No. 7 – Flyknit Racer HTM “USA”

Release date: February 2012
Current eBay price: Unavailable

This is where it all started. This blue Flyknit Racer made its debut at the US Track & Field trials in January 2012, and was exclusive to Team US athletes until a limited release at 21 Mercer. They were promptly swooped up, and were selling for around a stack shortly after release. These days, it looks like no one wants to part with their pairs, because there isn’t a single one to be found on eBay.

Image via Nike Stadium
Image via Nike Stadium

No. 6 – Lunar Flyknit Chukka HTM “Snow Pack”

Release date: February 2013
Current eBay price: $600-$1200

Released in the winter of 2013, this Lunar Flyknit Chukka “Snow Pack” hit with impeccable timing. It also wound up on every hypebeast’s wish list, dropping right when the #CozyBoy movement was in full effect. Both colorways are hard to beat, but we’ll give the edge to the blue pair pictured above.

Image via Nike Stadium
Image via Nike Stadium

Image via Sneakers Addict
Image via Sneakers Addict

No. 5 – Lunar Flyknit Trainer HTM “Multicolor”

Release date: July 2012
Current eBay price: $5,500

HTM strikes again. Multicolor Flyknit colorways are all the rage nowadays, but that wasn’t always the case. One of the first styles to really push the boundaries and bring out the possibilities of the technology was this Lunar-cushioned trainer model. As usual, the release was strictly limited to premiere Nike retailers, which has driven the market value to astronomical heights.

Image via eBay
Image via eBay

No. 4 – Kobe 9 Elite Low HTM “White/Gum”

Release date: April 2014
Current eBay price: $3,500-$6,000

Sure, your Kobe 9 Low Multicolor iDs are pretty sweet, and since the multicolor option has been removed from Nike iD, they’re pretty rare in their own right. However, these HTM Lows trump them all. Released in four different colorways, this white and multicolor upper was tied together with a gum sole for one of the cleanest Flyknits we’ve seen to date. Unfortunately, they were also one of the most limited, and they only dropped at two locations: Nike Stadium Milano and Excelsior in Milan.

Image via Supreme New York
Image via Supreme New York

No. 3 – Flyknit Lunar 1+ “Supreme”

Release date: October 2013
Current eBay price: $600-$1300

On paper, a Supreme take on the Flyknit Lunar 1+ sounded like it could be one of the craziest releases yet. Instead, the notorious New York boutique took a completely different route and blacked out the model, relying on tonal “Sup” branding to do the talking. Like any hyped Supreme release, these went quick both in stores and online, and today they’re fetching a pretty penny.

Image via Eu Kicks
Image via Eu Kicks

No. 2 – Lunar Flyknit Trainer HTM “White/Black/Volt”

Release date: February 2012
Current eBay price: Unavailable

Limited to a run of just 100 pairs, it’s safe to say that this white, black, and volt HTM take on the Lunar Flyknit Trainer is one of the rarest knits in existence. Couple its rarity with the fact that it dropped before most heads were up on the Flyknit game in February 2012, and it’s easy to see why these things have become unicorns.

Image via Nike
Image via Nike

No. 1 – Kobe 9 Elite NRG “White/Volt”

Release date: January 2014
Current eBay price: $2000

Before the Kobe 9, there was some speculation on how Flyknit material would measure up on the hardwood. Would it be durable enough to withstand the rigors of the game? Could it be supportive enough to keep players in check during quick movements? As we found out, it was all this and more, and the Kobe 9 Elite delivered in a big way. A number of memorable colorways have dropped, and all of them are pretty rare, especially considering that it’s the signature sneaker for a superstar player. But this NRG release, which touched down alongside a black and white makeup, is much harder to come by than the rest. It was released only at 21 Mercer and Dover Street Market New York, making it the rarest Kobe to release in the States.

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