History of Puerto Rican-Themed Sneakers

Written by Sergio Santos

In celebration of National Puerto Rican Day Parade, and the new Puerto Rico Nike Air Max 1 pack, we wanted to go back and revisit the best Puerto Rican-themed sneakers of all time. Some you may be familiar with and some you didn’t even know existed.

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adidas 

The Three Stripes may have the biggest music artist on the planet with Bad Bunny, but it isn’t the first time they tapped into the island and its culture.

Check out the best of what adidas has cooked up over the years.

adidas Half Shell Low “San Juan” (2006)

adidas Top Ten Low “Puerto Rico” (2007)

adidas Decade Low “Puerto Rico” (2007)

Bad Bunny x adidas Forum Buckle Low “The First Café” (2021)

Puerto Rico is well known for its coffee, it’s almost like a religion on the island. Also, this particular pair was only sold on the island via Uber Eats.

Bad Bunny x adidas Forum Buckle Low “Blue Tint” (2022)

Inspired by the eternal summer of Puerto Rico where positive vibes, beaches, and beautiful blue skies are common.

Bad Bunny x adidas Forum Buckle Low “Cangrejeros de Santurce” (2023)

San Juan’s famed Cangrejeros basketball was the latest colorway in the Forum Buckle Low lineup with the pair released exclusively in Puerto Rico at Roberto Clemente Coliseum.

Converse

Converse had an easy layup creating a Puerto Rico shoe as the flag fit perfectly on the silhouette of the canvas. Converse released two iterations of the flag shoe.

Diadora

Details Matter x Diadora N9002 “The Traveler” (2023)

Diadora collaborated with the Puerto Rican lifestyle brand, “Details Matter”, on an N9002 which pulls its inspiration from the terrain and elements found in Puerto Rico.

The nubuck material that represents the forest and the tan-colored logo outline is influenced by the beautiful sand that surrounds the island. The various tones of gray that adorn the shoe are a nod to the historic cobblestone streets in Old San Juan.

Ewing Athletics

Big Pun x Ewing 33 Hi “Puerto Rico”

Arguably the greatest Knick of all time and arguably the best Puerto Rican lyricist of all time with Big Pun, this is peak NYC right here.

Although not the first time Big Pun estate and Ewing Athletics collab, this edition commemorates his Boricua heritage.

Jordan Brand

Air Jordan 1 Low Phat “Puerto Rico National Team” (2008)

Jordan Melo M9 “Puerto Rico Parade” (2013)

Air Jordan 5 “Puerto Rico FC” PE (2016)

Carmelo Anthony brought football back to PR, but due to Hurricane Maria damaging their stadium, the team didn’t last long only being active for 2 years.

Nike

Nike has celebrated Puerto Rico for over 20 years now, with the 2023 festivities delivering a pack of Air Max 1s.

Let’s check out some of the Swoosh’s best sneakers over the years.

Random fact: in the early 1900s, it was a felony to fly the Puerto Rican flag in Puerto Rico.

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Puerto Rico” aka “PR1” (2000)

Unlike its 2020 Retro that never released, this flag is correctly placed.

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Puerto Rico” aka “PR2” (2001)

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Puerto Rico” aka “PR3” (2002)

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Puerto Rico” aka “PR4” (2003)

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Puerto Rico” aka “PR5” (2004)

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Puerto Rico” aka “PR6” (2005)

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Puerto Rico” aka “PR7” (2006)

Nike Air Force 1 Low CMFT “Puerto Rico” (2013)

Nike Air Trainer 1 “Puerto Rico” (2015)

Nike Air Max 1 “Puerto Rico” (2019)

Nike Air Max 97 “Puerto Rico” (2021)

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Boricua” (2022)

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Puerto Rico” (2022)

Nike Air Max 1 “Puerto Rico” Pack (2023)

Reebok

Before the recent Anuel AA collab and signing, back in the early 2000s, Reebok had not only the US but also Puerto Rico in a chokehold with the help of Daddy Yankee.

Reebok Classic “El Moro” (2000s)

Reebok Soulja Strap Mid “Puerto Rico” (2000s)

Daddy Yankee x Reebok (2006)

Before Anuel AA and Bad Bunny, the Big Boss Daddy Yankee was the first Boricua artist with a major collab, paving the way for those we know today.

Anuel AA x Reebok “Sky’s the Limit” (2023)

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