Initial Impressions, Nike / Jordan, Sneakers

Nike SB Dunk Low Yuto Horigome

April 25, 2025April 25, 2025 by 100wears

Price: $135 [SOLD OUT; Check eBay for Current Prices]

Why Buy?

The Nike SB Dunk Low Yuto Horigome is a great second collaboration that is easy enough to wear.

Why Avoid?

The Nike SB Dunk Low Yuto Horigome has one or two poor materials, and is reselling much higher than retail.

Specs

Model	Dunk SB
Height	Low
Materials	Nubuck / Suede / Rubber
Size	13
Weight	516 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz
Construction	Cemented / Sewn Cup Sole
Country of Origin	Vietnam

History

If you’re looking for the best skateboarder in the world right now, Yuto Horigome is probably the first name that comes to mind. The Japanese phenom has won gold at the last two Olympics. Since there have only been two Olympics with skateboarding in them, he is literally the only person to have won gold in the sport.

As you can imagine, an athlete of his caliber – already sponsored by Nike – is going to get their own pair of dunks. As many of you know, Yuto got more than one. The pair we are looking at today is a follow up to one of the hottest pairs from 2023. Like his last sneaker, it follows themes from where he was born. However, this time, rather than focusing on a ward in Tokyo, the sneaker focuses on matcha.

Originally called the “Asparagus” dunks (a color that is still featured as the name on the box), pays homage to the preparation of matcha tea. Supposedly its preparation reminds Yuto of where he grew up. Or, at least that’s the story that Nike is going will.

All that being said, second collabs are always harder. The people designing them often have had an idea in mind for years for the first pair, but don’t think about the second until it comes time to make it. Is this pair worth the price? Let’s dive in and find out.

Looks

Upper

The Upper of the Dunk Low Yuto Horigome features a lot of really cool touches.

First, the primary color of the upper is a nubuck leather in an army green. Yeah, Nike says these are suede, but this is either nubuck or suede sanded so much it’ll be indistinguishable from nubuck. These panels – found on the toe guard, eyelets, and heel – are covered with small paint speckles and feel great. Stamped on the heel is Yuto’s double feather crest.

The next thing I want to point out is one of my favorite details. Around your heel, in a dark brown color, are bamboo fibers. Not only is this cool in general, it addas a lot of great visual texture. On top of this panel, a tan suede piece also feels amazing.

One area that doesn’t feel so amazing is the tan suede on the toe and midfoot panel. These panels feel extremely dry – almost crunchy – and really let down an otherwise incredibly impressive package.

Once you get into the small details, you’ll continue to find things that impress. The top eyelet is done up in a metal grommet, designed to look like the grinder for matcha making. You’ll find the same pattern, this time in plastic, on the ends of the laces. Speaking of the laces, you’ll find a green pair in the sneaker out of the box, with pink and tan as options to swap to.

Inside, the sneaker is lined in a microfiber material made in a dusty tan color. It feels amazing, though I do wonder about durability.

Mid- and Outsole

While the uppers are packed with features, the bottom half of the Dunk Low Yuto Horigome is a bit more standard. Starting off, the upper part of the cup sole is white with white lacing. Nothing too out of the ordinary here.

Of course, they didn’t completely forget the bottom of the sneaker. The rubber outsole, which comes in a slightly darker green than the upper, is filled with small recycled flakes. It isn’t different than any of Nike’s other recycled outsoles, but is supposed to represent brewed tea. It’s a story I’m OK with – this part of the sneaker is hardly visible anyway.

Speaking of that rubber outsole, it’s a typical Nike Dunk Low SB design. That means the square section in the back has a few more cut outs for the purpose of better grip, and the radial pattern up front as a bit less. Again, for better grip on a board.

Right in the middle of the sneaker is a pink foam pad with the Nike SB logo. It fits the sneaker design really well.

Summary

While I wouldn’t say this sneaker is as wearable as the original Yuto Horigome Dunk Low SB, this matcha version does a good job of theming without going into the costume look that many collabs fall for.

The green color overall is not going to be the most wearable color out there. Not because this color is too over the top, far from it in fact, it’s just that green sneakers in general will never be as versatile as white and light blue.

Still, these will work well with most earth toned outfits. Think browns, dark tans, even maroons if you know what you’re doing.

One change in fit from the last pair is that the Dunk Low Yuto Horigome went with the standard SB dunk tongue thickness. Or, in other words, this has the thick puffy tongue. That makes them a little bit less “grown up” looking than the originals. I’d say that drops the formality down a couple of notches.

Fit & Comfort

Fit

The Nike Dunk Low Yuto Horigome fits like a standard Nike Dunk Low SB. That is, they fit about a half size tighter than most Nikes. These do not have the size changes that the original Yutos had, so while they fit tight, they are not quite as tight as those.

I typically wear a size 13. A size 13.5 would be ideal, but unfortunately Nike does not make SBs in a 13.5. Or, at least they have not in around a decade. I do take these in a size 13, but need to wear extremely thin socks to make them comfortable. If you’re a 13 or 14 and anywhere close to having other sneakers fit tight, I’d suggest going a full size up.

The good news is that the high level of padding around the collar is a bit forgiving. If you go a bit big, these sneakers will still be wearable – though you probably wouldn’t want to skate them.

Comfort

While these sneakers do technically have an air zoom unit in the heel, they are not a comfortable pair to wear all day. The padding underfoot in these is pretty minimal. Even less than a standard dunk in some ways. There is a reason for that – if you are actually going to be skating in these you want to feel the board. However, if you’re not skating, most people don’t prefer to feel the ground.

The discomfort in these is amplified by the fairly stiff suede panels. They are not the end of the world, they are suede after all, but don’t think these will have the slipper-like upper that many all-suede/nubuck uppers often do.

There is one saving grace, though. The padding around the collar of the sneaker is great. Not too stiff, not too soft, it feels like your ankle is getting a hug.

I’d be OK wearing these for hanging out with friends, but I would not be picking these if I was going to be walking around the city.

Materials & Construction

Materials

With a few exceptions, the materials on the Dunk Low Yuto Horigome are pretty good.

Starting with the upper, the majority of it is made with what feels like nubuck. Nubuck is made by taking leather and sanding off the very top layer to get a soft, fluffy material. Nike claims it’s suede, which is the inside of split leather. Functionally they are not that different, and these feel great, so no point in fighting over it.

Supporting these panels in tan is suede, and it’s not great. Cut thin, and very dry feeling, it’s more than a bit of a letdown. Compare that to the tan suede panel on the heel, and that feels great.

As mentioned above, my favorite material might be the bamboo fibers, used in the brown panel near the heel. These feel great and look better, though I imagine they will start to break and fray with wear. It’s a tradeoff I’m OK with.

The swoosh itself is made of leather, though it has a very heavy poly coat on top.

The exterior of the tongue is a sort of cheap feeling nylon that came with some pretty deep creases out of the box, though you probably won’t notice.

Inside, the sneaker is lined with a very comfortable feeling microfiber lining. While not suede, it does feel like it.

Underfoot, the Nike SB Dunk insole is a PU foam, with an extra crash pad under the ball of your foot and a zoom air unit under the heel. While the materials are better, it’s actually a bit thinner than a dunk low insole.

Finishing everything off, the outsole is made of a fairly hard rubber that should be extremely durable.

Construction

The Nike Dunk Low Yuto Horigome is made in Vietnam using a sewn cup sole construction. This type of construction was fairly common decades ago when the Dunk Low originally came out.

To make a sneaker this way, first the upper is sewn together, then it is glued to a cup sole. A single piece unit that is shaped like a cup and comes up around the sneaker. Finally, the upper is sewn directly to the cup sole.

This double connection – glue and stitching – makes this style of construction very durable. If the glue fails, you still have the stitching to hold the sneaker together. As for drawbacks, it’s less flexible than more modern glue-only construction and can be slower and more expensive to make.

Pricing & Value

Originally priced at $135, the Dunk Low Yuto Horigome sold out instantly and immediately began reselling on the aftermarket. Prices shot up, but seemed to have settled at around $180-200 depending on sizing.

This puts them at a premium over most other Dunk Low SBs on sale today, though far from the most expensive. Even Yuto’s previous design is selling for a good bit more than these.

$200 for any Nike or Jordan retro isn’t a high value proposition, but honestly, I’d rather pay $200 for these than a pair of Jordan 1s. These have better materials, better tech, and a better story. And while this is just personal preference, if I’m giving money to a collaborator, I’d rather give it to Yuto than Jordan. Yuto, by all accounts, is a nice person and Jordan, a multi billionaire, tried to cheat his teammate’s mom in a game of cards.

Are the Nike Dunk Low Yuto Horigome Worth It?

So, with all this said, should you pick up a pair of the Nike Dunk Low Yuto Horigome? I’d definitely say you should consider picking up a pair.

While not quite the slam dunk his previous Dunk Low was, the matcha variant offers a lot of reason to be excited. The materials are (mostly) good quality, the details are cool, and the color is still wearable. You also can’t forget that Yuto is currently among the best out there right now.