I'm someone who thinks that the Nike SB Dunk 'themes' as of late have been a good idea.

A lot of people really dislike the colorways, materials, and overall design of recent SB's, and reminisce back to the days of Loden's and Flash's. The SB's Nike are coming out with today are better than the originals, and for multiple reasons.

Let me explain...

A lot of people simply think Dunks are too flashy. Skate or Die!'s, 720's, even the new E.T. Lows are being labeled as 'too flashy' and 'terrible materials'. While yes, they are much flashier than say the Sharks, Loden's, and even the Supreme Lows, there is good reason behind this. The reasoning behind the flashier Dunks is two fold. First off, Dunks aren't meant for skating anymore. People who think Dunks are solely for skating, and are still being produced for skating are kidding themselves. Is there a way that an all patent shoe can be skated, and still look respectable and hold up after a few sessions?

Absolutely not.

The other reason behind the 'flashy' look as of late are the 'themes'. We had the cologne pack (Brut's, Old Spices, and Peacocks), and as of late we've had the 80's pack (Skate or Die!s, 720's, and even Ferris Buellers). Perhaps it's because I grew up in the 80's (Born in '84) that I can appreciate these more than the average person. Most people I come across are 16-18, and have no idea what it was like to be an 80's baby. Looking forward to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Saturday's, watching The Land Before Time, and eating different colored popcorn was a normal routine. The people at Nike who are designing these shoes now are people my age. These are people in the 23-31 age group, and are socially aware of what is going on.

These people want to live their childhood on their feet, and perhaps it's because I grew up at the same time they did that I want to as well. I love looking down and thinking of E.T. when I see the white patent fade to red, and can recall what it was like the first time I did a 720 in Skate or Die!

Maybe I'm off base here, and maybe the packs are just coincidence, but everything as of late has looked back at the 80's, a time I am very fond of.

I'm sure when the 90's kids (people who are 14-20 now) are looking at SB's, and see the 'SNICK Nickelodeon pack', they too will start gushing, regardless of the colorway and design. (Hell, even I wouldn't mind it)

In the end, these 'packs' are a good thing. They inspire creativity, take some folks back to their childhood days, and allow those who weren't present during these times the chance to live a different era. One day your 'Nickelodeon' pack will pop up, and when others start complaining, just point them to this post... They'll understand.