The Nike SNKRS app makes me quite literally want to barf. Not only is it anti-bot proof, but in addition to that, it is so extremely difficult to snatch a pair of shoes you wish to purchase, essentially crushing every hope and dream you had of owning that specific sneaker. 

Fortunately for me though, when Nike dropped their Panda Dunk Lows, it was through Nike members-only—allowing me to finally achieve the most tedious task known to man: winning a sneaker lottery.

Being one of the recently most sought-after shoes, I had the pleasure of buying the Nike Panda Dunk Lows. Retailing for about 100 dollars and having a resale value of over 300 dollars, I was ecstatic to receive these sneakers. 

Opening up the box was the equivalent of Christmas Day. All wrapped up in their delicate and exquisitely ironed wrapping paper, the initial look of the shoes was more astounding than presumed from the pictures.

A simplistic black and white colorway is one that I’ve been searching for, a good addition to my collection for an extended period. From far away, these sneakers look slick and sophisticated, however, when brought closer to the eyes, it’s abundant that Nike dipped out on the quality check. 

Not elaborating that the shoes are complete junk—I am more than excited about the new addition to my never-ending addiction—but loose strings and frayed leather tends to distract from the overall vibe of the sneaker. Dunks are the most comfortable Nikes that I own—second to Jordan 1 lows, which is a huge factor in the idea of buying them—but I’m not pleased with how cheap they look from up close. If I were to be purchasing them for resale value on an app like StockX or Goat and saw the loose ends on these shoes, I wouldn’t be too ecstatic. 

Going back to the initial reason I purchased the Panda Dunk Lows, though, is how much I appreciate the overall versatility that comes with owning them. Regardless, if I’m in a sweatpants-and-hoodie-Monday sort of mood, or the ever so rare street-style and baggy jeans type of vibe, these shoes pair perfectly. Being classic and on the more toned-down side of things, I can mix and match these sneakers with patterns, bright colors, or simplistic, neutral grays if I please. 

When it comes down to a highly sought-after shoe like this one, there’s always that bugging question—to resell or not to resell. After investigating the quality and not being absolutely in love with it, reselling was beaming throughout my mind. But, the versatility and effortless streetwear aura that these shoes illuminate is the singular reason I chose to keep them and wear them for myself. 

The Panda Dunk Lows will be restocking some time shortly, and hopefully, Nike’s quality check will be a bit more thorough so I can repurchase these shoes to resell. But, if style is incredibly more important to you than the minuscule details like stitching, I highly recommend these sneakers. After all, the vibe of them is absolutely killer.