Reflective\/3M detailing is undoubtedly one of the most well-received sneaker attributes to date. This element alone can propel a sneaker from being average to amazing. With that said, Jordan Brand is scheduled to release the “3M” Jordan 6 Rings this Saturday, September 18th, 2010. Many of you have labeled this release as the best 6 Rings colorway to date and rightfully so.<\/p>\n
This highly-anticipated release led us to reflect on the past of predominately 3M-covered sneakers. Check out our Reflecting on the Past: 15 Favorite “3M” Kicks<\/strong> to see some of the best reflective sneakers to date.<\/p>\n **Note** Our 15 Favorite “3M” Kicks are in NO particular order! Also, the list features predominately reflective sneakers instead of kicks that possess minimal 3M hints. Choose your favorite “3M” sneaker in our voting poll below.<\/p>\n Year Released: Fall 2006<\/p>\n The ever-so-popular Air Jordan 5 “Green Bean” ignites our Reflecting on the Past: 15 Favorite “3M” Kicks. Although preliminary samples portrayed this sneaker as simply owning a grey nubuck-textured base (prior to its release), it ultimately became the first Air Jordan sneaker to possess a completely reflective upper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: 2007<\/p>\n The Nike Air Max 97 is one of the sneakers we closely associate 3m\/reflective with considering it was one of the first sneakers to possess a great amount of this shiny element. Therefore, it was only right for Nike to supply us with an all-reflective version of this sneaker. This particular Air Max 97, which released in 2007, is unlike any of its kind to date.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: February 2010<\/p>\n Nike Sportswear released a five-sneaker Air Force 1 collection for 2010’s NBA All-Star Weekend, with this being the only high-top model. While the other four pairs opted for an all-patent leather finish, this pair was constructed of a 100% “Metallic Silver\/3m” design. The branding, laces and Dallas, Tx. logo, offset the reflective upper nicely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: 2010<\/p>\n Jeremy Scott’s adidas creations are nothing less than amazing, one-of-a-kind, and unique. Ironically, this is shockingly one of his more subtle designs. Nevertheless, this JS Wings contains an all-reflective upper including the wings attribute.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: December 2005<\/p>\n Urban toy company Medicom and Nike’s third collaborative effort resulted in this all-reflective Nike SB Dunk Low Pro. Everything on the upper is reflective except the chrome swoosh, laces and the tongue. It features a Babekub log on the heel and?came with a special Babekub City bag upon its release. The Nike SB Dunk Low Pro “Medicom 3” is one of the rarest Nike SB releases to date.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: Fall 2008<\/p>\n What characteristics must a George Gervin-themed sneaker own to properly honor the Hall of Famer? Nike simply made an ‘icy’ Blazer for the basketball player we call the ‘Ice Man’. While the reflective upper gives this Blazer an icy portrayal, its most intriguing feature is undoubtedly the silhouette of Gervin handling two basketballs on the side panels. The Nike Blazer “Ice Man” was limited to 24 pairs and only released at the House of Hoops in LA.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: November 2008<\/p>\n DDCLAB’s work with New Balance on this 420 is arguably the most highly-detailed sneaker on our list. These 420s feature a material made of tiny bits of glass beads that allow this shoe to reflect light better than most sneakers of its kind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: 2006<\/p>\n The 1985-released PUMA RS-100 model has always been a favorite amongst sneaker aficionados; however, the “Nightlife” Collection took this sneaker to another level in 2006. Its predominately reflective upper looks very nice against the colorful uppers seen above. It differs from a lot of sneakers on this list in that it doesn’t rely on grey, silver or black for its main color scheme.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: November 2008<\/p>\n The KRINK x Nike Air Force 1 became the fifth pair designed for 2008’s 1World Project campaign; it is arguably the best Air Force 1 of the collection as well. Although it seems as if the paint drip is the only reflective element on this shoe, the shoe’s entire upper is actually constructed of 3M\/reflective. Is the KRINK-designed sneaker one of the top 10 Nike Air Force 1s of all time?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: 2007<\/p>\n Following the success of the UENO Air Force 1, Nike released a Japan-inspired Court Force Hi Premium UENO Sakura. It contains a mainly black\/3M upper with multiple pink hints such as the clear sole, sakura flower print on the insoles and UENO embroidery on the inner heel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: Fall 2009<\/p>\n The adidas Superstar has seen many different color schemes\/styles over the years, and this is arguably one of its most creative. It is one of the more unique sneakers on this list seeing that it possesses alternating black and 3M stripes throughout the entire upper all while making use of the classic rubber toe cap.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: Summer 2010<\/p>\n This recently-released Nike Air Force 1 Low Premium “3M\/Black” follows in the same mold as the previously-shown Nike Air Force 1 Hi “2010 NBA All-Star” pair. The reflective upper is paired with multiple black accents giving it exceptional color blocking.? In addition to the “Jones Beach” and “Black History Month” Air Force 1 Lows, this is definitely one of the better low-top Air Force 1 releases of the year so far.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: May 2009<\/p>\n Jordan Brand chose to go with a primarily black-colored base for their second predominately reflective Air Jordan 5. This pair, which is one half of the “Toro Bravo” Pack, represents MJ’s aggressiveness, strength, vigor and intelligence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: April 2010<\/p>\n The Nike KD2 “Creamsicle” took the basketball world by surprise as Durant and the majority of his Oklahoma City Thunder debuted this sneaker against the Dallas Mavericks on national television. This sneaker, which pays tribute to one of Durant’s favorite snacks as a child, features a primarily vivid orange-colored base that is reflective throughout the upper except on the branding sections.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Year Released: September 18th, 2010<\/p>\n Although the Jordan 6 Rings has been a love\/hate sneaker to date, the majority of you have dubbed this particular colorway the best so far. The all-Metallic Silver\/3m upper contrast nicely with the icy sole and Light Graphite accents. Could this be one of the better Jordan Brand releases of 2010?<\/p>\n Which one of these “3M” kicks is your favorite? Let us know in the voting poll below!<\/p>\nAir Jordan 5 “Green Bean”<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Max 97 Lux “3M”<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Force 1 Hi “2010 NBA All-Star”<\/h3>\n
Jeremy Scott x adidas Originals JS Wings “3M”<\/h3>\n
Nike SB Dunk Low Pro “Medicom 3”<\/h3>\n
Nike Blazer “Ice Man”<\/h3>\n
DDCLAB x New Balance 420 “Reflective”<\/h3>\n
PUMA RS-100 “Nightlife” Collection<\/h3>\n
KRINK x Nike Air Force 1<\/h3>\n
Nike Court Force Hi Ueno Sakura<\/h3>\n
adidas Superstar “3M”<\/h3>\n
Nike Air Force 1 Low Premium “3M\/Black”<\/h3>\n
Air Jordan 5 “Toro Bravo”<\/h3>\n
Nike KD2 “Creamsicle”<\/h3>\n
Jordan 6 Rings “3M”<\/h3>\n