2020 is almost over — and we’re taking a look back at some of the year’s hottest Nikes

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This year has been a particularly rough one for many of us — the pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives, forcing us to adjust to a new reality. But, for hypebeasts, at least one thing stayed consistent: the sneaker game.

Though the COVID-19 outbreak made things difficult for retailers to service customers, sneaker brands, like Nike, Adidas and Reebok, dropped new releases month after month. Don’t believe us? Just check out the last several episodes of “The Flip,” where we’ve been covering the hottest drops that can fetch some major money in the resale market.

What does that mean for 2021? Will the sneaker game be just as strong? The answer, in short, is that it’ll probably be even stronger, according to sneaker expert Racks Hogan.

“To be honest with you, I only see it gettin’ bigger, better, more releases,” he says on the latest episode of “The Flip.” “A lot of people that were fortunate enough to grab items during the pandemic from some of the bigger releases — I know that they’re holdin’ onto that and waitin’ for the world to open up, waitin’ for the market to be a little bit more volatile for them to unload their product.”

As long as sneaker brands continue to release new colorways and models, competition for the latest — and even previous —  drops will persist, Hogan explains.

“With that being said, sneakers will never die,” he says.

So, as a final send-off to the year, instead of covering this week’s drops, we’ve decided to instead recap some of Hogan’s favorite sneakers — all of which are guaranteed to make some major money in the resale market if you can manage to get a pair of them. You can check them out below.

Shop: Nike Air Max 270 React ENG Travis Scott Cactus Trails

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It seems like any sneaker Houston rapper Travis Scott touches turns into gold, and this Nike Air Max 270 edition is no exception.

The artist partnered with the sneaker giant that, according to Nike, has “a ’90s look and aesthetic with a well-worn feel.” The shoe consists of a brown, tan and orange base layer that takes inspiration from the rapper’s love of nature. Unlike other pairs of Air Max 270s, this sneaker also has waves on the upper that are meant to be seen as “an extension” of the midsole’s embedded grooves. The sneaker includes a Cactus Jack logo on the insole and heel tab.

As far as the price is concerned, the Travis Scott- Nike collaboration retails for $170, but the number has since jumped to about $450 in the resale market.

Shop: Nike Dunk Low Community Garden

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While this version of the Nike Dunk Low isn’t part of the traditional Nike Dunk SB series, it stands out in many other ways. For one, it represents the sneaker’s commitment to environmental sustainability — the shoe is made of recycled canvas. Secondly, the sneaker’s patchwork differs from pair to pair since the pattern is unevenly applied.

The sneaker retails for $100, though its resale price has increased to $400.

Shop: Nike Dunk Low “Elephant”

Credit: StockX

Rounding out this list is the Nike Dunk Low “Elephant,” which takes on a similar design as the Atmos x Air Max 1 Premium “Elephant.” This sneaker features a cement-grey elephant print next to white leather and black nubuck. It also has a clear jade swoosh.

The sneaker’s retail price is about $100, and, just like that of the Nike Dunk Community Garden, it’s expected to jump to $400 in the resale market.

If you liked this story, check out J Balvin’s Air Jordan collaboration.

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