If you haven’t already heard, Nike and Converse have entered the Upside Down with a new Stranger Things collection. But, but… do not expect Air Max 1 splashed with Vecna’s grotesque skin, or picturesque images of Hawkins. They are pretty much just Nikes and Converse as they were, and so they are pretty much like flipping a Whopper over and calling it an Upside Down burger. If you get what I am saying.
That does not mean the collection is lazy. Far from it. It just means Nike and Converse chose restraint over spectacle, which is oddly fitting for a show that made Dungeons & Dragons dice, walkie-talkies, and basement lighting cool again. This collaboration leans heavily into aged nostalgia, subtle distressing, and “found in a forgotten locker room” vibes rather than screaming DEMOGORGON in your face.
Leading the charge was the Nike Dunk Low that dropped earlier in November, looking like it had been sealed in a gym bag since 1987. Worn leather, stained laces, weathered midsoles, and Upside Down logos make it feel less like a sneaker release and more like an archaeological find. Joining it are the Nike Field General High, Air Max 1, and LD-1000, each channeling the footwear energy of Hawkins heroes and villains without turning into cosplay. Stranger Things branding is there, but it behaves itself.
On the Converse side, the Chuck 70 goes full fan service, just tastefully so. The distressed canvas upper carries WSQK radio station graphics and embroidered sound waves, with nods to Robin’s “Beam Me Up, This Place Sucks” tee. Details pile on in a way that feels deliberate rather than desperate: Hawkins Hawk lace jewel, Demogorgon star on the Chuck patch, Hellfire Club player names, custom laces, and even an Upside Down license plate. Yes, there is also a rubber chicken keychain. Stranger Things is still Stranger Things.
The Converse Weapon joins the party with a colorway pulled straight from the original 1984 catalog, layered with distressed leather and liners printed with newspapers, Vecna, and the Mind Flayer. Toe perforations mimic sound waves, and small accessories like a lunchbox and recording sign jewels round out the nostalgia trip. Fans who want to take matters into their own hands can also design their own Stranger Things Chucks through Converse By You.
Rounding things out is Nike apparel that sticks to vintage athletic silhouettes, graphic tees, hoodies, sweatpants, and a tracksuit that looks like it escaped from a high school gym circa 1985. The “Friends Don’t Lie” crew makes a return, just in case anyone forgot what show this is tied to.
The Nike and Converse x Stranger Things collection is available globally now via nike.com, converse.com, SNKRS, JD Sports for the tracksuit, and select retailers. Some sizes and models may already be gone, so hesitation is basically the Upside Down of shopping decisions.
Prices start at US$60.
Images: Nike.