Nike Reignites the White Sneaker Debate with a Deceptively Durable Drop

As stylish as it is comfortable, this shoe can also outperform most other sneakers in its class thanks to some clever upgrades.

By Sean Tirman

Published 6 hours ago

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Nyjah Huston started skateboarding at the ripe old age of five. At 10, he won his first major competition. By 2012, still in his teens, he was the highest-paid skateboarder in the world and had accrued plenty of accolades to back it up. In short, dude is a prodigy.

To date, he has four Nike signature sneakers to his name, each better than the last. The latest, the Nike SB Zoom Nyjah 4, might be the cleanest of all. But don’t let their pristine appearance fool you; these sneakers are tough — and rightfully so.

Nike SB Zoom Nyjah 4 pair — A semitransparent rubber covers most of the sneaker’s toe and heel, adding tons of extra protection.

Do a kickflip!

As you might expect from their connection to Huston, these are skateboarding shoes — right out of the Nike SB catalog. However, it goes way further than just the Nyjah name; these sneakers are built to withstand the rigors of the sport.

They have a mesh canvas upper, which is pretty common for skate shoes, as they’re comfortable, breathable and easy to wear. However, this kind of fabric isn’t exactly tough. A few kickflips, maybe a tre or two, and you’re likely to see some fraying.

Nike SB Zoom Nyjah 4 side closeup — The protective rubber allows the iconic Swoosh to show through. It’s also vented for breathability.

But these sneakers have a secret weapon: a HART (High Abrasion Rubber Tech) outsole. This material is slimmer than the brand’s other XDR rubber technologies, making it lighter and more flexible, but it doesn’t sacrifice durability or abrasion resistance.

Better still, the rubber creeps up over the toe, sides and heel, offering extra protection where you need it most. Yet, since it’s semitransparent, it still lets the elements beneath, like the signature Swoosh, show through.

Nike SB Zoom Nyjah 4 top down — The sneakers’ tongues ensure your laces stay locked down tight.

Clean *ss kicks

There are a few other benefits to the reinforcement of this sneaker. For starters, since they’re white, it’ll keep them clean for longer, resisting dirt and other buildup, while making them easier to clean.

If you do choose to use them for skating, that rubber will add some character. You’ll get scuffs and scrapes without ripping through the upper, allowing them to last longer while still accruing some uniqueness.

Nike SB Zoom Nyjah 4 backs — Just as on the sides, the Nike SB logo is visible through the extra protection on the heels.

But what about breathability? Surely, all that rubber makes these sneakers stuffy and hard to wear for long. Nike thought about that, too: the rubber is perforated to allow it to breathe better.

If you’re looking for a pair of white sneakers that are a bit off the beaten path with some serious technical ability to back them up, the Nyjah 4s are an outstanding dark horse pick. We can only hope Nike drops some additional colorways to increase the variety.