Review: 43008 Nike Dunk
Posted by Huw,
LEGO announced its partnership with Nike last year, having ended one with the sportswear brand's German rival Adidas beforehand. That collaboration did not seem to amount to much in terms of brick-based products, other than yielding the poorly received 10282 Adidas Originals Superstar.
The new relationship looks to be off to a good start, though, with the launch of attractive display model 43008 Nike Dunk, which includes a miniature version of one of the American company's best-selling shoes.
Summary
43008 Nike Dunk, 1,180 pieces.
£89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 | 7.6p/8.5c/8.5c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
This attractive, well-designed display model will appeal to more than just sneakerheads
- Very realistic shoe
- Excellent colour scheme
- Contains a lot of basic bricks and slopes
- Cheaper than the real thing
- None
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Instructions, stickers, and parts
Instructions for the three subassemblies are provided in separate instruction manuals, allowing for concurrent construction with friends or family should you wish.
Many of the decorated parts are printed, although there is a small sicker sheet included.
The most notable thing about the parts in the set is the prevalence of spring yellowish green, which is an uncommon colour that is often used only for specialised pieces or in small quantities. This set contains over 125 elements in the attractive shade of green, mostly useful bricks, plates, and slopes.
The set also introduces a new mould: A two-plate high 1x3 curved slope, which matches the style of the 1x2. You can find out more about it at New Elementary.
(Picture taken after stickers had been applied)
The completed model
This is very much a display model aimed at teenage and adult 'sneakerheads'', although it does have some fun features built into it as well. Spring yellowish green is perhaps an unusual choice of colour to contrast with the blues of the letters and the shoe, but it makes the model look really fresh. I also particularly like that the stand, and the letters and their backdrop, are made with basic bricks and slopes using conventional building techniques rather than a lot of SNOT.
The basketball is mounted on an axle and can be rotated using a knob at the back but, to be honest, it's easier just to spin it by hand. The shoe isn't attached to the stand: a hole in its sole mates with an angled protrusion on the base.
Rather than use a design based on the Lowell Sphere for the ball, it's constructed from six sections held together by a Technic armature inside. That has necessitated each side to have a centre hole, so they are 7x7 in size, with an additional line of studs on one of their sides to cover the overlap with the adjacent sections. Overall, it's about 13 studs in diameter.
The Dunk high trainer itself is excellent. It's about 19cm in length, which I believe equates to UK kids' size 13 or US size 1. There's not a stud in sight and is very much looks like the real thing from a distance. The curved heel elements, the tongue, toe cover, and the large 6x8 curved tile inside are all printed.
The 'swoosh' stands a bit proud of the sides of the shoe, but it looks OK from most angles, and aligns perfectly with the print on the heel.
Two sets of laces are provided, blue and spring yellowish green, allowing for 'custom colour swap-outs', according to the set's description.
The heel and toecap can be removed, held in place with clips. There's space for the minifigure to stand in the heel, and the additional set of laces can be stored in the toe. The tongue can be raised to access the inside, in which you could stash something else. A clear panel at the back allows the figure to see inside the shoe.
Minifigure
The basketball-headed minifigure, apparently named B'Ball Head, is excellent and perhaps reason enough to buy the set. Its head is 14mm in diameter, which is exactly that of LEGO footballs and basketballs.
It's attired in sparkly Nike-branded sportswear -- sorry, 'rocks its own Nike drip', according to the set's description -- which carries the number 32 on the chest, which I presume is a reference to 1932, the year the LEGO company was formed.
According to Wikipedia Nike began life as Blue Ribbon Sports and was renamed after the Greek goddess of victory on May 30, 1971, so it's a bit of a mystery why the number 72 appears on the figure's back instead, assuming that, like the one on the front, it's meant to refer to the company's founding year. Perhaps it has some other significance in the company's history? It's not year the Dunk was introduced, as that was 1985.
Verdict
I did not have high expectations when the collaboration with Nike was announced, given that the one with Adidas before it produced only the very poor 10282 Adidas Originals Superstar and a small GWP.
However, I have been pleasantly surprised by just how good this set is. The shoe looks fantastic and has some fun features hidden inside. The stand and logo, built using traditional techniques, look fresh and clean, thanks to the pleasantly contrasting colours. The ball, cleverly constructed around a Technic core, adds colour, movement and interest to the model. The awesome minifig is the cherry on top!
I am not a 'sneakerhead' by any means and I don't even own a pair of Nike shoes, but this is a set that I can see being on display in my LEGO room for some time.
It'll be available from July 1st, priced at £89.99/$99.99/€99.99 which for 1,180 pieces, many of them useful bricks and slopes in rare colours, does not seem too bad to me. For once, the LEGO replica is cheaper than the real thing, although admittedly, for £145, you do get two shoes :-)
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61 comments on this article
As a professional marketing amateur, I do not know who this is targeted to... Any and all insight is appreciated.
@emartinez said:
"As a professional marketing amateur, I do not know who this is targeted to... Any and all insight is appreciated.
"
Did you bother to read the review?
“This is very much a display model aimed at teenage and adult 'sneakerheads'', although it does have some fun features built into it as well.”
This feels so 90s. Any bets on when this hits 40% off?
No cons to this set? Pretty sure alot of people would argue the large number of stickers to be one. Along with the ugly rear side of the display. It honestly doesn't look much better then the Adidas build to me,
I think that the 72 refers to the 1972 introduction of Nike's first shoe, the "Moon Shoe," which was actually a track shoe instead, the one created after Bill Bowerman ruined his wife's waffle maker trying to develop a good tread.
Would still love to see a repaint/recolor into the HHGG Heart of Gold and Marvin the Paranoid Android.
As a long time sneakerhead, with an extensive NIKE collection, this is a collaboration of two of my favorites. Made even sweeter by the fact that my shoe closet is off my Lego room. Day one cop- will be in line July 1st.m
@GrizBe said:
"No cons to this set? Pretty sure alot of people would argue the large number of stickers to be one. Along with the ugly rear side of the display. It honestly doesn't look much better then the Adidas build to me, "
All of these should've been listed as cons indeed. It's also not that great of a display model, even if the colours are neat and the shoe looks accurate for a LEGO rendition. In the end it's just a brick-built model of footwear with some letters. Nicely done, but that's about it. I also doubt it will appeal to anyone beyond 'sneakerheads' and LEGO collectors who want this for the rare parts.
I'm so excited to receive another presidential minifigure. Abe Lincoln has had TWO, we were due for a new one.
I'm surprised they didn't create a dedicated Swoosh element for this.
@ToysFromTheAttic said: "In the end it's just a brick-built model of footwear with some letters. Nicely done, but that's about it."
I mean I am absolutely not the target audience for this and I do like Star Wars and Superheroes . . . but there's stuff like the Star Wars text that's literally just text. Plenty of Star Wars sets are just a brick built model of a droid or of a spaceship. There's an entire line of brick built superhero heads or Star Wars helmets. Stickers and looking crummy from the back are cons but it just being a shoe isn't, IMO.
I really like the minifigure. Obviously not buy the set to obtain it like, but it's creative. The set itself is clever building techniques to get to something that I wouldn't want to have built.
"Dunk? Dunkaccino? Don't mind if I do."
I am not a sneakerhead (or at least not anymore), but I would absolutely like to build and display this (LEGO budget allowing).
Not for me but I appreciate the design as a model of a shoe, as well as the bold lettering and the classic ball technique. Price doesn't look great to me but not a rip-off, I do wonder how long it'll last before retirement, however.
I understand where you're coming from but saying "cheaper than the real thing" doesn't sound like a pro to me. The real thing looks good while it can be used every day while this is just a toy and decoration piece.
@xboxtravis7992 said:
""Dunk? Dunkaccino? Don't mind if I do.""
Top-tier reference to the modern day CITIZEN KANE.
I'm not really a Sneakerhead (I own more Christian Louboutin sneakers than Nike), I think it's probably easier to display without the large DUNK.
I don't get it. Who does this appeal to? I like the minifigure but thats it.
I'm just here for the basketball head minifig.
@kingalbino said:
"I don't get it. Who does this appeal to? "
Clearly not you :)
(me neither, though the build itself may actually be fun...)
@mcbbvb said:
"I understand where you're coming from but saying "cheaper than the real thing" doesn't sound like a pro to me. The real thing looks good while it can be used every day while this is just a toy and decoration piece. "
Plus, it isn't cheaper than the real thing--the actual shoes come in *pairs*.
@mcbbvb said:
"I understand where you're coming from but saying "cheaper than the real thing" doesn't sound like a pro to me. The real thing looks good while it can be used every day while this is just a toy and decoration piece. "
Usually the complaint is that the LEGO model of a typewriter, radio, Polaroid camera or whatever, is more expensive than the real thing, so I added it as a pro tongue-in-cheek :-)
@Huw said:
" @mcbbvb said:
"I understand where you're coming from but saying "cheaper than the real thing" doesn't sound like a pro to me. The real thing looks good while it can be used every day while this is just a toy and decoration piece. "
Usually the complaint is that the LEGO model of a typewriter, radio, Polaroid camera or whatever, is more expensive than the real thing, so I added it as a pro tongue-in-cheek :-)"
This PRO was awesome and gave me a chuckle. :o)
Every time LEGO releases a set like this, my wallet breathes a sigh of relief. Every other new set announcement seems to cripple me and my wanted list.
I "may" have considered this minifigure had it been a part of a CMF series. "May."
I'm still deeply sceptical that this set is intended to make any money an and of itself
Lego supporting Nike who is known from child labor is really sad.
Neat enough, but also kind of just a jumble. Not for me, thanks.
@Sab97m said:
"I'm surprised they didn't create a dedicated Swoosh element for this."
Probably another set?
Well designed for sure. But not for me. I don't see the point, probably not being in the target audience.
@GrizBe said:
"No cons to this set? Pretty sure alot of people would argue the large number of stickers to be one. Along with the ugly rear side of the display. It honestly doesn't look much better then the Adidas build to me, "
Large number of stickers? Are you talking about a different set?
That aside, it's quite entertaining to see people's reaction to a positive review of a set that they expected to get trashed.
@kingalbino said:
"I don't get it. Who does this appeal to? I like the minifigure but thats it. "
As noted in an earlier comment, the answer is “me.” Thanks for reading!
The ball looks like an interesting design. But I didn't buy the first shoe and won't buy this one.
....I'm starting to get concerned about the future of LEGO...
I just know the other shoe is going to drop.
I wonder does the basketball bounce…
@tne328 said:
"Would still love to see a repaint/recolor into the HHGG Heart of Gold and Marvin the Paranoid Android."
It's a little small for that, but yes, that would be awesome.
@gunther_schnitzel said:"I wonder does the basketball bounce… "
Yes. Once.
So the minifig head is a standard GBC size ball, but with the inset.
Looks fine for those who like that sort of thing. Just hoping that mini Nikes aren't on the way to clutter up future GWP slots... Got more than enough mini Adidas Originals!
@tm76 said:
"So the minifig head is a standard GBC size ball, but with the inset. "
Yes, pretty much, and an 'accessory hole' on the top. It might be fun to run it through a GBC :-)
@Huw said:
" @mcbbvb said:
"I understand where you're coming from but saying "cheaper than the real thing" doesn't sound like a pro to me. The real thing looks good while it can be used every day while this is just a toy and decoration piece. "
Usually the complaint is that the LEGO model of a typewriter, radio, Polaroid camera or whatever, is more expensive than the real thing, so I added it as a pro tongue-in-cheek :-)"
I must admit that the whole review to me sounded like sarcasm, as this set is about as crap as one can be, from what I can tell from the pictures and description.
And the "awesome minifig" being "the cherry on the top"? A hideously ugly fig with a basketball for a head? Come on, that statement alone had me rolling on the floor roaring with laughter. Good one, @Huw .
Even in terms of the shoe (and I only wear shoes that are comfortable to my feet, so both Adidas and Nike are out immediately), the Adidas shoe looked way better imho.
And "small sticker sheet" got to have been tongue in cheek too, especially since the majority of the stickers are repeats that should definitely have been prints.
Anyway, haven't seen a worse set in a long time, and I guess 40% off (which rather seems to be the norm these days for many sets) right from the start will not be the end of the line in terms of discounts.
Then again I just bought the UCS 2.900 piece Deep Space Nine station by BlueBrixx on clearance for 29.95 Euro (instead of the original 200 Euro RRP) in their "end of the Star Trek licence blowout sale", so I might be just a little bit spoiled ;-)
I’ve got to say, contrary to the review, this set is a hideous monstrosity in my opinion. This is not just because it is a remarkably ugly and stark design, with unappealing colours making it all the more soulless and brutal; but I find the partnership with Nike hard to stomach.
The shoe company offers absolutely nothing in terms of genuine inspiration for models, so I have to assume this is all what it seems to be - a cynical exercise in co-branding that only the subset of zombie marketing goons within each organization could possibly have any enthusiasm for. This is a marriage between a brand that has actually come to mean something creative, and another that has become the ultimate example of corporate brainwashing.
Pay $99.99 to advertise a product I don't want. Yeah, no.
Well, there's certainly a divided opinion about this set :-)
no negative points?
Surely the horrible color matching of the stickers and prints should have been mentioned...
To me the only con is that the b-ball minifig isn’t wearing a cape (a cloth one, not the newer type)
I really like the set. The shoe is superbly done with play-features in it as well.
The colorway is great, good minifig, great brick built letters. Also the bball is nicely done, and i like the brickness of the ball in combination with the slickness of the rest of the set.
If this set should come with a gwp like the adidas shoebox one, i’ll cave immidiately because i like nike shoeboxes for some reason (just like Ewings shoeboxes) x-D
@Brick_Belt said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said: "In the end it's just a brick-built model of footwear with some letters. Nicely done, but that's about it."
I mean I am absolutely not the target audience for this and I do like Star Wars and Superheroes . . . but there's stuff like the Star Wars text that's literally just text. Plenty of Star Wars sets are just a brick built model of a droid or of a spaceship. There's an entire line of brick built superhero heads or Star Wars helmets. Stickers and looking crummy from the back are cons but it just being a shoe isn't, IMO. "
I'm well aware of all the Star Wars and superhero stuff LEGO has been pumping out in the past few decades, and there's definitely more of an overlap between those fandoms and LEGO's than is the case with Nike's. I mean, Star Wars pretty much saved TLG from going under. The fandom for sneaker brands like Nike or Adidas, or any other sports related brands for that matter, are far more removed from core LEGO collectors. I'm pretty sure most people would agree that a Star Wars logo made out of LEGO makes more sense, all things considered -- whether it's a good set or not.
Also, I did not say that this set being merely a brick representation of a shoe is a con, but I agreed with @Grizbe 's list of cons. In addition, I stated that a shoe made of LEGO isn't necessariliy that great of a display model. Personally, I don't think Star Wars helmets or superhero masks are either, but they're certainly less mundane than a white sneaker. It's not that this is a bad set per se, not at all, as it looks like what it's supposed to be, and it has fun colours. But in the end, it's still just a shoe, which in no way is as exiting as a SPACESHIP!
For other user's comments on this set being a cash grab and a cynical case of co-branding: you could pretty much say that about any licensed set.
@ToysFromTheAttic said:"I mean, Star Wars pretty much saved TLG from going under."
With just a liiittle bit of help from Bionicle.
A part of me feels @Huw lost a bet with this review, lol.
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
[[ @Brick_Belt said:
[[ @ToysFromTheAttic said: [[In the end it's just a brick-built model of footwear with some letters. Nicely done, but that's about it.]]
. But in the end, it's still just a shoe, which in no way is as exiting as a SPACESHIP!
set.]]
But this is a spaceship! A crashed one. It even has an alien in it. Plus it has its onomatopee of the crashing down to earth and the reason why it crashed in the first place (that orange brickbuilt meteor)
@yellowcastle said:
"A part of me feels @Huw lost a bet with this review, lol."
Lost a bet and had to write it as the penalty? Or wrote it for a bet trying to convince people like it and lost that bet?
@CCC said:
" @yellowcastle said:
"A part of me feels @Huw lost a bet with this review, lol."
Lost a bet and had to write it as the penalty? Or wrote it for a bet trying to convince people like it and lost that bet?"
Or lost a bet and had to build it as the penalty? Or lost a bet and had to make this....er....shoe sound amazing? Or lost a bet and has to now display this....er...shoe at Brickset Towers for no less than 6 months?
@Brickodillo said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
" @Brick_Belt said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said: "In the end it's just a brick-built model of footwear with some letters. Nicely done, but that's about it."
. But in the end, it's still just a shoe, which in no way is as exiting as a SPACESHIP!
set."
But this is a spaceship! A crashed one. It even has an alien in it. Plus it has its onomatopee of the crashing down to earth and the reason why it crashed in the first place (that orange brickbuilt meteor)"
Okay, now I want this."
@TheOtherMike said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:"I mean, Star Wars pretty much saved TLG from going under."
With just a liiittle bit of help from Bionicle."
Just a little. :) I would think HP didn’t hurt, but definitely a lot from SW and Bionicle!
@TheOtherMike said:
[[ @Brickodillo said:
[[ @ToysFromTheAttic said:
[[ @Brick_Belt said:
[[ @ToysFromTheAttic said: [[In the end it's just a brick-built model of footwear with some letters. Nicely done, but that's about it.]]
. But in the end, it's still just a shoe, which in no way is as exiting as a SPACESHIP!
set.]]
But this is a spaceship! A crashed one. It even has an alien in it. Plus it has its onomatopee of the crashing down to earth and the reason why it crashed in the first place (that orange brickbuilt meteor)]]
Okay, now I want this.]]]]
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!!1
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
" @Brick_Belt said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said: "In the end it's just a brick-built model of footwear with some letters. Nicely done, but that's about it."
I mean I am absolutely not the target audience for this and I do like Star Wars and Superheroes . . . but there's stuff like the Star Wars text that's literally just text. Plenty of Star Wars sets are just a brick built model of a droid or of a spaceship. There's an entire line of brick built superhero heads or Star Wars helmets. Stickers and looking crummy from the back are cons but it just being a shoe isn't, IMO. "
I'm well aware of all the Star Wars and superhero stuff LEGO has been pumping out in the past few decades, and there's definitely more of an overlap between those fandoms and LEGO's than is the case with Nike's. I mean, Star Wars pretty much saved TLG from going under. The fandom for sneaker brands like Nike or Adidas, or any other sports related brands for that matter, are far more removed from core LEGO collectors. I'm pretty sure most people would agree that a Star Wars logo made out of LEGO makes more sense, all things considered -- whether it's a good set or not.
Also, I did not say that this set being merely a brick representation of a shoe is a con, but I agreed with @Grizbe 's list of cons. In addition, I stated that a shoe made of LEGO isn't necessariliy that great of a display model. Personally, I don't think Star Wars helmets or superhero masks are either, but they're certainly less mundane than a white sneaker. It's not that this is a bad set per se, not at all, as it looks like what it's supposed to be, and it has fun colours. But in the end, it's still just a shoe, which in no way is as exiting as a SPACESHIP!
For other user's comments on this set being a cash grab and a cynical case of co-branding: you could pretty much say that about any licensed set."
They're probably trying to appeal to shoe collectors. I don't understand it but there are people who buy shoes and ended up displaying many of them and it's not exactly a small crowd.
@Brick_Belt said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
" @Brick_Belt said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said: "In the end it's just a brick-built model of footwear with some letters. Nicely done, but that's about it."
I mean I am absolutely not the target audience for this and I do like Star Wars and Superheroes . . . but there's stuff like the Star Wars text that's literally just text. Plenty of Star Wars sets are just a brick built model of a droid or of a spaceship. There's an entire line of brick built superhero heads or Star Wars helmets. Stickers and looking crummy from the back are cons but it just being a shoe isn't, IMO. "
I'm well aware of all the Star Wars and superhero stuff LEGO has been pumping out in the past few decades, and there's definitely more of an overlap between those fandoms and LEGO's than is the case with Nike's. I mean, Star Wars pretty much saved TLG from going under. The fandom for sneaker brands like Nike or Adidas, or any other sports related brands for that matter, are far more removed from core LEGO collectors. I'm pretty sure most people would agree that a Star Wars logo made out of LEGO makes more sense, all things considered -- whether it's a good set or not.
Also, I did not say that this set being merely a brick representation of a shoe is a con, but I agreed with @Grizbe 's list of cons. In addition, I stated that a shoe made of LEGO isn't necessariliy that great of a display model. Personally, I don't think Star Wars helmets or superhero masks are either, but they're certainly less mundane than a white sneaker. It's not that this is a bad set per se, not at all, as it looks like what it's supposed to be, and it has fun colours. But in the end, it's still just a shoe, which in no way is as exiting as a SPACESHIP!
For other user's comments on this set being a cash grab and a cynical case of co-branding: you could pretty much say that about any licensed set."
They're probably trying to appeal to shoe collectors. I don't understand it but there are people who buy shoes and ended up displaying many of them and it's not exactly a small crowd. "
Well yes, obviously, but shoe collectors already collect *actual* shoes, with some collectors indeed displaying them. So I'm not entirely sure what the logic is of making a LEGO set of the exact thing for the exact same purpose, apart from cross-branding etc. There may be an untapped market there, but I honestly doubt the shoe collecting crowd will see anything more in this than what it actually is: just a novelty item made out of plastic bricks.
How does the size of the shoe compare to the Adidas shoe? Do they at all look like they go together?
I don't have the Adidas one but I think it's bigger
Like the model!
@chrisaw said:
" @emartinez said:
"As a professional marketing amateur, I do not know who this is targeted to... Any and all insight is appreciated.
"
Did you bother to read the review?
“This is very much a display model aimed at teenage and adult 'sneakerheads'', although it does have some fun features built into it as well.”
"
Doesn't seem so professional now, huh?
This is getting more and more ridiculous.
What's next !? Starbucks ??
@emartinez said:
"As a professional marketing amateur, I do not know who this is targeted to... Any and all insight is appreciated.
"
I'm sure it's been mentioned before by others but this thing was already on back order when I checked early this AM. And there was a line at the Nashville store prior to their 10CST opening and all were there for it.