Nike Continues to Use SNKRS Reserve for Pre-Ordering Upcoming Sneakers

If you were buying sneakers during the early 2020s, you remember how impossible it was to even sniff a pair for retail. Luckily, things have changed: the market has corrected itself, and you can now get plenty of shoes at retail if you put in a bit of work. Before this happened, many thought a valid solution would be to open up pre-orders for kicks, allowing everyone to secure a pair and then wait months before receiving the sneaker. Some brands have employed this, à la Aimé Leon Dore, but Nike has only just begun to dip its toes into this space.

In 2024, .SWOOSH, formerly Nike's web3 division which is now focused on online and gaming culture, dropped a Low Poly Air Max 1 collab sold via pre-orders. People placed their orders, and months later, the pair arrived at their doorsteps. Other instances where Nike allowed customers to pre-order kicks also fell under the web3 banner, with RTFKT’s Cryptokicks iRL, the Dunk Low Genesis Collection, and the now-defunct label’s AF1 collab.

There were also pre-orders open for the Tomb Raider Air Max 1 from .SWOOSH, as well as the GoldenEye 007-inspired pair and the GT Future Fire. However, this reserve system was implemented on the SNKRS app in August 2025 when the SNKRS Reserve release method was introduced.

Kobe fans were fortunate enough to be some of the first people to use the new Nike SNKRS Reserve system, which acts like any other pre-order, when Nike offered the Kobe 3 Christmas via this release method. Orders were placed on August 24, 2025, and pairs were shipped prior to December 24, 2025, but it wasn’t unlimited. Nike capped the pre-orders to an undisclosed number, and then later they released the pairs via a traditional drop on the SNKRS app.

Fast forward to 2026, and we already have two SNKRS Reserve releases headed our way in March. The first will be the .SWOOSH x Nike GT Future Swooshman, which drops on March 20 and will ship by July 20. Quickly following this will be the Nike Kobe Dunk Low Protro Lower Merion Away, which drops on March 23 and will ship before July 25. Again, like the Kobe 3 Christmas, expect Nike to cap pre-orders to a certain number.

Is this an indication that Nike will start to use the SNKRS Reserve system more often? It seems like it. It’s a big benefit for Nike to be able to collect money from consumers, finish production of pairs, and add more on if they see higher demand than initially expected. For consumers, it might sting a tad to have Nike hold onto your money for a few months, but isn’t it nice knowing that you have a pair secured?

Everyone is going to have a different opinion on this subject, but in reality, this system doesn’t harm anyone and (in theory) gives more people access to a shoe that otherwise would be more limited. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any and all upcoming Nike SNKRS Reserve releases and keep you updated via the Sole Retriever mobile app.

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts, catching the latest movies, and trying new food. For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com