Adidas Forum vs Nike Dunk: Full Comparison

The Adidas Forum and the Nike Dunk are two 1980s basketball shoes that came back as everyday street sneakers. They look similar from across the room, but they feel different on foot, wear differently and suit different outfits. This guide compares them side by side so you can decide which one is worth your money.

Short answer: pick the Forum if you want a chunkier, more distinctive shoe with a locked-in feel (especially the strapped Forum 84 models). Pick the Dunk if you want a slimmer, easy-to-style court shoe with a huge range of colorways. Neither is a cushioned walking shoe, so if you are on your feet all day, read the comfort section below.

See the Forum Low – Men’s →Women’s →

Adidas Forum vs Nike Dunk at a glance

See all colorways – Dunk Low Men’s →Women’s →

Design and history

Adidas Forum

The Forum debuted in 1984 as an Adidas basketball shoe created by French designer Jacques Chassaing. It launched at about $100, which was a premium price at the time. The look is built around a few features: a criss-cross hook-and-loop ankle strap on the strapped versions, a perforated toe box, a padded collar and exposed Dellinger webbing (a nylon mesh meant to help spread impact) along the inside of the midsole.

The shoe was shelved for years, came back with a 2009 Def Jam collaboration for its 25th anniversary, and returned in a vintage-look “84” version in 2020. More recently, Bad Bunny’s Forum Low Buckle releases (“Cafe,” “Easter Egg,” “Triple Black” and others) put the model back in front of a new audience. Note that the strap is only on certain versions: the Forum High and the Forum 84 models have it, while many Forum Low pairs use a simpler buckle or laced design.

Nike Dunk

The Nike Dunk debuted in 1985, designed by Peter Moore, who also worked on the Air Jordan 1. The Dunk was launched through Nike’s college program, with “Be True To Your School” colorways in the colors of teams such as Syracuse, Michigan and St. John’s. It was later overshadowed by the Air Jordan 1, then adopted by skateboarders for its flat sole and padded tongue.

Nike made that skate connection official in 2002 with the Dunk Low Pro SB, which added a thicker tongue, elastic straps and a Zoom Air sockliner. Our guide to the SB Dunk versus the regular Dunk explains how the two differ in construction. Today the Dunk is sold in a huge range of general-release colors plus frequent collaborations.

Which looks better?

The Forum has more going on: strap or buckle details, a chunkier midsole and a rounder shape. The Dunk is cleaner and easier to match with whatever you already own. If you want the shoe to be a talking point, the Forum does that more easily; if you want a reliable low-profile sneaker, the Dunk is simpler.

Materials, comfort and fit

Materials

Both shoes come in leather and suede versions, and the exact material depends on the colorway and price tier, so check the product page rather than assuming. General-release pairs of either shoe tend to use more affordable leather than premium or collaboration releases. Leather creasing is a trait of both shoes: it comes down to how you walk and how the leather is treated, not just the brand name.

Sizing and fit

• Forum: generally fits true to size according to SoleRetriever’s buyer’s guide. Bad Bunny pairs run smaller because of the double tongue and extra heel padding, so some buyers go up half a size or more, especially with wide feet. Trying a pair on in store is the safest route.
• Dunk Low: 593 owner votes on RunRepeat rate it true to size, with an internal length slightly shorter than average and a slightly wider-than-average toe box (70.5 mm near the big toe) for a medium-width shoe.

If you have wider feet, the Dunk’s roomy toe box and the Forum’s adjustable strap models can both work, but fit varies by version. Our guide to the best sneakers for wide feet covers other options if neither fits well.

Cushioning

Neither shoe is built for long-distance comfort by modern standards. The Dunk Low uses a firm cupsole: RunRepeat measured its heel shock absorption below average and described cushioning as limited. The Forum uses an EVA cupsole with a chunkier midsole look, and the strap versions lock the foot in more securely, but it is still a retro basketball shoe rather than a modern cushioned sneaker. If you spend long days walking, consider a cushioned lifestyle shoe instead, such as those in our sneaker models library.

Performance and durability

Both shoes started as basketball sneakers, but modern players use shoes with much better cushioning and lighter materials. Treat both as lifestyle sneakers: fine for casual shooting around, not for serious games. The Dunk’s flat sole and padded tongue are why skaters embraced it, and the SB version is still the one to buy if you actually skate.

On durability, we have not run a wear test, so we won’t claim lifespan numbers. What we can say is that the common weak points are predictable: hook-and-loop straps can lose grip over time with heavy use, white leather scuffs and creases on both shoes, and the toe box on any low-profile retro sneaker takes the most punishment. Basic care (see below) does more for longevity than which logo is on the side.

Style: how to wear each one

Adidas Forum: the chunkier shape balances relaxed or baggy jeans, joggers and cuffed shorts. The strap versions give a retro-basketball look, so wear them with simple tops and let the shoe stand out. Slim dress trousers are a poor match.

Nike Dunk: the lower profile suits straight or slim jeans, cargo pants and casual chinos. It is the more flexible of the two for smart-casual outfits when you pick a plain colorway such as white and grey or black and white.

• Winter: Forum High or Mid with thick socks under wide trousers.
• Spring and fall: Dunk Low with light-wash or dark denim and a casual jacket.
• Summer: Forum Low or Dunk Low with shorts and no-show socks.

For more outfit ideas, see our guide to styling sneakers for streetwear.

Price, hype and resale

General-release Forum Lows sit around $100-$110 at retail and the Dunk Low Retro is around $115, so the base prices are close. The real price gap appears with limited releases. Dunk collaborations and SB releases can sell for far more than retail, while the Forum has seen demand mainly from Bad Bunny editions and collaborations. Resale prices change daily and vary by platform, so check a current listing on a resale marketplace before buying a limited pair, and don’t buy any sneaker as an investment unless you accept that prices can fall.

Care and cleaning

• Leather uppers: wipe with a damp cloth and a mild sneaker cleaner; avoid soaking the shoe. A leather conditioner helps keep it supple.
• Suede panels: use a suede brush and eraser, not water, and a protector spray before first wear.
• Strap and perforations (Forum): clean with a soft brush and keep the hook-and-loop free of lint so it keeps gripping.
• Creases (Dunk and Forum): shoe trees and crease guards can slow creasing, but won’t stop it.

Who should buy which?

Final verdict

Both shoes are good-looking retro basketball sneakers with similar prices and sizing that is generally true to size. The Forum is the more distinctive pick; the Dunk is the easier everyday pick with more colorway choice. Decide based on the silhouette you actually want to wear, then confirm the version, size and current price on the retailer’s page. For more matchups, browse our Sneaker Models hub.