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As much as we love keeping up with the latest Air Jordan releases and hyped collaborations, there’s something about discovering new sneakers that can be even more exciting. That applies not only to brand new sneaker models, but rare, obscure, and long-forgotten shoes that have fallen through the cracks—sneakers without enough status to be championed by brands over and over as retros, and too old to have been captured by the blog era. Thankfully, we still have online auction platforms such as Ebay to preserve these sneaker memories.
We scanned Ebay’s 100s of thousands of sneaker listings in search of weird, crazy, and interesting examples of these gems. While you’ll find some surprising versions of popular sneakers like Air Jordans and Nike Dunks, there are also obscure picks like NBA-branded high tops and Xbox sneakers that look like they were made to skate in.
We’re not vouching for any of these sellers or products, or even suggesting you should want to own these shoes—especially at some of their rather optimistic listing prices. But we are enjoying this trip into the past for a look at Ebay’s Craziest Sneakers: 15 Rare and Weird Sneakers You’ve Never Seen Before
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Year: Unreleased
Asking Price: $100,000
There’s another Air Jordan 15 on this list that’s probably not worth spending your money on, but I can’t say the same for this PE made for NBA legend Reggie Miller. This pair was worn by Miller during the 2000 NBA Finals and is even signed by him on both shoes. A cool piece of NBA history from the unlikely pairing of Michael Jordan and rival Reggie Miller. —Victor Deng
Year: Unreleased
Asking Price: $1,300
For the amount of money you’re going to have to dish out to own this XBox sneaker, you might as well use that money and buy the gaming console and still have cash leftover—although it is interesting to see a sneaker made for a video game company. —Victor Deng
Year: 1977
Asking Price: $1,779
May the Force be with whoever is dropping $1,800 on this pair of Star Wars Clarks. Odds are it’s a Star Wars collector and not someone looking for some footwear, which would make this purchase a little more palatable. —Ben Felderstein
Year: 1980
Asking Price: $2,000
Believe it or not, Kinney NBAs were made for a variety of sports, including running, tennis, baseball, and soccer—in addition to basketball. And yes, they had the National Basketball Association logos regardless of the model. Many of these sneakers from the value-priced retailer (which later spawned Foot Locker) featured four stripes in an apparent effort to feel familiar but avoid legal issues with Adidas and K-Swiss. —Zac Dubasik
Year: 1979
Asking Price: $3,000
It’s not often Nike made sneakers that omitted its iconic Swoosh logo, but that’s what happened with this vintage low-top model from 1979. This is definitely a model that’s on-trend with what’s popular now and could be a solid retro if Nike decides to bring them back out. —Victor Deng
Year: 1980
Asking Price: $10,000
Sang’s notoriety in the sneaker world stems from its ahead-of-its-time knockoff of the Air Jordan 1 in the mid-’80s. It turns out that that’s not the only vintage Nike model the brand had a cheaper alternative of. This Mercury sneaker borrowed from models like the first Nike Pegasus—an original of which would likely cost far less than the $10k asking price seen here. —Zac Dubasik
Year: 1999
Asking Price: $1,250
The Converse Helium might be the sickest pair on this list. Even in 2026, the sneaker is jam-packed with what looks like futuristic tech in the present day. Now the real question is, would the sneakers hold up if you did decide to wear them? —Victor Deng
Year: 1984
Asking Price: $1,200
Long before the Supra Sky Top, Rick Owens’ “Dunks,” or even the Nike Mag, the Nike Double Team stood high above the competition. The early ‘80s basketball model featured a cut so tall that the collar was hard to differentiate from an ankle brace. Nike may have missed the boat on retroing these when super-high tops were popular in the late 2000s/early 2010s. —Zac Dubasik
Year: 2006
Asking Price: $1,000
If I had to buy one pair of sneakers on this list, this is absolutely the pair. Catch me at Monday Night Raw the next time it’s at the Garden repping an El Grande Americano t-shirt and this pair of size 10 Corteiz that I just spent a band on and somehow need to fit my size 12 foot into. —Ben Felderstein
Year: 2001
Asking Price: $995
If the Smooth Step dropped right now, I’m convinced they would fly off shelves. The laceless, mule-ish trend is hot right now and every brand is doing its best to make a version. Whoever is about to drop $995 on this particular pair might need to find god, though. —Ben Felderstein
Year: 2000
Asking Price: $575
The Jordan 15 is already one of the least liked models in the line, but the brand also made an oft-forgotten slip-on version that’s easily much worse. Let’s not forget to mention that this listing has the shoe selling for $575, which is criminally insane. —Victor Deng
Year: 1980
Asking Price: $499
Nike Blazer roller skates are peak history right here—pure 1980s energy. For $400, I’m not saying I’d cop, but I’m definitely intrigued. Lowkey, if Bow Wow pulled these out in Roll Bounce it would’ve been a cool nod to Like Mike, given that he wore a pair in that movie. Personally, I would’ve debuted these on Soul Train if I was around, shoutout Don Cornelius. —Douglas Jase
Year: 2001
Asking Price: $450
What in the Willem Dafoe Green Goblin are these, man? Released in 2001, it probably would have been better for everyone if this Fantapostie just stayed there. If you’re a Posite collector, then I guess these might just be the thing for you. —Ben Felderstein
Year: 1986
Asking Price: $239
At 40 years old, this cross between a boat shoe and an Air Jordan 2 Low looks incredibly lux for its age. If actual Air Jordan 2s are any indication, the midsole likely wouldn’t hold up to any wear, but the upper looks supple enough to hit the yacht deck, even today. —Zac Dubasik
Year: 1985
Asking Price: $349
Ok this is the hottest fire on this whole list. It might not be the most sanitary to cop these for your infant and have them looking fly, but if you’re a Michigan fan or a rabid sneakerhead, just cop these and use ‘em as a rearview mirror charm or a Christmas ornament. —Ben Felderstein
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