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Nike Air Penny 2 "Panda"

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Nike Air Penny 2 "Panda" Launching 08/01 Colorway: LIGHT BONE/BLACK/PHOTON DUST Style: Men's Shoe

Release Date: August 01, 2023

Jul 20, 2023

The Nike Air Penny 2 "Panda" men's shoe drops August 1 at Hibbett | City Gear.

The year is 1996. Penny Hardaway is leading the Orlando Magic to win after win with a specific shoe on his feet: the Air Penny 2. The second shoe in his signature line, the Penny 2 rocked the sneaker scene so much that it's being given new life today.

The Nike Air Penny 2 "Panda" uses a mix of Light Bone, Photon Dust, white and black to create a classic dark vs. light color scheme. The Eric Avar design will be released on Aug. 1 in men's sizes — perfect for some end-of-summer wear.

As the first Air Penny to combine Max and Zoom Air technology, this kick broke a lot of barriers at the time. You'll see the Air Max unit in the heel as well as the Zoom Air unit in the forefoot.

An off-white leather upper is present, but it's mostly concealed in other overlays. You'll only really notice it around the ankle, heel and eyestays.

Covering the rest of the shoe is a black nubuck overlay that wraps around the toe, sweeps up at the midfoot and coalesces at the heel.

Beneath this black overlay is the shoe's true statement piece — the teeth-like white foam piece that adds extra stability at the lateral midfoot. These rise from the carbon fiber midfoot shank like a wave cresting on a turbulent day.

There's a fair share of branding across the shoe, including the iconic "1 cent" logo on the tongue and heel. In both spots, this is embroidered in black and white thread.

Black laces pair with a black tongue and collar. These match the black and white striped tongue and heel tabs nicely. Inside the shoe, the white insole includes the Nike Swoosh on top of a black and white basketball.

Keeping everything grounded is the black rubber outsole. You'll see white and black lined tread patterns at the forefoot and heel that look almost mind-bending if you stare too closely.

All in all, the Penny 2's days as a basketball shoe are over, but that shouldn't stop you from wearing them on the streets. In particular, this "Panda" colorway would look great with a third accent color like red or royal blue. We're thinking black jeans and a red T-shirt to really make things pop.

While it doesn't look like Lil' Penny will be back to advertise the Penny 2 "Panda," they're still a nostalgic must-have for any sneakerhead. Grab your pair in men's sizes on Aug. 1, online or at your local Hibbett | City Gear.

Miss out on release day? Make sure it doesn't happen again by bookmarking our sneaker launch calendar.

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