SoleGRIND
Patent leather and Deion Sanders feel like they were always meant to find each other. The man wore flashy suits, drove flashy cars, and played football like every snap was a highlight reel waiting to happen. So when Nike announced the Air Diamond Turf II would get a glossy patent leather makeover in Black/Gym Red/Metallic Gold, I honestly could not think of a better marriage of material and personality.
The Air Diamond Turf II originally dropped in 1994 as the second signature shoe in Deion Sanders Nike line. Designed around his career as a two-sport athlete who played both football and baseball, the DT2 became one of the most recognizable cross-trainers of the decade. That midfoot strap, the aggressive paneling, the chunky tooling underneath. It all screamed Prime Time. And now it comes in a finish that literally shines.
For this version, patent black covers most of the upper. The glossy finish runs across the large side panels and that signature midfoot strap, giving the shoe a completely different look from the leather and nubuck versions that have returned throughout 2026. It is sleeker, dressier, and honestly kind of intimidating in the best way possible. The kind of shoe that catches light and makes you look twice.
Gym Red breaks up all that black. You see it on the branding, the heel details, the pull tabs, and smaller accent points throughout the design. Metallic Gold shows up more sparingly, adding a touch of luxury without going overboard. The color combination has some serious hot-rod energy to it. Think Prime Time in his Corvette days, all gloss and attitude.
Underneath all that shine, the DT2 still has its familiar heavy tooling and layered construction from the original cross-training era. The exaggerated panels, the strapped build, the bulky midsole. None of that changed. What changed is the surface. Patent leather transforms this shoe from a rugged trainer into something that feels almost formal. Almost. It is still a chunky 90s cross-trainer at its core, just one that decided to put on a suit.
The tongue still carries that 21 in white, a nod to Deion jersey number. The red Nike Swoosh on the strap stays true to the original design language. And those oval cutouts in the patent leather, revealing gold mesh underneath, add another layer of visual depth that you do not get with standard leather builds. It is the kind of detail that separates a lazy retro from one that someone actually thought about.
Now let me be real for a second. Patent leather on a cross-trainer is not going to be for everyone. Some people will look at this and think it is too much. Too shiny. Too flashy. Too Prime Time. But that is exactly the point. Deion Sanders never played it safe. The man showed up to games in custom suits and do-rags and made football look like a fashion show. A patent leather Diamond Turf II is not a departure from his legacy. It is a continuation of it.
The Nike Air Diamond Turf II Patent Leather releases November 13, 2026. That is a Friday, which means SNKRS drop day. Retail price is set at 170 dollars, and it will be available through SNKRS and select Nike Sportswear retailers including Foot Locker, Finish Line, Hibbett, and Shiekh. Full-family sizing is expected. The style code is II7066-001 if you want to set up your alerts and search bars ahead of time.
Is this the version of the Diamond Turf II I would cop? Honestly, yes. I have seen plenty of DT2 retros over the years and they all have their appeal. The Fire Reds are classic. The 49ers colorway is clean. But there is something about the patent black that feels special. It takes a shoe I have seen dozens of times and makes it feel new again. The gloss, the red accents, the gold underneath those cutouts. It all works together in a way that feels intentional rather than gimmicky.
If you slept on previous Diamond Turf 2 releases, this might be the one to wake up for. Patent leather retros tend to hold value well, and the DT2 does not retro as often as some other Nike models from that era. Plus at 170 dollars retail, you are getting a premium build on one of the most iconic cross-trainer silhouettes ever made. That is not a bad deal.
Mark your calendars for November 13. Save the style code II7066-001. And if you are on the fence, just remember what Prime Time would do. He would not be on the fence. He would be in line.
