COMPARED: Nike Air Foamposite One Galaxy 2012 vs. 2025
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In 2012, the NBA All-Star festivities were held in Orlando, Florida. As a result, Nike, in particular, looked for inspiration for their All-Star collection from the area. They chose NASA and the space program, a landmark of the state, to cook up some out-of-this-world-themed sneakers. The result was the Nike Galaxy Pack, which became one of, if not the most popular collection ever.
The Nike Galaxy Pack consisted of signature footwear from Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James, a Hyperdunk for Blake Griffin, and sportswear styles like the Dunk High, Air Flight One, and the Air Foamposite One. Each pair is unique in its own right, taking design cues from various elements of space. However, the Foamposite One was the standout pair.
The hype for the Nike Air Foamposite One Galaxy was so high Nike had to cancel its release in select markets due to the threat of violence. People lined up in masses days before their release, only to get sent home via police to maintain order. Some spots did release the pair in small quantities, but the hype of this drop made them more limited than initially expected. Don't get us wrong; this release was always severely limited; the cancellation in various areas made the sneaker more elusive than originally planned.
As the scarce drops came and went, and the lucky few got their hands on the pair, resale skyrocketed. The pair sold for well over 1K before and after the release, maintaining four-figure pricing for over ten years. As the years passed and hype for Foams died down, the Galaxy pair remained a grail; whether sneakerheads were willing to dish out high resale to get a pair or not, that decision was entirely up to them.
In 2023, Nike Sportswear began a small rollout to resurrect the Nike Air Foamposite One and regain popularity for the current generation of sneakerheads. Classic and original colorways continue to be released, leading up to the present day. After years of unconfirmed rumors, Nike has answered many fans' prayers with the upcoming Galaxy Foam re-release.
Ahead of their limited release in late February, Sole Retriever traveled to the depths beyond our planet to get our hands on a pair before their re-release. With the original 2012 release in our vault, we decided to revisit this thirteen-year-old pair and see how the 2025 version stands up to its predecessor.
At first glance, the 2025 edition stacks up almost identical to its 2012 counterpart. The same galaxy print is used on both pairs, while the Foamposite shell is more glossy on the re-release. The colors are also a bit more vibrant on the new pair, which uses the same shape seen on recent Foamposite One releases such as 2024's Dark Neon Royal.
The rest of the black upper is identical, with nubuck housing the eyelets. Anthracite grey accents are in the same places, while the shade is slightly darker on the 2025 pair. The only difference here comes via the 1 Cent logo embroidered on the back heels and found on the tongue.
The logo is thicker on the OG than on the retro, as the grey stands out more on the heels. For the tongue, the 2012 pair is light grey, which has yellowed over time and takes on more of a vertical build. The 2025 logo is grey and comes more horizontal.
Moving to the outsole, both pairs glow-in-the-dark, although the 2025 edition will be brighter as Nike has used a more solid glow rubber than the lighter translucent on the 2012 pair. The carbon fiber shank remains the same, as does the color of Penny Hardaway's logo on the bottom.
The insoles for both pairs are identical, featuring the same Nike Galaxy graphic on each footbed. The 2025 re-release also comes with the same "Remove Before Flight" tag seen on the OG, albeit thicker this time around. While the 2012 pair came in the standard brown Nike Sportswear box, the 2025 comes in a black NSW box with the same galaxy print seen on the sneaker adorning the Nike branding on the boxtop and the special tissue paper inside.
In terms of price, the original release initially retailed for $220 in 2012, while the 2025 re-release will come in at a favorable price of $230—only $10 more, not bad at all.
The Nike Air Foamposite One Galaxy is set to triumphantly return on February 21, 2025. An early release via Foot Locker in San Francisco for the 2025 NBA All-Star festivities will occur on February 15. They will be available via the Nike SNKRS app and select online and in-store retailers. Coming in men's sizing, retail is $230. Check out our coverage for more Nike Air Foamposite One Galaxy details. Also, download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on this and all future releases in the sneaker and streetwear world.
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Steve Jaconetta is the Head of Content based out of Connecticut. An encyclopedia for sneaker releases, he's covered the industry for over fifteen years. His stops have included Sole Collector, Complex, and StockX, to name a few. He considers the Air Jordan 11 Concord the greatest sneaker of all time and has a strong affection for 80s pop culture. Email: steve@soleretriever.com
