For the most part, reporting on every new colorway isn’t really our thing. The constant churn of drop culture and drop culture’s symbiotic media machine doesn’t leave a lot of room for nuance or necessary dialogue. For Nike’s Cosmic Unity 3, though, we can an exception.

Now on its third iteration after initial release in 2021 and the CU2’s arrival in 2022, the CU is Nike’s flagship foray into combined sports performance and sustainability focused basketball shoes.

Promising cloud-like cushioning from midsole foam and impressive grip courtesy of outsole rubber, the Cosmic Unity 3 also features close-fitting flymesh in the midfoot and – unlike previous versions – a flyknit collar for lightweight support. All of which adds up to a shoe that delivers speed, agility, comfort and durability – none of which come from animal-derived products.

Made from at least 20% recycled materials by weight – which arguably could, at this point in the sneaker’s development, be a little higher – the Cosmic Unity 3 is a testament to the fact that essential technical elements and essential planet-friendlier elements of a shoe aren’t mutually exclusive. More than that, it’s proof that they can sit in balance – in unity, if you will – as equal partners in a single product.

Having already offered up a version in warm pink and electric green, one in a vivid burnt orange, and another in classic triple-white, this latest aesthetic choice – not unlike the “Chaos” markings we’ve seen on the Kobe 5 before – comes in a darker, purple and black colorway probably best described as “galactic acid trip.”

There’s no exact release date for this latest piece of the cosmic puzzle, but with seemingly no structural changed you can expect the price point to remain at the $160 USD mark and, some time soon, to see this shoe pop up on the Nike website.

Images: Sneaker News