The 1984 version of the Penetrator was followed in 1986 with a few variations to the model, the most important of which was the addition of suede on both high and low top black models. With a growing trend towards adding pop and flavor to the mostly drab white palate of sneakers, 1986 was landmark year for Nike, and the Penetrator was among the models that went dark. The high and low top suede versions had a vibrant blue swoosh, and according to Sole Provider: 30 Years of Nike Basketball, the first black-on-black basketball shoe Nike ever released was the 1986 incarnation of the Penetrator.
