A notification pops up on your phone. The sneaker you've been following for weeks is available, but there's no buy button in sight. Instead, you see an address, a date, and a time slot. You've just stumbled upon a SNKRS Pass.
The SNKRS Pass is a release format reserved for Nike members, accessible only through the SNKRS app. It doesn't sell you a sneaker online; it reserves your right to come buy it in-store, at a specific location, at a specific time.
It's a format that many see but never get to participate in. Here’s how it really works, what to bring on the pickup day, and why geography can be a disadvantage if you don't live in Paris.
What is the SNKRS Pass exactly?
The SNKRS Pass is a reservation, not a purchase. When a Pass is active, it shows up in your SNKRS feed and gives you a chance to try for a stock set aside for a physical store.
The app uses your phone's GPS to check your proximity to a participating store. If you're within the covered area, you can submit your shoe size. Otherwise, the Pass simply won't show up.
Important point: payment is never made in the app. You pay at the register when you pick up your sneaker.
And if you were hoping for delivery, forget it. Nike is clear about this: stores cannot ship a sneaker reserved via SNKRS Pass. Going to the store is part of the deal.
Collaborations like the Corteiz x Nike Air Max 95 have gone through this format. When the model later releases in a general release (GR), the price comparison tool remains the easiest way to go.
Compare prices for the Air Max 95 →
Key takeaways in 3 points> - Reserved for Nike members, only on the SNKRS app > - Pickup and payment in-store, no delivery possible > - Access depends on your GPS location at the time of the drop
How it works, step by step
The mechanics of a SNKRS Pass can be broken down into five steps.
- The Pass appears in your feed. It's announced with an opening time, a store, and a participation window.
- You submit your shoe size. The submission window lasts about ten minutes depending on the drops. Neither the size nor the store can be changed afterward.
- The raffle takes place at the closing. Winners are randomly selected from participants in the area.
- You receive confirmation. The reservation screen displays your shoe size, the store address, the date, and the pickup time slot.
- On the big day, the reservation turns into a QR code. This is the code that the store scans to hand you the sneaker.
This raffle mechanic didn't always exist. Launched in 2018, the SNKRS Pass operated on a first-come, first-served basis: the fastest clicker walked away with the reservation. A format that bots exploited massively, even faking their GPS signal to pose as users present in the area.
In March 2022, Nike switched the entire system to a random draw with anti-bot filtering. Click speed no longer matters.
Common mistake to avoid> Participating at the last second of the window. In a random draw, nothing rewards speed, but a submission sent too late may not be recorded. Another classic: push notifications turned off. If you win and don’t see the alert, your time slot will pass without you.
In France, the SNKRS Pass is played in Paris
Let’s be direct: for the vast majority of French readers, the SNKRS Pass isn’t a buying channel. It’s a Parisian mechanism.
The format relies on a tight coverage area. In the United States, drops open within a radius of 16 to 40 km around the relevant store, enough to cover an entire metropolitan area. In France, the area is measured in just a few kilometers around the House of Innovation Paris, on the Champs-Élysées.
Nike operates 56 stores in the country, with 20 in Île-de-France. Only one has flagship status, and it’s at this address that the Passes are distributed.
In practice, this isn’t a mechanism you can prepare for. Activate geolocation and notifications, then move on. A format that only opens within a few square kilometers of the 8th arrondissement doesn’t warrant building a buying strategy around it.
Special case: you live in the provinces> You won’t see the Passes, and GPS workarounds aren’t a solution. Nike filters, and in-person pickup in Paris remains mandatory. It’s better to play the classic raffles in the app, which are open everywhere, and keep an eye on the drop calendar for releases accessible from a distance.
The pickup day: what to bring
Three things, and they are non-negotiable.
- The phone used to enter, with the QR code displayed in the SNKRS app
- A photo ID, with the exact name on the Pass: ID card, passport, driver's license
- A payment method, since the transaction is done at the register
Name verification is real. A friend cannot pick up the sneaker for you, even with your phone: the identity must match the account.
Stick to your time slot. A SNKRS Pass is only valid during the indicated period, and missing it will result in the reservation expiring without recourse.
The good news, however, is that winning a Pass doesn’t commit you to anything. Since the purchase is completed in-store, you can walk away without the sneaker if you change your mind or if the fit isn’t right. For a model whose sizing you’re unsure about, this is one of the few advantages of the in-store format compared to an online order.
For the rest of the app mechanics, our guide to copping a sneaker details the settings to adjust in advance.
Pass, Stash, Raffle, Shock Drop: How to Tell Them Apart?
SNKRS piles on the formats, and the names can be confusing. Here’s what really sets them apart.
| Format | Mechanism | Where it Happens |
|---|
| FCFS | First come, first served; it’s all about speed | Online, everywhere |
| Raffle | A quick lottery, results via notification | Online, everywhere |
| Exclusive Access | Access sent to selected accounts | Online, by invitation |
| Shock Drop | Released without prior announcement | Online, everywhere |
| SNKRS Pass | Geolocated lottery, pickup and payment in-store | GPS zone around a store |
| SNKRS Stash | Same logic as the Pass, tied to an event location | GPS zone around a specific site |
| SNKRS CAM | Unlocking by scanning an image | Anywhere, no location constraints |
Two key takeaways. First, the Pass and Stash are the only formats where your location determines access, making them unavailable from a distance. Second, the SNKRS CAM is the most open exclusive mechanism in the app: it requires an image to scan, not an address.
In terms of the catalog, Passes most often drop for collaborations and low-quantity retros of Air Jordan, rarely for models that are always available.
Since September 2025, the app also includes SNKRS Maps, a locator for partner stores and resellers. Some recent Passes link directly to it, showing that Nike continues to tie its exclusive formats to physical retail.
FAQ
Do you need to be a Nike member to participate in a SNKRS Pass? Yes. The SNKRS Pass is a feature reserved for Nike members and only appears in the SNKRS app. A free account is enough, but it must be active and logged in on the device you will use on drop day.
Can you have a reserved sneaker delivered via SNKRS Pass? No. Nike specifies that stores cannot ship sneakers reserved through SNKRS Pass. In-person pickup at the store indicated on the Pass and during the allotted time slot is the only option.
Can someone pick up the sneaker for me? No. The store checks that the name on your ID matches the one on the Pass. Neither a friend with your phone nor a written authorization allows for the reservation to be picked up.
What happens if I don’t pick up my sneaker? The reservation expires at the end of the time slot, and the sneaker goes back into store stock. There are no penalties or fees since nothing has been paid, but no rescheduling or new time slots are granted.
Is the stock for the SNKRS Pass taken from the stock sold online? No. A separate volume is allocated to the participating store before the drop. This is also why quantities are low: a Pass does not redistribute online inventory; it opens a separate store stock.