The Osiris D3 O.G.
The Osiris D3 is one of the defining skate shoes in the brand's history. Conceived in the late 1990s and released alongside The Storm video in 1999, it quickly became a fixture in skate shops and has since been reissued in numerous forms. The design story is still told from different angles. As well as it being his pro-shoe, Dave Mayhew is widely associated with the look of the upper, blending elements from technical running shoes and hiking boots into something built for skating. Osiris designer Brian Reid has said he created the sole and heel of the original D3, and then fully designed the D3 2001 with Tony Magnusson, with Mayhew giving his approval and wearing it. Taken together, these accounts explain the original’s layered, technical upper and the 2001’s more exaggerated heel profile.
The D3’s rise was tied closely to the The Storm era. Between 1999 and 2001, Osiris’s team was highly visible, and the shoe appeared constantly in ads, tours and videos. Riders like Peter Smolik, Josh Kasper, Brandon Turner, Kanten Russell, Tyrone Olson and Jerry Hsu all skated in them during that time. This exposure helped lock the D3 into skate culture while also pushing it into the wider fashion spotlight, with huge names at the time, such as Fred Durst, wearing the shoes on MTV.
The Osiris D3 2001 and beyond
The original D3 from 1999 set the blueprint: multiple lace loops and webbed eyelets climbing the side panels, a heavily padded tongue and collar, and a multi-panel upper that felt unusually complex compared to most skate shoes then. Strong sales led to the D3 2001, the model most people picture today—bulkier overall, with oversized plastic lace hardware, a taller heel design and an even more extreme “tech runner” influence that took it into mainstream style.
Over the years, Osiris explored several offshoots. The D3 NTX pared back some of the mass, using lighter materials while retaining the signature lacing and padded tongue. Other spins included the D3 4.0 and a snow boot version, both carrying over the recognisable upper design. The current line-up centres on the D3 OG, which stays close to the 1999 layout; the D3 2001, the maximalist classic; and two modernised versions, the D3 E and D3 S, which keep the distinctive silhouette but trim weight and padding for more versatile, everyday wear. Today, the OG and 2001 remain regular seasonal releases, while the E and S appear frequently in both skate and streetwear shops.
In terms of construction, the D3 OG mirrors the late-’90s approach with a thick tongue secured by elastic straps, a cushioned collar, stitched multi-material panels and the wrap-around web lacing. It’s still more about protection and impact support than close board feel. The D3 2001 pushes this further, adding denser padding, larger features and a taller stance for an even more substantial presence.
The D3 E was introduced as a performance-minded evolution. It retains the layered upper and distinctive lace webbing but uses streamlined padding, lighter synthetics and a slimmer midsole to reduce overall bulk. The heel counter is less pronounced, giving a lower profile and improved mobility, while the outsole is subtly reshaped for better grip and reduced weight. It’s designed to feel closer to a modern skate shoe in responsiveness while keeping the look that made the D3 famous.
The D3 S is the most lifestyle-oriented of the line. It keeps the panel structure, padded tongue and signature lacing but pares down the collar volume and swaps some of the heavier overlays for lighter, more flexible materials. The fit is slightly narrower, making it easier to wear with casual outfits, and the cushioning is tuned more for all-day comfort than high-impact skating. It’s aimed at people who want the D3 aesthetic without the full weight and bulk of the skate-built versions.
Across all versions, the tread pattern and multi-panel upper remain consistent, but differences in weight, collar height and heel design give each model its own identity and purpose.
While there’s no single agreed-upon origin story, most accounts agree it was a collaborative process. Mayhew provided the concept for the upper and final sign-off, Reid engineering the sole, and later working with Magnusson on the 2001. This shared authorship is why both names continue to come up whenever the shoe’s history is discussed.
Beyond Dave Mayhew, the D3 is tied to the era’s wider Osiris crew. Smolik and Kasper gave it standout moments in The Storm, Brandon Turner and Jerry Hsu added weight through memorable parts, and Russell and Olson kept it visible on tours and in coverage. Its later life that features re-issues, fashion crossovers and occasional redesigns, owes everything to that first surge of popularity at the turn of the millennium.
