Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66

First look

The Mexico 66 is Onitsuka Tiger's best-known shoe. Onitsuka says it combines the LIMBER-UP training shoe from 1961 with the Limber of 1966, one of the first models to carry the crossed Onitsuka Tiger Stripes, and Tatler Asia reports it was designed for Japan's team ahead of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Onitsuka merged with two other Japanese companies to form ASICS in 1977, and ASICS re-released the shoe under the Onitsuka Tiger name in 2002. It is low-cut and slim, with a thin, flat rubber sole; Farfetch lists a 1 cm heel. Onitsuka's global online store sells several versions to Canada: the standard Mexico 66 (CA$255), the Mexico 66 SD (CA$335 for White / Pure Silver, with glitter stripes), the Mexico 66 Slip-On with a canvas upper and an elastic instep (CA$215), and the Japanese-made Mexico 66 Deluxe (CA$760 for White / Black).

Onitsuka didn't list an all-white or white-and-black standard Mexico 66 for Canada in October 2026, so the pair we picked is the classic White / Blue (1183C102.100). It has a white smooth cow leather upper with blue and red Tiger Stripes, a grey-beige toe cap, an OrthoLite insole and a cream rubber outsole, and it is made in Indonesia. It is CA$255 on Onitsuka Tiger's global online store, which is published by ASICS Japan Corporation and shows prices in Canadian dollars; Sporting Life, SSENSE and Kith Canada didn't carry the Mexico 66 when we checked. If you want less colour, the White / Dark Blue pair (1183C692.100, also CA$255) has a white toe and sole, and the Mexico 66 SD in White / Pure Silver is the closest to all-white. Sizing is unisex and in centimetres, from 22.5 to 31 cm, and Onitsuka's advice varies: its UK store says to go a size smaller, its Swiss store says to take your normal size.

In a Canadian winter, keep it for dry days: the sole is thin and the collar is low, so slush reaches the leather quickly, and the pale toe cap shows salt. Smooth leather wipes clean more easily than suede or mesh. With a 1 cm heel and a flat sole, it suits short outings better than long days on your feet. Ordering takes some planning too: free shipping to Canada starts at CA$300 and excludes Quebec, returns must be requested within 14 days of delivery, you pay return postage, and there are no exchanges. Our picks are based on construction, materials, price and availability in Canada; hands-on Lab results are being added as each pair finishes testing.