SNEAKERPEDIA

SOUL 2 SOLE - David Park

2009-07-06T11:36:00.001-07:00

Air Tech Challenge Hybrid - Black/Tiffany

2009-07-03T13:40:00.000-07:00

Nike Sportswear Air Maxim 1

2009-07-03T13:38:00.001-07:00

Nike Sportswear: Max to Maxim

2009-07-03T13:37:00.001-07:00

Air Trainer 1

2009-05-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Tinker, Eric and Bo talk about the Air Trainer 1. Check out the video here.

Waiting for Yeezys

2009-05-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

Waiting for Yeezys from kwest on Vimeo.

Nuttiness. Those kids in LA are crazy for camping out for a week and skipping out on school for a perr of nike errs. But at the same time.. they've got a pair of Yeezys... and I don't.

Current price on ebay.. anywhere from $600-$800.

I should be in a line up right now.

2009-05-02T02:50:00.000-07:00

Crap crap crap. This one is a tough one to swallow.

I didn't know the upper was neoprene... f*ck.. makes em even more cool. ah wells.. they're just kicks right? ugghhhh.

Yeezys THIS SATURDAY.

2009-04-28T23:17:00.000-07:00

I'm so psyched about these.. BUT... I dunno how I'm gonna get my hands on em. Gosh.

Sigh.

Michael Jordan 2009 Hall of Fame Announcement

2009-04-21T00:51:00.001-07:00

A lil late on this... but its a must post.

Cavaliers Playoff Proposal

2009-04-21T00:45:00.001-07:00

Are you serious?

Nike Force 180 and Flight Lite Vulcanized

2009-03-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

A few more fusion basketball shoes from Nike are surfacing. Here are a couple of classics with the vulcanized Blazer sole.

Maestro Knows : Nike Air Yeezy

2009-03-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

Nike Delta Force

2009-03-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

Vince, tipped me off on these Delta Force Highs and Lows with a vulcanized sole. Quite an interesting "hybrid" and definitely a nice casual look.

Complex Magazine : Making Of The Air Yeezy

2009-03-23T17:42:00.000-07:00

Check out this 2 page feature on the Complex website.

Air Yeezys... Finally

2009-03-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

Due for release Saturday, April 4th.

I think they messed these up. WAY LATE on the release and the original colourways/materials were way more on point. What's up with the weird "Y" elephantesque print? Was somebody eating alphabet soup the day they decided they needed a texture for this shoe? They still look amazing in the dark tho! Ah f*ck it.. I still want them.. dayam.

The first time we ever saw these on Ye's feet... at the Grammy's... those black on black joints? Wheeww.. those were BAD ASS.

LACED

2009-02-19T15:29:00.000-08:00

Man, Nike really knows how to put these videos together... I get SO AMPED UP watchin these.

Episode 1

Episode 2 : The Original Six

Episode 3 : The New Six

Episode 4 : The Air Flight Huarache

Episode 5 : Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 & 2K5

Episode 6 : The Zoom Point Guards

Episode 7 : Outdoor Kicks

Episode 8 : Vince Carter

Episode 9 : LeBron Signature Shoes

Episode 10: Charles Barkley

Penny and the Foam One

2009-02-19T14:25:00.001-08:00

Cool show.. gotta watch the rest of em now.

Air Jordan CP3 II : New Orleans Hornets QS

2009-02-12T13:52:00.000-08:00

What can you say about Chris Paul. Dood has got some skillz.. he's certainly doin his thing and making a case for MVP once again this year. What can you say about his kicks? As far as this season has been going, he has been rocking several pairs of superb PEs.. from Six Rings to Jordan XXIIIs.. the colourways have been phenomenal. Now, with the release of his second signature shoe, the CP3 II we see a different approach in terms of aesthetics. The first (shown on the right) looks more simple and fundamental. This time around they've added speed and flash to the design.. perhaps to match his game? At any rate, I really don't know what to make out of it.. they make me think of the Melo line... and for some reason that doesn't make me very excited. The way Chris Paul plays basketball... that makes me excited.

Lead the Charge : Become Legendary

2009-02-12T10:47:00.001-08:00

AJ1 Low Phat Championship Pack Portland Trailblazers

2009-02-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

I was talkin to Vince about the recent Air Jordan I releases.. I guess he brought it up cuz he's liking what he's seeing... while I retorted with saying its getting to be a lil much. Jordan Brand seems to be sticking to this formula where they've been taking their classic molds and diluting the sneaker walls with as many colours and variations as possible... no matter how good of an idea or bad one. Its a double edge sword really. On one hand, when JB decides to come out with the most ridiculous/strange/boring colour.. a failure.. then yes.. it makes you feel disgusted that they would do that to a holy grail.. (but I bet the same guy will cop that ish for $40 3 months later at the outlets.. heck I'm guilty of it).. now on the other hand with all these releases.. there's more chance of JB gettin it right. Its strictly a numbers game.. 1 out of 10 releases has gotta be a gem. And so...as it appears.. they've gotten it right with these Low Phat Championship Pack Portland Trailblazer joints (as my man Maze would say).

NBA All-Star Weekend

2009-02-11T09:21:00.000-08:00

Every year I always get pretty amped up about the All-Star Weekend... and no matter what anyone says about the slam dunk contest.. I still find it very entertaining. Unfortunately I've missed quite a few weekends on the tube in the past few years and have had to resort to youtube... not this year though, got myself a PVR!! Not only will I be able to REWIND the high-flying action, I'll also be able to examine all the fly kicks donning the All-Star players' feet in high detail on HDTV.

Here's a preview:

Chris Paul (West) : Air Jordan 2009

Joe Johnson (East) : Air Jordan 2009

Ray Allen (East) : Air Jordan 2009

Dirk Nowitzki (West) : Nike Air Max Spot Up

Amare Stoudemire (West) : Nike Foamposite Lite

LeBron James (East) : Zoom LeBron VI

Kobe Bryant (West) : Zoom Kobe IV

Eastern Allstar : Nike Hyperdunk

Western Allstar : Nike Hyperdunk

Steve Nash (West) : Nike Zoom MVP x Trash Talk

Western Allstar : Nike Air Huarache 09

Eastern Allstar : Nike Air Huarache 09

Kevin Durant (West) : KD1

Eastern Allstar : Nike Air Foamposite Lite

Western Allstar : Nike Air Foamposite Lite

Flywire: not just for the athletes.

2009-02-10T14:42:00.000-08:00

We've seen air bubbles and zoom air on plenty of loafers all presented to us from Cole Haan.. the upscale dress shoe Nike subsidiary company. Now they've decided to implement one of Nike's latest technologies crossing over to the Cole Haan lineup: Flywire! So now on your way to work, you can weave with sharp fast cuts through the mass of people on city sidewalks without breaking your ankles.

Nike ACG Air Zoom Tallac Lite

2009-02-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

These would've come in handy a month ago here in Vancouver. We definitely had way more snow then we anticipated.. I certainly was not prepared. Was out in the snow frequently shoveling, digging out and pushing cars.. just walking around was difficult. Glad its over.. but next year I'd like to have me some waterproof ACG boots and maybe an all-wheel drive vehicle with snow tires to go with.

From Hypebeast:

Take over the reigns of Nike’s more illusive releases as of late, Nike Sportswear looks to the ACG campaign for a re-issue of one of their more sought after models. Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, ACG (All Conditions Gear) has steadily been climbing the ranks with a series of recent noteworthy releases. Utilizing the Air Zoom Tallac Lite which is outfitted with waterproof technology and maximum insulation, this latest drop is right up the alley of those die-hard outdoors enthusiasts. The sneakers are now available at select Nike Sportswear retails with a price tag of $112 USD.

Air Max 1 Maxim

2009-01-30T13:35:00.000-08:00

Why did they coin it the Maxim (don't people think of the magazine right away)? I have no idea. All I know is that these are definitely a fresh spin on one of the best classics.

Hypebeast:

The Nike Air Max 1 has been a classic sneaker for years now and has had a lot of time, since its inception over two decades ago, to gain favor in the eyes of sneaker aficionados. With the Nike Air Max 1 Maxim, the Air Max 1 transcends “classic” to the label of “icon”, joining the Nike Dunk, Air Max 90, Air Force 1 and Cortez. The above shoe, which is an Air Max 1 in an original colorway (featuring some buttery suede) equipped with Flywire and other tech upgrades…which is why the shoes name has been modified to the Maxim Air Max 1.

Air Jordan 1 Premier (Infrareds or Max Orange?)

2009-01-28T15:53:00.000-08:00

There seems to be some confusion as to what the actual bright red/orange colour is named on this release. Either way, they seemed to have changed the materials completely losing its SHINE from the previous patent leather looking sample. These look to be some type of nylon/canvas.

Nike ACG Terminator Hybrid

2009-01-28T14:47:00.000-08:00

So it's 20 years of All Conditions Gear that we're celebrating this year. Here's another hybrid release that they've done a great job with, turning the bulky basketball shoe classic into a lightweight, water resistant, technical shoe made for the elements.

Laker Kobe Bryant Sells Ankle Insurance

2009-01-28T14:45:00.001-08:00

Funny stuff.. enjoy.

Nike Air Wild Pegasus

2009-01-28T14:37:00.000-08:00

These fusions look more Wildwood then Pegasus to me, but I get what they're trying to do... apparently this year is the year of ACG. What is it.. like the 25th Anniversary or somethin? Have to admit.. haven't been on the up and up lately.. which also explains the lack of posts. Anyway.. I'm a huge fan of Wildwoods.. an ACG fav. Wish they would come out with more colourways that feature a super bright colour midsole... its especially pleasing on the Wildwood.

Inside the NIKE iD Boot Room

2009-01-09T05:10:00.000-08:00

Freakin BEAUTIFUL video! Wish they could do the same with an in depth look into the design of running shoes, basketball shoes, volleyball shoes, etc. Anyway.. lets enjoy this one for now...

From Hypebeast:

While professional football players don’t have the same number of custom colorways as their NBA counterparts, nevertheless they play in the top flight is often rewarded with custom boots made by master craftsman. With much of the top-quality boots from the Nike football collection like the Total 90, Mercurial Vapor and Tiempo all undergoing Italian construction, we’re given a look into the production process from start to finish as each step along the way is documented in gory detail. The video is capped off with the presentation of the boots to Cristiano Ronaldo (Mercurial Vapor), Cesc Fabregas (Tiempo) and Wayne Rooney (Total 90).

Air Jordan 2009 with Designer Jason Mayden

2009-01-09T05:02:00.001-08:00

Air Jordan 2009 Unveiled

2009-01-08T14:23:00.000-08:00

Welp.. looks like they didn't change much from the samples... ah wells! I'm sure they'll look better in person or on feet then they do in the pictures.

Jordan himself came out to show off the new shoe.

Some tech and info about the shoes (taken from sneakernews.com):

AIR JORDAN 2009

The all new AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe is born from the inspiration of Michael Jordan’s unstoppable will. When Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, he was driven to practice harder and longer and earned a spot on an All-American Team his senior year. When critics scoffed at his return from retirement in 1995, Jordan quieted his opponents by leading the Bulls to their second Championship three-peat. Jordan does not back down from challenges – he rises.

Pioneered from this philosophy, AIR JORDAN returns and presents the world with the answer to the Jordan Brand’s challenge of creating the most original basketball shoe on the planet. The AIR JORDAN 2009 honors the franchise’s tradition of innovation through its cutting-edge technology features. The shoe introduces Articulated Propulsion Technology (APT), a revolutionary heel system inspired by the carbon fiber prosthetics used by Paralympians and developed to allow an explosive forward movement. The heel is also split, which ensures superior responsiveness by keeping at least one half of the heel in contact with the ground at all times.

The polished design of the AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe complements its performance elements and overall engineering. The design technique of blown glass inspired the TPU (Thermo Plastic Urethane) chassis on the outsole. Using this method, each shoe is individually unique and guarantees the ultimate limited edition experience: a one-of-one collection. In addition, the AIR JORDAN 2009 flaunts polishable panache leather on the upper, a nod to the franchise’s trademark elegance. The AIR JORDAN 2009 continues Jordan Brand’s forward-thinking respect for the environment with the launch of its second Considered Design shoe. Designed under the Considered Design ethos of combining sustainability with performance and innovation, the shoe seeks to reduce waste and allow for the use of environmentally-preferred materials – without compromising athletic performance. The Considered Design ethos is one of several company-wide corporate responsibility targets that NIKE, Inc. has implemented to sustain long-term growth and innovation.

–

AIR JORDAN 2009 Performance Features

Upper

• Overall design contours the foot and allows for superior responsiveness, quick reaction time and maximum support.
• Pleating on the satin upper reinforces the durable construction and molds to the foot for a secure lockdown.
• Foam inserts in the heel provide further lockdown by hugging the Achilles tendon.
• Injected dot grip on the outer heel makes pulling on the shoe easy and effortless.
• Moisture-wicking, breathable liner ensures comfort and stability.

Midsole/Outsole

• Heel employs cutting-edge Articulated Propulsion Technology (APT) that allows the athlete to explosively and quickly propel forward.
• Split in heel ensures outstanding responsiveness by allowing one side of the heel to react to lateral movement while the opposite side maintains contact with the ground.
• Carbon fiber plate in the arch provides support and compliments the heel’s performance enhancing design.
• TPU (Thermo Plastic Urethane) chassis offers additional structural support.
• Articulated forefoot Zoom Air unit cushions foot to maximize comfort.
• Outsole grooves flex naturally with the grooves of the foot for exceptional traction.
• Multi-directional herringbone patterns grip the court for optimal movement.

AIR JORDAN 2009 Design Features

• Blown-glass-inspired TPU chassis is unique in every shoe, creating a one-of-one limited edition collection.
• Polishable panache leather and white satin pleating on upper nod to Michael Jordan’s ability to be both a gentleman and a fierce on-court competitor.
• Strategically placed stitching reinforces construction while offering high-end European-style aesthetic.
• Stitching on upper is sewn in two rows and three rows to represent #23.
• Metal mesh implies the sport of fencing, known for its exceptional defensive element.
• Heel detail references Michael Jordan’s statue in front of the Chicago Bulls’ United Center: The left shoe reads “Greatest there ever was,” and the right, “Greatest there ever will be.”

Considered Design

• AIR JORDAN 2009 is Jordan Brand’s second basketball shoe designed under the Considered Design ethos.
• AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe’s design and development seek to reduce waste by using smarter pattern-efficiency and the compression molded pre-form process in the midsole.
• AIR JORDAN 2009 maximizes the use of environmentally-preferred materials, such as Prime Asia leather and environmentally-preferred rubber.
• The design emphasizes repurposed materials, including reground rubber from footwear manufacturing waste.

–
A special limited edition of the AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe will launch on January 31, 2009, with a suggested retail price of $230. The AIR JORDAN 2009 will then launch nationwide on February 14, 2009, with a suggested retail price of $190. For more information, please visit www.Jumpman23.com.

Air Hoop Structure

2009-01-08T13:58:00.000-08:00

NEAT! The only other cross-genus hybrid shoes I can think of are those bulky Air Max 90 boots, some gortex Blazer boots or any random Jordan upper stuck on top of some cleats (I don't know if you can consider those hybrids?). At any rate, these Hoop Structures must be the first retro running shoe RE-DESIGNED to become a modern performance basketball shoe. Very interesting direction. Hope they actually make production and see the light of day. Lets keep our fingers crossed!

B-dubs

2009-01-05T23:28:00.000-08:00

These Air Max BWs in the OG persian violet colourway are absolute gems!! And they're back in stores... sometime this January. They're already up on ebay, but by the sounds of it, they're supposed to be GRs.

Reebok EX-O-FIT Hi J Strap LE

2009-01-05T23:22:00.000-08:00

Kanye says 2009 is all about the STRAPS. Reebok is fit to the task with theses EX-O-FITs. I'm diggin them.. but whatsup with the super long names from Reebok lately?

Nike Zoom Kobe IV iD Featuring Mike Epps + DJ AM

2008-12-22T15:44:00.000-08:00

Nike Zoom Kobe IV iD - Mike Epps + DJ AM from Freshnessmag.com on Vimeo.

New pic of the Flight Lite Black/White

2008-12-19T16:47:00.001-08:00

This time around the upper actually does look like Nubuck. Now just release the mids!! and you've got me soold.

Nike WMNS Air Digs

2008-12-19T16:42:00.000-08:00

Oh my cow... I never thought I'd EVER see these again. I LOVE THESE VBALL SHOES. Super duper nostalgic for me. there's only one problem.. these are HIGH..(oh i guess there's two problems) and they're for the LADIES. Please oh please bring em back for us doods.

Air Jordan I : Infrareds

2008-12-19T16:40:00.001-08:00

Yes, I'm way late on these, but I have only one thing to say: These are HAWT. Period.

TS BOUNCE Commander

2008-12-19T15:57:00.000-08:00

Lets take a break from the Kobe IV bananza... here we have the launch of the Adidas TS BOUNCE Commander.. which I suppose is a suped up version of the TS Commander? I'm going to hate on these.. they're FUGLY. Ok ok, I admit there are some really nice design elements to this shoe, I like that they've added the BOUNCE technology to a big man shoe, the medial side of the midsole/outsole is super interesting and the overall upper with the square perforations is quite nice. Now, with the large midfoot strap and the lateral outrigger... I totally understand the functionality of these elements, but how they were applied really bothers me. The midfoot strap looks to be the cop out solution.. hmm.. we need a big strap.. okay.. since its so big.. there's enough room for some branding... uugghh.. FUGLY. And with the lateral outrigger.. well.. it looks out of place. thats just an ugly shape to go with this shoe. Just when Adidas was starting to win me over with the Creator and the Commander.. they go back to these geeky techy designs. Theres a right way and a wrong way to do futuristic.. this is the wrong way.

Cool commercial though:

Kobe IV Venom Debut

2008-12-19T15:41:00.000-08:00

Kobe will be debuting his IVs on the court tonight against DWade and the Heat. He'll be wearing this "Venom" edition.. which look quite awesome. Gotta feel for DWade who is having a great season, but is not happy with his latest Converse shoes. Lets hope Converse can turn things around for Dwayne.

Kobe IV I.D.

2008-12-18T14:36:00.000-08:00

Available on Christmas Day will be the IVs for your customization pleasures on Nike ID. There will also be a 24-day campaign where 24 designs will be selected and sold to the public. Kobe himself has also ID'd his own IVs which he will be planning to wear on the court.

Kobe Allstars

2008-12-18T14:24:00.000-08:00

A sneak peak to what Kobe will be wearin at the all-star game.

Eric and Kobe

2008-12-18T14:10:00.001-08:00

So here's the potential of a great interview.. but now the editing is awkward. Why are all these things so uncomfortable to watch? I hope the shoes aren't uncomfortable!

Kobe IV Official Unveiling

2008-12-18T13:43:00.001-08:00

I'm a lil late on this, but here we go...

Kobe and Eric Avar collaborated on this project with the goals of creating the lightest performance basketball shoe ever made in a low-cut profile, with faster response time making Kobe's cuts to the hoop that much quicker. The Kobe IV weighs in at only 11.6 ounces.. significantly lighter than the previous strongest/lightest shoe, the "Hyperdunk."

Here's some info from SNEAKERNEWS.com:

The game of basketball is evolving to a quicker pace, and as basketball’s agent of change Kobe is leading the charge in breakthrough innovation. For his fourth signature shoe, he demanded a shoe that was lowcut and even lighter than the revolutionary Nike Hyperdunk (13 ounces).“When I first asked for the lightest basketball shoe Nike has ever created, particularly a low top, you could have heard a pin drop in the room,” said Bryant. “The shoe the Nike design team delivered raises the basketball footwear bar to the next level.”

Nike Performance Footwear Creative Director Eric Avar accepted the unconventional challenge to create a low cut performance basketball shoe for one of the most dynamic players in the world.

In order to create an extremely light shoe that allows Kobe to make cuts on a dime while providing stability and comfort, Avar built on the design innovation of the Nike Hyperdunk, using Flywire, a performance architecture that uses thin and very strong nylon fibers to support the foot, in the upper. He added LunarLite foam in the forefoot, the most innovative cushioning system since Nike Air, which returns energy upon every step rather than absorbing energy. He also added a Nike Zoom unit in the heel, and a full-length Phylon midsole.

“The idea to create a low cut performance shoe came from Kobe, but the evidence we needed to move forward, came from working with the Nike Sports Research Lab (NSRL),” said Avar. “At the lab, we were able to review Kobe making high speed cuts in slow-motion capture video. Every frame showed that the low profile shoe allowed him to make sharper cuts, while increasing responsiveness.”

And here is the awkward webcast interview that took place on the day of the announcement:

Interesting how the concept of the outsole design came from Venom of Spiderman... and how Kobe explains the stickiness of that alien taking over the body and becoming one with the person.. and thus Kobe's need of a shoe that becomes one with the person. Too bad this interview is so awkward otherwise there were some interesting points that were made.

Flashing Lights Lights Lights

2008-12-18T13:25:00.001-08:00

These laces are pretty darn cool. I think they could be just a lil cooler though.. the intermitted flashing of the lights seems to be too slow or something. If they could just stay on or have more of a hyper flashing effect.. I think they would give off a better effect. These laces come with a Puma shoe that they've collaborated with Solebox.

Nike Sportswear Dunk : ACG Safari Pack

2008-12-02T14:54:00.000-08:00

Some nice lookin dunks. They gotta open up one of these Nike Sportswear stores here in Vancouver man... Nikes been droppin some killer releases for those stores.

Air Jordan 2009 : Sample Update

2008-12-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

Some more pics of the Jordan 2009 have surfaced, this time its a black and gold colourway. I think it still needs some work! Well.. if Nike switched it up last minute on the Lebron VIs and made that shoe into a hit, I'm sure Jordan Brand will be just as capable of doing the same. Who's working on these anyway?!

Golden Nuggets

2008-12-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

Alright, so a lil while ago I made a post about Adidas f*ckin up.. being late on gettin Billups the colours he deserves.. the pistons colourway of the TS Creators just doesn't work with the Nuggets Jersey! Welp, not only did they fix that and give him a really nice lookin white with light blue and golden yellow accents TS Creator, they also released an ultra limited Thanksgiving Day GOLDEN pair of TS Creators. The story behind these is that Billups is a Colorado native having gone to the University of Colorado. The gold comes from the school's colours and the shoes also have "Go Buffs" on the medial collar along with "CB" (Billup's initials) done in a college styled font on the lateral collar and lastly his nickname "Mr. Big Shot" in a script font.

11 pairs of these golden creators were autographed and auctioned off on nba.com. All the proceeds going to the Porter-Billups Leaedership Academy.

TS Commander Art Of War

2008-11-28T16:26:00.000-08:00

To go along with the TS Creator Art Of War release, here are the TS Commander versions. Wonder if Tim will sport these?

Nike Air Flight Lite

2008-11-28T16:16:00.001-08:00

These black and white editions are due for release in February of 09. Now why aren't these in MID and in NUBUCK like the OGs!! The black nubuck mids with white accents back in the day were straight up gangsta! I believe a navy version of the nubuck mids were recently released though I've never seen them in the real.. and there's also a black purple nubuck high version that is highly anticipated along with several white leather joints in several colours. It's amazing to me that they retroed these in the first place, to me they were kind of obscure. I'm super excited about the release of the Flight Lites, but IMO the only one that has novelty attraction is the black nubuck mids.. the ones Scottie rocked vs the Lakers in the 91 Finals.

LeBron James "Chalk"

2008-11-27T11:40:00.001-08:00

This is the full version of the commercial. Dang he got chalk all over Weezy's kicks.. how rude!

How you like dem Apples?

2008-11-26T16:41:00.000-08:00

Last night LJ and the Cavs paid a visit to Madison Square Garden to face off (apologize for the hockey terminology, I'm Canadian I can't help it) against the Knicks. MSG as you may know is an incredible arena and Lebron as with many other athletes have expressed their enjoyment playing there. So decides to commemorate this occasion by giving Lebron another VI.. the Big Apple VI. I guess there aren't enough versions of the VI already out there (sarcasm intended). Don't get me wrong, I happen to like the VIs.. they may even be the best Zoom Lebrons to date. Anyway.. I thought these juicy red ones to be quite special and thought I should make a post about them. Oh and to make this post a lil more interesting.. Beyonce, Jay-Z were at the game... oh and Spike Lee was rockin his own pair of Big Apples.

Air Jordan 2009 : Sample

2008-11-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

Are you serious? I know this is just a pic of a sample, but I don't understand how they can go from a beautifully crafted Jordan XXIII to THIS. Apparently the inspiration for the 09 comes from the sport of fencing. We'll see how many samples they go through and how this theme will pan out in the near future.. hopefully they get their sh*t together! This would be a bad look to kick off the Jordan 20xx (year) campaign.

Adidas TS Creator Art Of War

2008-11-25T15:13:00.000-08:00

Apparently Adidas has been going with an Art Of War series for a number of years now... oops.. kinda flew under the radar for me. Guess I wasn't paying attention to Adidas Basketball until more recently. Interesting story to go along with the "Team Basketball" that Adidas has been inducing into their marketing. These 09 TS Creator Art Of War sneakers will be exclusive to Asia.

Adidas Originals House Party

2008-11-24T13:30:00.001-08:00

Was that Katy Perry? She's hot. I didn't know Jeezy was affiliated with adidas too.

Jordan Ol' Skool II Finishline Exclusives

2008-11-20T17:01:00.000-08:00

Lookin for an "ol' skool" look to ball in, but don't want to sacrifice today's technology? These are the shoes for you. I wanna give these a go... absolutely love the OG AJ1 colourways.

Reebok Pump Omni Lite Reverse Dee Brown

2008-11-20T12:07:00.000-08:00

Reebok has again released the classic Omni Lite's that Dee Brown wore in the 1991 Slam Dunk competition, but this time they've released a reverse colourway. Limited to only 1991 pairs worldwide these might just sell out in minutes much like the previous OG black colouway release in February. IMO the black ones are 10 times better... dangit why couldn't they have made them a general release!

Fila 96 x Reed Space

2008-11-19T13:40:00.000-08:00

Alright, had to make a post about these. I used to work at the Fila store and it was probably one of the most depressing jobs I've ever had! Well, in terms of being around footwear and not being able to sell it. Luckily, I worked with great people that made those days go by with some enjoyment. Otherwise, the place was rarely busy, the product was boring unless of course you like velour track suits, people loved to steal from us (why they would want to steal from Fila still stumps me), the floor would constantly be dirty even though no one walked over it, my neck would get sore playing solitaire on the POS.. hmmm what else? Well I guess the most depressing thing for me was that it sucked the sneaker life outta me. My love for footwear died for a moment there. I guess being around shoes that I couldn't get excited over everyday did me in. HOWEVER, I do have to say, one shining light was that Fila was affiliated to Grant Hill.. and I like Grant Hill.

Above are the Grant Hill 2s otherwise known now as the Fila 96s. Fila has collaborated with Reed Space on this release giving them 2 Reed Space exclusive colourways; a New York Knicks version and a CMYK themed shoe. Both of them along with the OG colourway fully equipped with foam filled laces (inside joke) and 2A technology are being released this Friday.

Kobe IV Carpe Diem

2008-11-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

Love this colourway. Love the name that it has taken. Can't wait to see how this low-cut performance shoe feels on the court. Due for release in January 09, this particular version of the IV will be a Footlocker exclusive.

Reebok Answer XII

2008-11-16T22:18:00.000-08:00

Reebok got it right sendin AI the Answer XIIs for a huge game vs the Lakers. Iverson must have felt good in them handing the Lakers their first lost of the season. These are some nice ball shoes designed by Kohei Kanata.

That's a bad look.

2008-11-16T22:00:00.000-08:00

Come on Adidas, send Chauncey some Creators in Denver colours.

"It's got that good traction."

2008-11-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

Dang, this ad campaign is way more hilarious then I was expecting. Bron Bron's got some charisma. Check out the other "Six Tips" while you're at it.

Have you seen Melo lately?

2008-11-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

Alright, Dwight's Shoes aren't THAAAT WACK.

2008-11-06T15:09:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I've been hatin on Adidas' basketball footwear program for a while now. These recent photos of the TS Commander and TS Creator on the feet of NBA players are definitely doing their best to convince me otherwise... and I gotta say they're not doing a bad job. Those VOTE 08 editions on the feet of Garnett and McGrady are NICE.

Overall, the actual design of these 2 shoes is quite nice, I bet the concept drawings of them were amazing. I can't really comment on the performance, so instead I'll start complaining about some other things like putting Garnett's face on the shoe. Come on guys, that just looks plain tacky. No offense to Garnett of course.. his face is just fine... I just don't think anyone's photographic face should be on a shoe.. not even Jordan.

And how about the marketing... Adidas seems to have 2 ad campaigns going right now: "Impossible is Nothing" and "Basketball is a Brotherhood". The first of course was the slogan that Garnett was mistakingly accused of blurting out after he and the Celtics won the championship last year. He didn't say "Impossible is Nothing", he said "Anything is Possible" which funny enough is Chinese Sneaker brand Li Ning's slogan. ANYWAY, what I want to talk about more is the "Basketball is a Brotherhood" campaign that promotes basketball as a team game rather than an individual/superstar type of game. Where in the world does Tracy McGrady fit in all of this? Yes, basketball is a team game, but people like superstars and the way the NBA game is played, superstars flourish. I think this campaign is best left for the college game. I do like the attempt in Adidas' part in designing only 2 shoes for all the superstars on their roster and eliminating all the previous individual lines.. it's interesting and it does work in a sense.. its like a team shoe.. and not only does it back up what they're preaching, it also saves on production costs.

Air Max 1 PHANTACi : The Grand

2008-11-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

These Air Max 1s have been specially made for actor and singing star Jay Chou who owns a store in Taiwan called PHANTACi. The runners along with a SE leather jacket have been named "The Grand" pack getting its inspiration from a grand piano. Branding of Jay Chou's store includes a bright pink/magenta and has of course been implemented into this pack.

LeBron James - Chalk Commercial

2008-10-31T10:44:00.001-07:00

Was that Lil Weezy in there?

Trainer Confidentials: I-Saw

2008-10-29T23:59:00.001-07:00

Dremel Drill! Why didn't I think of that! Nice work.

And The Winner Is...

2008-10-29T17:48:00.001-07:00

The Boston Celtics for getting their banner and their rings... AAND Ray Allen for having the craziest kicks on opening night.

Oklahoma City Thunder

2008-10-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

It's still hard to believe that the Sonics are gone. As a matter of fact I completely forgot that they moved to Oklahoma. I didn't even know they were called the Thunder now. Here's Kevin Durant showing us the home and aways.

Hell Nah!

2008-10-27T13:46:00.001-07:00

I can't believe he done stepped on my Js!

PEAK

2008-10-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

When I first heard of PEAK, I wanted to have absolutely no preconceived notions of the brand.. you know give them a fair shot. I wanted to believe that a new performance basketball shoe brand could come outta China and come up with some innovative sh*t. Welp.. so far, they've leaving me with a BRUTAL first impression. Check out these straight rip-offs that PEAK has not only gotten away with, but have also managed to put on NBA feet.

The Wade 2.0 impostor is the funniest one to me. Shane Battier actually strapped those suckers on as his very own signature shoes. That's HILARIOUS. It's absolutely amazing to me that a company that is producing fakes essentially is making it. Aren't there laws that prevent this from happening? Absolutely shameless in my opinion... but maybe they're okay with that.. and obviously J-Kidd and Shane Battier don't have a problem with it either. In some ways its kinda like how an artist starts out.. by biting other more successful artists' steez or perhaps its like a music producer rippin an ol skool beat and making it their own. Look how successful Diddy is! Perhaps this is a way to make a starting point, I can't help but think its f*ckin WACK, but watch out I don't think PEAK is going away anytime soon.

Its Gotta Be

2008-10-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

I'm gettin psyched up for the upcoming NBA season. I'm even more psyched up about all the shoes that will be on premiere NBA players' feet. Here's a pic of former VanCity Grizzly Mike Bibby in some AJ II lows in some pre-season action. It always amazes me when a player opts for an ol skool classic over today's ultra hi-tech ball shoes. I remember seeing a pic of Stephen Jackson in some Jordan Spizikes.. now you know those weren't made for hi performance! I mean, these are the highest caliber basketball players in the world playing in kicks designed in the 80s. I guess this confirms that shoes don't make you jump higher and that its the player not the shoes. NAAAAHHH!!! I'm still a BELIEVER!! IT'S GOTTA BE THE SHOES!

Black Cement On The Gridiron

2008-10-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

This one's for Lester. Available next year sometime are these AJ III Black Cement cleats. The Baseball version is also supposed to be released around the same time.

Run Forrest Run!!

2008-10-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

Imagine how much faster Forrest would've completed his coast to coast personal marathon with these joints. Is this hilarious or ingenious? The Nike Sportswear Cortez Flywire not only features Flywire technology, but it also has a Free midsole/outsole.. making this old classic a potentially up to date technical runner? Its almost like putting a NSX engine in a 88 Civic.

All Day I Dream About Sneakers

2008-10-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

There have been some incredible pieces of art made from sneakers in the past, here is an attempt from Adidas and Lifelounge to take it one step further.

Quoted from Hypebeast:

As many of adidas’ recent campaigns have embodied the slogans, “Impossible is Nothing” and “Celebrate Originality”, together Lifelounge and adidas Originals have teamed up to showcase the work of fictional sneaker freak Herr Fritz Träumer through these ideas. The bold and outrageously designed shoes of Herr Fritz Träumer find themes beyond that of the usual sneaker conventions. The results are far-fetched and bold to say the least with them all being made into a book exclusive to select sneaker stores around Australia and New Zealand.

Nike Air Royal Mid Premium

2008-10-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

Nike's a bit late on these... due for release Summer 09. They should've been released Summer 08.. or even Spring 08. Anyway these are lookin sleek and makes me wonder what else they have in store for this category.

Swims

2008-10-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

A nice innovation for the ladies by Swims. These City Slippers give you better traction and protect your precious heels from the rain.. which we get plenty of here in Vancouver. Featured on the outsole of these galoshes are maps of NYC, Paris or Tokyo which create a texture that makes for good traction.

Asics : HOW DO THEY DO IT?

2008-10-08T13:36:00.001-07:00

I caught this on the Discovery Channel years ago, wondered if I could find it online and voila!!.. its on Youtube! Of course it is! The sound isnt great.. but its worth pumping up the volume to listen to the commentating. The egg experiment is awesome!! I remember way back when I worked for Superstar (athletic footwear and apparel store) Jay, the Asics rep came by for a Product Knowledge meeting. One of the things he showed us was a big slab of Asics Gel much like the one used in this video. He also had a pieces of glass about the same size and a hammer. He then proceeded to put the gel on top of the glass and challenged any one of us to slam the hammer down on the gel as an attempt to break the glass. Of course, no one could do it. I was a believer after I saw that. Gels and Silicones just disperse the shock like nothing else.

Hyperdunks : Reviewed

2008-10-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

A very thorough and detailed review on the Hyperdunks has been posted on Sole Collector by Nick DePaula. Check it out here.

AAAAAAs

2008-10-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

Wow.. my last 6 posts.. (now 7) all start with the letter "A"! Hahaha.

Weird.

Alex Nash

2008-10-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

AWESOME video of Alex Nash doin his thing... transforming a pair of Jordan IVs. Dood is meticulous. The level of craftsmanship is amazing.

Athletic Wear

2008-10-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

Been meaning to enter posts about athletic apparel... cuz hey, kicks and clothing go hand in hand yes? I probably wont dip into the streetwear scene, instead I'll try to stick to technical sportswear. I kinda missed the boat on all the uniforms from the Olympics this summer.. tons of exciting stuff happenin there... (hmm...actually maybe I WILL backtrack and write about it, theres still quite a few things i wanna get off my chest).

With all that being said, here are a few images from the Christopher x Reebok Capsule Collection. Some really nice sports fashion ideas going on here. I especially like the colour blocked pants.. dang I gots to get me in those pants! Dun worry E, I want to get into your pants more. ANYWAYS... I think Reebok is definitely on the right track here, updating their heritage, making their look relevant once again. Gotta love the tights under the shorts and those Classic Leathers are looking good on the runway.

Quoted from Hypebeast:

Making his debut at the MAN Fashion East Show in London this past month, designer Christopher Shannon re-engineers vintage Reebok pieces with a contemporary twist to form his collaborative capsule collection. After completing his stay at Central St Martins, Christopher Shannon has been heralded for his re-working of shell suits and sports pieces. He has collaborated with Judy Blame on a project for Comme Des Garcons as well as having pieces stocked at colette Paris.

Air Max BW

2008-10-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

Never owned a pair of B-Dubs before. Always thought they looked funny. But since Stash got a chance to re-do them years back, I've gotten a second chance to observe this classic shape and I can appreciate its aesthetics... fitting in quite nicely into the history of the Air Max lineup.

Amare Hyperdunks

2008-10-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Seriously.. I wanna know if Lunar Foam is supposed to last more than one game for big men. For now though, I'm just happy to look at this great lookin PE.

Art & Sole

2008-10-02T13:11:00.000-07:00

Nice lookin book from Innercity Design. You can cop it from Amazon in mid-October.

Air Tech Challenge Hybrids

2008-09-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

Some interesting images have shown up of this upcoming franken project. Andre Agassi's Air Tech Challenge series is following suit to the previous success of all the Jordan hybrids and the not yet released but hyped up 1/2 Cent (Penny Hardaway's hybrid). If this trend continues.. I wonder... are they going to have an SC hybrid.. does BO KNOW HYBRIDS? Or how bout some Glove hybrids? It probably won't be too far from now that we start seeing Lebron brids... or Kobe brids.

KAWS x Marc Jacobs

2008-09-26T16:49:00.001-07:00

Very interesting collab. I like it! I think the overly male dominant streetwear culture and its artists/designers should do more collaborations with women's fashion and accessories. It works! I also have a confession to make.. I like looking at women's shooes! Especially heels. Christian Louboutin is one of my heroes.

Quoted from hypebeast:

Hooking up with the artist KAWS, Marc Jacobs celebrates its 10th anniversary with a pair of ballet flats for the ladies. The flats feature a black patent leather upper with the trademark KAWS detailing including stitched teeth throughout the bottoms and the traditional “XX” icon. Limited to only 150 pairs worldwide, colette in Paris, OriginalFake in Tokyo as well as the Marc Jacobs flagship stores in the US and London will be the only stores to see a release scheduled for this coming Monday, September 29th.

Creative Rec Fall/Winter 08

2008-09-26T16:07:00.001-07:00

Is Dwayne unhappy with Converse?

2008-09-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

Interesting article posted on sole collector:

words_Nick DePaula

Apparently money doesn’t solve everything, as there’s rumblings throughout the sneaker landscape that Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade is a little sour on his current deal with Converse, where he has been given an annual signature shoe, apparel line and casual shoe line. As it turns out, maybe that’s not enough?

If you recall, it was brilliant of Wade to leverage the tremendous success he had while leading the young Miami Heat during his first two years in the league. He was fresh off of taking the Heat to the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs while wearing the Converse Icon Warrior, and he and his agent were able to actually restructure his original contract with Converse. Restructuring rarely happens in the world of endorsement deals, but they approached Converse with the threat that Wade would look elsewhere once his original contract expired. Converse had no other choice but to pull in their lawyers and strike a new deal. Marking quite a monetary leap from his original $400,000 yearly deal, the renegotiated sum netted Wade $10 Million annually, and is set to expire in 2012. In 2010, DWade might also be opting out of his Miami Heat maximum contract and looking for a new home, with early rumors leading to his childhood team in the Chicago Bulls or the bright lights of New York City where Mike D’Antoni coaches a style he’s in love with. (Little defense/major offense seems like an easy sell for the Knicks.)

The seven-year deal Wade signed in 2005, similar in value to the deals Nike’s Kevin Durant and Jordan Brand’s Carmelo Anthony recently signed over the past year, also included incentives on the sales of his casual clothing line. But, in a recent interview with reporter Ken Berger from Newsday, Wade seemed hardly excited about his current status as the face of Converse, as when asked if he liked his current shoe and pictured himself long-term with Converse, he simply said, “I’m under contract for another couple of years.”

After Nike bought Converse in July of 2003, just weeks after Dwyane Wade was drafted fifth overall in the NBA Draft, it appeared as though they would position him as the franchise player for Converse, with LeBron James leading the future of Nike Basketball and Carmelo Anthony doing so for Jordan Brand. If it turns out that Wade wants to bolt, where would he end up? Is he the right fit for Jordan Brand? Do you see him leaving for a Swoosh competitor like adidas or Reebok, or even entertaining the temptation of a Chinese footwear brand like Li Ning, where he had tremendous success in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics?

Back To The McFly

2008-09-23T16:46:00.000-07:00

Zoom Tre AD McFlys??!! For all of us who missed out on the McFly Hyperdunks, these better not be LIMITED. Love the Shoe, love the application. They're supposed to be released Holiday 08.

Gold Rail SB Dunks

2008-09-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

Some nice lookin SBs. SBs of recent have had some strange sources of inspiration (such as the shoe goo dunks) but I think they're back on track with this one...

Quoted from Hypebeast:

More photos have surfaced regarding the Melbourne exclusive Nike SB Dunk Low, the “Gold Rail”. Inspired by the iconic Flinders Street Station and its gold rail, the shoe features a multi-material upper with canvas, suede and mesh. The colors were allegedly chosen based on the Port Phillip Bay (varsity royal blue) and the brown midsole representing the Yarra River. Available in October at all fine Melbourne Nike SB dealers.

Air Jordan I Low Phat Blacks

2008-09-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

Better picks of the AJ1 Low Phats have hit the net. The black colourway seems to be a front runner favourite amongst sneakerheads. The Low Phats have also been marketed for the skate culture... with the AJ1 already having clout in this market, its no surprise Jordan Brand is using this classic for this purpose. There are no reports of any technological modifications to cater to the skateboarder's needs, other than a padded tongue.

Reebok ATR Talkin Krazy

2008-09-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

Not bad Reebok. Not bad. Good lookin shoe with an interesting story. I like it.

Quoted from kixandthecity:

Although we are now eight years into the new millennium, Reebok's new Talkin Krazy plays on a longstanding Basketball tradition that traces back to the middle of the last century and is still viable today. Before PEs, player logos, SMUs, etc. during the days when the Chuck Taylor and PF Flyers ruled the court, many creative Basketball players would write on their sneakers to customize them and to give them a personality. Players would write messages, their uniform number, inspirational quotes, and much more. The Reebok Talkin Krazy features a Dry Erase upper that allows players to write on their sneaker, with the supplied pen, and wipe it off with their finger instantly for a new message the next game. Tech wise the Reebok ATR features Reebok's DMX technology and a cushioned sock liner.

The Reebok Talkin Krazy is available now exclusively at Champs Sports.

Adidas Originals Fall 08 "Clean" Pack

2008-09-18T10:50:00.001-07:00

I recently picked up a couple pairs of the Gazelles all "cleaned" out and I love em. Adidas gettin rid of the three stripes is a GREAT IDEA. So fresh so clean. As my good friend Vincent says, they're like the "poor man's Common Projects."

Jordan's for old people.

2008-09-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

HAHAAHAHA!!! wtf??

This is the real deal. Someone over at JB is gettin re-tarded.

Jordan 1 Low Phat

2008-09-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

These are coming your way SOON. They come in the black colour up too.

Release Date: 09/27/2008
Name: Air Jordan 1 Low Phat
Colors: White/Varsity Red-Black-Cement Grey
Price: $95

Supra Vaider - Tiffany Snakeskin

2008-09-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

These are on everyone else's blog... thought they should be on mine too.

J's In The Near Future

2008-09-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

Some upcoming releases from Jordan Brand. Nice to see the Jumpman Pro make a return, the AFJ20s are darn funky (woops! sorry Norm!) I mean they're umm.. weird? unexpectedly good looking? a little bit shocking to look at? they make my head tilt sideways. Gotta love the Jordan 1 colours coming out.

Jordan 6 Rings Laser

2008-09-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

Whadyua think?

???

Air Max 90 Current

2008-09-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

The upper is one piece fabric and inspired by the Nike+ Moire.