Month: March 2016

You can say a lot about Nike, but one thing you can’t say is that they’re not willing to take chances and try something new. Be it new technologies or new designs, they’re always willing to give something a shot, and that’s one of the things that’s kept them at the forefront of sneaker innovation for years.

Along their path, they’ve had hits and misses (just like any major brand does), but they just announced one of their biggest misses yet, and that’s the KD 8 Elite pictured above. If there was a dictionary of sneaker designs, these would be right under “horrible”, next to any Derrick Rose shoe, and the Kobe 9 EXT’s. read more

Nike Frees. The favorite shoe of high-school kids, casual runners, and Instagram “fitness models”, you’re bound to see multiple pairs every day no matter where you go. They’re available in a plethora of colors and styles, and are released at such a blinding pace that they’re impossible to keep up with.

The Free line has always been held down by their three key models: the 5.0, the 4.0 (available with both regular and Flyknit uppers), and the Flyknit 3.0. The lower the number on the shoe, the flatter (8mm, 6mm and 4mm heel to forefoot drop respectively) and less supportive it gets, allowing for a more natural range of motion. All three models are loved, and sell well. read more

There’s nothing that sneaker companies love more than a capsule collection. Any time a holiday/historical event comes around, you can bet that at least one brand will release shoes that draw inspiration from it. Christmas, Black History Month, and any All-Star game are just a few examples. Some collections are great, some aren’t so great.

One that seems to always fall in the latter category (collections that aren’t so great) are the Easter collections. Every year, various brands shoot their shot at releasing Easter-inspired sneakers, and every year those sneakers turn out to be bricks. Hardly wearable, strangely colored bricks. read more

When you step into a shoe store or check out a website selling kicks, you’ve got a lot of choices. With all the brands, styles, and colorways available, it can be a little bit overwhelming. Even when you’re an experienced sneaker head, you’ll occasionally be a little too hasty and pull the trigger on a pair that you really wish you hadn’t. I won’t lie, I’ve done it before. A few times to be completely honest.

So I got to thinking: what shoes do I regret buying the most? A few pairs came to mind. Either I was too hasty, got caught up in the hype, or just needed something new and wound up with a pair I didn’t really want. I’m not saying that I don’t like any of these shoes (because I do)…I just find myself wishing that I hadn’t bought them. Without further ado, here’s 5 shoes I regret buying. read more

The shoe game. A game where trends rise and fall faster than ever due to the internet. Something’s hot one day and colder than the North Pole the next. People flip their favorite brands every week. A certain type of shoe is cool. No, it’s whack. No, it’s cool again. It’s a tough market, and one with a lot of ups and downs.

However, every so often there’s the rare brand that remains relevant and cool through all the ups and downs. In the footwear industry you’ve got to carve out your niche, and you could argue that no brand has done that better than Vans. read more