10. Nike SB Mid “Sea Crystal” – I got these as an eBay score for about $45. These have apparently been used but I can’t really tell. I have yet to wear them outside because they’re completely suede and Bellingham is 95% water everywhere. I hope to break them out for the spring/summer but until then, I will just have close to mint condition mids. These are number ten because I haven’t fully experienced them as a shoe but I have admired them from afar. Good sneaker, we’ll see how they feel once I break them in.
9. Nike SB High “Shoe Goo” - These are also from eBay because I continue to find awesome deals. I actually got them in the mail about three days ago and I haven’t really had the time to wear them yet. It requires a certain time and place. These show incredible quality on Nike’s part and I love the fat tongue and gum sole. These will become a key part of my collection once I actually start wearing them because I feel like they are indestructible.
8. Adidas BBall Hi “El Dorado” – These were an accident. Let me back up. I got these when I was intending to “look around Goods” when they had a series of sales over the summer. Maddie, being the amazing person she is, gave me a formidable gift certificate to Goods which I tried to hold on to as long as possible. It lasted maybe three weeks. This was the last pair of three that I got with that certificate and all of them made this list. So. There you have it. These were a collaboration with Run-DMC and Cadillac and adidas. If you have ever seen these, you know they are filled with detail. There is croc-skin, 3m lining the three stripes, and an amazingly huge tongue. What’s not to like?
7. Nike SB Low “Patagonias” – These were the fist sneakers I got with the Maddie-birthday-giftcard. They were purchased from the East Side Goods and I lucked out and got the last pair in my size. Boo-yah. I was drawn to the vibrate orange laces and the nylon tongue because those are both things that were unique for the Nike SB brand. I’ve worn these many times through the rain, mud, and feces, and they are still in great condition. Recently, I saw these again for a sale price and thought that I might get two pairs just to keep one in good condition but, honestly, there would be no point. These will be the shoes I’m buried in.
6. Vans Authentic Grey/White – These may seem like a boring addition to a list of otherwise fire-cracker sneakers. That being said, these cannot be forgotten because they are comfortable and I’ve worn them dozens of times. I don’t think these are incredible by any means but in a year when one of the most “important” shoes looks like a French pastry, you may need to resort to the classics. If you don’t own any, get some. They will change your life but being overwhelmingly simple.
5. Reebok Victory Pump “Glow In The Dark“ – The third and final shoe of the Maddie-birthday-giftcard series. I had been searching for these sneakers for over a year and finally gave up. They were my Moby Dick, my Brigadoon, and I had come to the realization that they were lost from me forever. I continued on for about six months before I found a pair that Goods had found in their stock-room. I don’t want to know why they had been over-looked by so many, and why I was the chosen one. I don’t want to ask any questions at all. These are incredible shoes and I have to work up my nerve to wear them more for fear that I might lose them once again.
4. Nike Air Tech Challenge II “Hot Lava” - These were released last year and I vividly remember seeing them in Nordstrom Rack for like $40 but I passed on them. I kicked myself for about six or seven months before picking them up again. They work well because I wear a lot of black and grey and sometimes pink (like a boss). I bought them new so I try to make them last but I wore them a few times over the summer and a bit in the spring and I must say they are so effing comfortable you’ll shit yourself because you won’t remember how to control your bowels. Get them. Or not. I don’t give a SHIT. They were also released in a blue/orange colorway I might try to get but only if they’re the right price, yadig?
3. Nike SB Mid “Money Cat” – These were a Valentine’s Day gift from a secret admirer (meeeeeeeeeeeeeee) and I think they are the sharpest pair of Nike SB that I own. The gold is dull and doesn’t deter from the red accent stitching that goes all around the shoe. The white tab on the tongue is a nice touch because it offers something other than gold/red/and black. I own the white high top version of these and I think there is an easy comparison between them (or of the third low version). The gum sole is also a nice touch and I think it makes the shoe more comfortable overall. If you were one of the people who was looking forward to the Blue Lobster or Gucci Dunk releases you can stick them up your asshole. The past is where the best SBs lie and that’s final, yo.
2. Reebok Court Victory Pump “Voltron – Black Lion” – Let it be known that these are large and in charge. They are my first Reebok Pumps and until I got them, I had never tried them on or seen any that weren’t Omni Pump Lites (they seem smaller to me). Not only are they like small spaceships, but they are extremely comfortable. The pump system itself is an anomaly that kept me from paying attention in class and probably helped me make a friend or two. You’d be surprised how many people have never seen this type of shoe. I got them used without the original box or toy and I’m still excited to own them. I’ve worn them thousands of times and they’re still fresh. I might have to try to get the whole set, yo.
1. Nike Air Max 90 “History of Air Pack – Infrared” – I’m usually late on trends. This is a prime example of something that ruled when it was released and I’m just now realizing how incredible it is. The Air Max 90 is a shoe that has been around for a long time. It is coveted by sneakerheads as a shoe that helped create the Nike franchise as well as an actual, real, comfortable sneaker. I was just dumbly going through eBay and found them and liked them and bought them for real cheap. When I opened the box, however, I noticed the arch support was still in it’s plastic bag, unopened since the 2005 release. The insoles of the shoe was a timeline showing the evolution of Nike sneakers, and the shoes themselves were a testament to Nike as a company. The previous owner “wore them about a dozen times”. I don’t give a shit. These are a history lesson I can wear to the bus stop and clown on fuckin’ mall-sneaker wearing douches. Number one for 2009, yo.
For the future, I would like to stop collecting Nike SB and focus more on Reebok Pumps and Air Max 90s and 95s and things that aren’t completely concentrated on hype. I’ll keep posting pictures of my new sneakers but I will be using a camera (which is hopefully a Christmas present) so they will actually be MY pictures instead of Flightclub. Thanks for reading and let me know what was on your list this year, yo.
