Lend A Helping Hand...Or Foot

Many of us take buying a new pair of shoes for granted, especially those who consider themselves "sneaker heads." It is unfortunate that someone can complain about the quality of a pair of sneakers when thousands of people around the world go barefoot.

Soles 4 Souls is an organization based in Nashville TN , S4S accepts donations from anywhere in the world to be distributed to those in need of shoes. As someone who buys a pair of sneakers almost once a month, I try and donate a pair as often as I can. Please donate your lightly worn pair of sneakers to Soles 4 Souls or any organization providing footwear to those in need. for more information on how to donate visit Soles4Souls

Sports Illustrated for Sneaker Heads

Sole Collector Magazine is the worlds leading sneaker magazine. Started in 2003 Sole magazine provides information about new releases exclusive offers and international released sneakers. Sole provided high quality pictures of 100's of sneakers from every major brand.

Sole also features interviews athletes and entertainers who apart of the sneaker culture. The magazine can be found in any Foot locker around the country and also in many bookstores and sneaker boutiques. If you want to subscribe or learn more about Sole Collector check out their website SoleCollector.com

It's like running barefoot

I am not really sure if this can even be considered a sneaker but nonetheless The Vibram Five Finger shoe looks very innovative and quite comfortable, go here to get a pair of your own.

Retroactive

In the sneaker industry brands like Nike and Reebok will re-release a signature sneaker from previous years into production for a limited time. This is called Retro-ing. Retro-ing is very common among sneakers like Nike Air Jordans (pictured above) and Reebok signature such as Iversons (Allen Iverson's signature shoe) When the Retros are released, they are often released in limited quantities at select stores for limited times. The sneakers can range anywhere 80 dollars to 200 dollars.

As you can se in the above pictures, the sneakers are usually changed slightly from the original or "OG" model. Believe it or not this has caused controversy among avid sneaker collectors. Many collectors who were not fortunate to purchase an original pair feel that the Retro model should be exactly the same, while collectors who own original pairs feel that the colors or material should indeed be changed to maintain a uniqueness to their original pair. This might sound silly to some people, but many sneaker collectors have serious concerns over this.

Consumers are also in discontent by the quality of the retro sneakers. Many recent retro sneakers released by Brand Jordan have been made with cheap leather and poor quality materials. Many loyal customers feel that they are being betrayed by the companies for producing these poor quality retros. Nonetheless when a highly sought-after original sneaker is being retrod collectors gather in lines hundreds of people long to snag a pair of their own. Many retros such as the Jordan XI Space Jam mentioned in a previous post, can go for four to six hundred dollars on Ebay from re sellers the day after release.

put your sole into It

Ever see a pair of sneakers in the store that you want to buy but don't really like the color? maybe you didn't have a T-shirt to match? Well worry no longer, Nike is coming to save you from your footwear woes once again. Behold Nike ID

Nike ID is a feature of the nike website that allows you to customize and personalize your own nike sneaker. Pictured above is your design window. Once a certain nike model is chosen the user then chooses from various categories, such as midsole, tongue and Swoosh color. Within these categories the user can chooses from as many as 10 colors and various materials. Once all the desired colors and materials are chosen the customer can then add their name or word of choice (with obvious limitations). After your customization you have the option to purchase your designed pair of sneakers or save them in your locker.

Nike ID was launched in 1999 as an online only feature with minimal sneaker and color choices. Since then nike has made available a vast array of not only sneakers but other Nikewear to personalize online and now in one of their many Nike ID studios across the world in places like China, London and the US. So if your looking for a new pair of shoes and want to give it your own twist or just want to get in touch with your artistic side go ahead and check out Nike ID

Scam or Slam?

Athletic Propulsion Labs is a a fairly new company launced in 2009 in Los Angeles California. Founded by two former athletes at UCLA. They specialize in designing and producing advanced equipment that enhance athletic performance.

Their newest product is set to release this summer, a sneaker currently called "Concept One." The sneakers are advertised as being a revolutionary shoe that significantly increases your vertical leap using "Load and Launch" technology. The company proclaims that the sneaker has been tested at "a leading west coast university" and examined by two "PhDs". The company also claims that the sneaker is statistically proven to on average increase your vertical leap by 3.5 inches. It is hard to believe that a pair of sneakers can really improve your vertical leap but with a whopping 300 dollar price tag it is hard to imagine that they don't do anything at all. For more info visit Athletic Propulsion Labs

Phonies On Your Feet

Imagine surfing the net for some online shopping, hoping to maybe snag some internet-excluisve deals, maybe trying to find something they didn't have in the store. You come across that new pair of hundred dollar Jordans and to your amazement they're only 50 dollars! To good to be true? Well the answer is yes, in fact it is.

Fake and counterfeit sneakers has become a huge (illegal) industry, especially on online websites such as Ebay and Craigslist. Sellers are producing mass quantities of poor quality look alike sneakers, modeled to look almost identical to popular collectable sneakers such as Air Jordans and Nike Dunks. These sneakers look somewhat appealing in pictures but once purchased and worn, the sneakers will most likely fall apart after a few wears. This industry has become so big that Richard Stanwix, Head of Brand Security for Nike, said in a recent issue ofSneaker freaker Magazine, that 98% of (nike)sneakers at any given time on ebay are fake or counterfeit. This is clearly a large concern for Nike and it's brands.

Fake is a rather general term and one might wonder what actually constitutes a "fake" sneaker. Any Sneaker that is advertised and or made to look like a nike sneaker (or any sneaker company ) or bearing the logo that is not made authentically by the sneaker company is considered "fake."

Telling the difference between an authentic pair of sneakers and a counterfeit pair from pictures alone on ebay is difficult. Counterfeit sellers are also known to use stock pictures from reputable footwear websites as their own to advertise their fake sneakers. Buyers are very easily tricked into buying these knock offs. Go here for a quick lesson on how to spot fakes.

Remember if you com across a pair of sneakers on a website such as ebay or craigslist and the price is significantly lower than retail, BEWARE.

The Dunk xchange

The DunkXchange is the ultimate and one of the only traveling sneaker expos in the world. With stops in major cities like NYC, LA and Chicago, the dunk exchange attracts sneaker collectors from every age and background.

How does it work Exactly?

Any one looking to trade or sell parts of their sneaker collection can rent a stand at the dunk exchange. Patrons then by a ticket to come in and shop around as if it were a regular store. It is at the Seller's discretion if they would like to trade or sell their sneakers. There are basically two rules of the Dunk Xchange, Cash only or trade, no credit cards or checks. The dunk Xchange attracts very large crowds considering it being a sneaker convention. Anyone can come and anyone can purchase these sneakers, but as stated in my other posts, do not expect prices like your local flea market, these sneakers can reach prices that some people wouldn't spend on shoes in a years time or more! If your looking for a rare or limited release nike dunk, air jordan or any hard to find sneaker, chances are you will find it at the Dunk Xchange!

check out this video for an inside look!

Space Jam Riot

The Air jordan "Space Jam" XI was first seen in the movie Space Jam starring michael jordan, a patent leather basketball sneaker that no one thought would sell. Patent leather on a basketball shoe? The results were quite the contrary, the space jam XI was a huge hit and sold thousands of pairs.

On December 23, 2009 The Space Jam XI was retrod (re released) for a retail price of $175.00. The anticipation of the release was clearly too much for some too handle. The picture above is of a footlocker in New York Completely torn apart after a small riot erupted when the store delayed the release of the shoe an hour.

As you can see, some people take their sneakers very seriously

A Sneaker head's Mindset Summed Up In a Song

Lexicon's Nike Head is the unofficial anthem to all sneaker heads, listen to the lyrics and you will be entered into the mind of a Sneaker Head!

The Sneaker Culture and Community

Believe it or not sneaker collecting has become an extremely popular hobby since the 1980's ever since Nike Brand took a chance and signed an up and coming NBA prospect named michael jordan. It was a move that would change the sneaker industry forever and spark a phenomenon that would grow into a multi billion dollar industry and a world wide culture.

Pictured above, the air Jordan I was released by Nike in 1985, and was the most revolutionary design since the Puma Clyde in 1973, It was like no other sneaker to come out of Nike or any Sneaker company for that matter. The Sneaker gained mass attention and was actually banned by the NBA because the black accents in the sneaker did match the NBA's Uniform code. Michael Jordan was Fined five thousand dollars for every game he wore them in. Needless to say nike payed these fines because the publicity was unlike any other.

Michael jordan was not the only rising stock in the 1980's. Hip Hop (To Which the sneaker culture could also be attributed to) was on the rise. Artists Like GrandMaster Flash, Run D.M.C and Slick rick were bursting onto the scene, with what sneaker heads would call "fire" on their feet. Hip Hop artists were taking sneakers made for athletes, specifically tennis and basketball, and wearing them as a part of their every day wardrobe. A great example would be the world famous Run D.M.C wearing their unlaced adidas tennis shoes which eventually became an unnoffical trademark for the group. This new fad of wearing things like Nike Air jordans and Andre Agassi's off the playing courts became a new fashion trend.

Fast Forward to the late 1990's and sneakers are no longer a fashion trend, but are now a hobby and collector's items. In 1999 the Online sneaker community Niketalk was created. With Threads such as the "Jordan" thread, "Nike Retro" and "Sneaker Showcase" thread, fellow "sneaker heads" can go on and share pictures of their collections and new pick ups, trade and sell sneakers, and check up on upcoming sneaker releases. Niketalk was the first and remains the most popular online sneaker community.

Sneaker collecting has become so popular that people can be seen camping out in front of sneaker shops days before a release to ensure a spot in the line. Things like The "Nike Dunk Exchange" are annual sneaker conventions where people come to buy and trade rare and expensive sneakers.

Plastic wrap not just for leftovers

I would like to introduce you to a place, that one may consider the mecca of sneakers. This is is not your local mall's footlocker. A store no bigger than your average master bedroom, Flight Club New York, is perhaps the absolute number one place in the world to find obscure, rare, expensive sneakers. Nestled very covertly on the corner of green street in the Soho section of Manhattan lies the tiny store with no sign, no advertisement, nothing but a small logo on the glass door. As you walk in you are overwhelmed with rows upon rows of colorful sneakers packed protectivley in shrink wrap to prevent fingerprints and discoloring, usually a line to get in and out, you must be buzzed in and out of the store to ensure the safety of the inventory.

Flight club works on a consignment basis, but do not expect to see good will prices at this sneaker shop. Some limited editions or orignal jordans can go well over a thousand dollars, and believe me i've witnessed first hand at the store, average people dropping serious cash on some of these sneakers. The first time i had ever been to flight club, i witnessed an averaged man in his mid twenties walk in and buy a pair of 700$ original Air Jordans I's as if it were a bag of apples. If your looking to what we in the sneaker culture call "breaking necks" while walking down the street i recommend you visit FLight CLub New york in Soho NYC.