I want to buy two very different pairs of sneakers

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein) 04/10/2015 at 13:56 • Filed to: None

2

26

In addition to being a car nerd and a food nerd, both activities I have posted about extensively here on oppo, I am also a sneaker nerd. I have lots and lots of sneakers. But unlike a lot of sneaker people who are all about the Nikes and Jordans (which I still have a good number of), I'm all about a couple other brands: New Balance and Reebok.

My favorite sneakers to wear are 80s/90s style suede & mesh runners. I have a ton of them and I'm always adding more. I've got a selection of NB, Reebok, Puma & Nike runners of all kinds. I have a soft spot for suede NBs and Reebok Pumps, and those are the two kinds of shoes I have the most of.

I've laid off buying too many sneakers lately, but I've been feeling the pull. The first pair I need in my life are the New Balance 996 "Connoisseur Painters" posted above. They've got just enough interesting details to not be your boring old dude/Steve Jobs gray NB runners—which you always run the risk of looking like with gray NB runners. The dark green NB logo on the heel tab sets them off.

Classy. As. Fuck.

Next up, we have a pair that aren't classy at all: The new Reebok Kamikaze II Pump. These are a mashup between Shawn Kemp's Kamikaze II from the mid-90s, and the original color scheme on Dominique Wilkins' Twilight Zone Pump from the late 80s.

+

The Kamikaze II Pump gets a little keychain like the original Twilight Zone Pump, but the keychain is of the Twilight Zone Pump. Sweet.

They're loud, and goofy, and maybe as a 32 year old professional with the word Director in his job title I shouldn't wear stuff like this. But dammit, I'm a sucker for nostalgia and I love sneakers.

My "oooh I want those " list is actually a lot longer, but these two pairs are at the top.

Wallet, prepare to add lightness.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:01

0

I'm not a sneaker nerd at all, but I'll just say that New Balance is the only brand that'll fit my feet for some odd reason.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:01

0

NB's over the past 5 years have really made some excellent colorways. Those 996s are sexy as fuck. My little bro has those Reebok Shawn Kemps that he uses to play ball, I like 'em but Reeboks never fit my foot correctly, I always get excessive rubbing on the back of my foot which after a few hours leads to bandaids.

Also, cool as fuck to know you're a sneakerhead.

Jagvar > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:09

0

How much do sneakers usually cost? Over a hundred dollars? Under a hundred?

CB > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:12

0

Those New Balances look pretty slick. I'd rock them, even though I'm a Vans/Converse guy.

Textured Soy Protein > CB 04/10/2015 at 14:20

0

I have leather Vans & Converse I wear to work. Particularly Religious Coworker is less than thrilled with my lack of formality.

Textured Soy Protein > Jagvar 04/10/2015 at 14:23

0

Retail prices usually range $50-200 depending on what you're getting and if you want to get it right when it comes out.

One of the reason I don't have a ton of crazy Jordans & Nikes is Nike gets people all hyped up to wait in line for them (either in person or online thru a stupid twitter RSVP system—yes you have to RSVP through twitter to buy limited release sneakers) and pay $150+ a pair.

I read sneaker blogs and say "oh I like that one" then when stuff ends up on sale I grab it. Or if something is a limited release and I really want it but it's not all that effort, I might pay close to full price. Like those Reeboks are $120, just came out, and I'll probably snag them soon. They've stayed available for a couple weeks now, unlike a hot Jordan release that will sell out in a day.

Jagvar > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:25

0

There's an art to savvy spending, and it sounds like you know how to do it. Nice!

FerrousJackal > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:25

0

gateway drugs man. Today reeboks, tomorrow visvim fbt shamans. Be careful brah.

KirkyV > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:27

0

I really like New Balances to wear, walk in and look at, but I hate driving in them, so my two pairs don't really get worn all that often, sadly. I could deal with the extra tread between my feet and the pedals compared to my usual Converse, but they're also a decent bit wider, and make heel-toeing easy enough to do accidentally with my cramped pedals.

I've pretty much accepted that I'll eventually own enough Converse to shod a small army. This picture is rather old, and my collection has grown substantially since.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:29

0

I'm wearing New Balance MT411s right now. They're great.

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 04/10/2015 at 14:36

1

I have wide feet, and when I was a kid in the 80s & 90s Nike, especially runners, used to be really narrow. So I was usually laced up in some Reeboks, which ran wider.

When I was in middle & high school, the badass kids (which I was not one of) wore NB runners. I learned later in life they did this because NBs were favored by drug dealers. I started on the NBs in high school with a pair of all-red 574s I found at Marshall's and I've always had some since.

I could get away with Nike basketball and training shoes but the runners were no dice. I had some Air Flight Ones (the original Air Penny before they were called Air Penny), Air Carnivores, and the Air Max Uptempo 95s. But my mom would never quite pop for the really expensive sneakers. "You're going to wear them out anyway!" I bought the Uptempos with $160 worth of gift certificates for the local mall, that I had gotten for my bar mitzvah.

I have a pair of Air Flight Ones right now actually. I had the black when I was a kid so now I've got the white & blue ones. I sorta regret sleeping on the Carnivores when Nike retro'd them a couple years ago. They were sitting on sale for a long time too!

Modern Nike runners are wider and more comfy. So I have Free Run 2 wovens, and Air Max 95/2013 Dynamic Flywires. But I do have a pair of Air Max 90s because I like how they look but they're not comfortable at all. I had to put some of those gel insoles in them just to make them tolerable.

Oh I've got the Olympic Air More Uptempos that Scottie Pippen wore in Atlanta:

There are...a lot more of them as well.

desertdog5051 > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:36

0

"AtlasM, meet Imelda Marcos. Imelda, meet AtlasM. I'm sure you two will get along well. I'll leave you two alone so you can talk". :)

505Turbeaux > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:41

0

Directorlyfe

I just spend all my money on beer and cars

Textured Soy Protein > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 04/10/2015 at 14:46

1

I stay far far away from Dad Shoe™ NBs like that, no offense.

Textured Soy Protein > FerrousJackal 04/10/2015 at 14:47

0

It takes a very strong want level for me to pay more than about $120 for a pair so I'm pretty sure I'm in no danger of that.

Textured Soy Protein > 505Turbeaux 04/10/2015 at 14:56

2

(I've got the beer and cars pretty well covered too.)

505Turbeaux > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:58

1

I hath moved on to VPlyfe though, so I need mo cars

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 14:59

1

Wow you've got some good ones. Yeah AM90s are not that comfortable even after breaking them in. I've got those Pippens in black with the white letters, one of the most comfortable sneakers I've ever owned. I ruined them going up to my friends roof to smoke once 2 summers ago not realizing that there was tar on the roof that has liquefied from the heat. I still have them in a box but my efforts to remove the tar failed.

I wear black 95's to work because we have all cement floors at my office and it's really tough on your feet/back after a while. I've got wide feet but still haven't had much luck with Reeboks outside of their basketball sneakers. I only have ever owned 1 olympic colorway sneaker which were Air Force 180s

I love olympic colorways but so many people get them that they get played out quick so I don't rush to get them. I actually sold off a lot of my sneakers when I was in HS, my biggest regret/mistake was I owned 2 Jordan DMP packages that were both way to big (I had stood on line for like 4 hours to get them and they only had size 11.5/12 I'm a 10.5) and I sold them about a month later for $750 each meanwhile now they go for a couple thousand on Flightclub.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 15:01

1

None taken. They're for me to wear to work, walk in gravel with, and generally suck a lot less than a cheap shoe. They can be run in, but that's not the main purpose - the main purpose is not to kill my knees and arches in the face if I'm walking on them all day.

JGrabowMSt > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 15:20

0

I like high tops. Unfortunately I have trouble finding them where I both like the look and the feel. My Adidas are getting worn out and I need something new.

I also need new sneakers, much like the new balances. The problem is that Im picky as hell, and prefer to buy shoes locally. Skate shops tend to be overpriced, but sometimes one or two pairs will catch my eye. Other stores have dismal selections that would make nearly anyone want to follow in Jagvar's footsteps....

E. Julius > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 15:26

0

As someone who owns one pair of tennis shoes (which may or may not fall under your definition of sneakers) I find the complexity of your analysis absolutely fascinating. I don't know anybody who is into this as a hobby, so I have a respectfully curious question: what draws you to it?

Like how some people are into cars because they like working on them, some like the style, some like speed—what motivations do people typically have for being into sneakers?

Textured Soy Protein > JGrabowMSt 04/10/2015 at 15:26

1

Check out Jimmy Jazz, Dr. Jays and Karmaloop.

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 04/10/2015 at 15:52

1

My real size is 11 4E but for most normal medium-width sneakers I go up to a 12. I have a little extra room in the toes but otherwise it's mostly fine. I can't do AM95s because even the 12s are too narrow for me. But the 95/2013s (which are just 2013s styled to look like 95s) are super comfy for me.

Old school Reebok runners usually fit very similar to old school New Balances, just a little narrower. So if you have good luck with 574s and 996s, you should probably also fit in Ventilators and Pump Running Duals. Ventilators are super comfy and there's lots of colorways floating around that you can pick off super cheap.

I need to get some new workout shoes which I'll probably get something in a width.

Manny05x > Textured Soy Protein 04/10/2015 at 18:39

0

Those new balance are tough I was originally a all Jordan and Nike head but as I got older I find saucony and new balance more comfortable for me.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 04/12/2015 at 00:37

0

Do you go hiking at all? If so do you have a favorite outdoorsy shoe?

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 04/12/2015 at 10:38

0

I'm not much of a hiker. I have some Keen hiking boots that I wear around town in winter since it gets pretty messy here in Wisconsin. They're fine.