WTF is a Sneakerhead?
A sneakerhead is a person who is highly experienced visually even to the point of discernment in distinguishing between real and fake replicas and also owns multiple pairs of sneakers as a form of a hobby, collection, trade or fashion. As a hobby, it is often manifested by the use and collection of shoes made for sports, such as basketball and/or other sports. The birth of sneakerhead culture in the United States came in the 1980s and can be attributed to two major sources: basketball, specifically the emergence of Michael Jordan, and his eponymous Air Jordan line of shoes released in 1985, and the growth of hip hop music. The boom of signature basketball shoes during this era provided the sheer variety necessary for a collecting subculture, while the Hip-Hop movement gave the sneakers their street credibility as status symbols. The sneakerhead culture has emerged in European nations such as the Czech Republic in the last decade.
YEEZY 350 V2
photo by WesleyShark
Where to buy?
FootLocker.com
The basic sneaker store that is in (just about) every mall and has a good selection no matter where you go, along with good price ranges. FootLocker is a great starting point, and it has a wide variety.
FlightClubNY.com
FlightClubLA.com
These are where you find the dopest of sneakers. Jordans, Foamposites, Yeezys, NMDs etc. Sometimes they have a good sale or two but occasionally mark up the prices because the sneakers start to get hard to find. However, they have a great selection for the sneakers that you may have missed out on.
Nike.com
Adidas.com
Reebok.com
Converse.com
Top Sites For Sneaker Heads.
NiceKicks.com
Niketalk.com
Modern-notoriety.com
Kicksonfire.com
SneakerNews.com
JustFreshKicks.com
twitter.com/adidasalerts
twitter.com/yeezymafia
twitter.com/Jumpman23
twitter.com/footlocker
twitter.com/finishline
SoleCollector.com
23isback.com
How To Keep Sneakers Clean
You can go old school and use a toothbrush and soap and it will get little scuffs out easily.
1. Create a mixture of water and a neutral cleaner. Dishwashing detergent or shampoo works well.
2. Remove the laces.
3. Grab a soft-tipped brush. Dip it into your cleaning mixture and scrub it over all parts of the shoes.
4. Remove any scuff marks with a nylon scrub pad. For alternatives, a toothbrush or sponge works well too.
5. Rinse the shoes inside and out once more. This way, you will be sure if you got all of the dirt and grime off.
6. Stuff the shoes with paper and allow them to dry overnight. This will help them to absorb excess water and keep their normal shape. Do not use newspaper or magazine pictures because the ink will run into the shoes.
7. Wash the laces in a load of laundry.
2. Remove the laces.
3. Grab a soft-tipped brush. Dip it into your cleaning mixture and scrub it over all parts of the shoes.
4. Remove any scuff marks with a nylon scrub pad. For alternatives, a toothbrush or sponge works well too.
5. Rinse the shoes inside and out once more. This way, you will be sure if you got all of the dirt and grime off.
6. Stuff the shoes with paper and allow them to dry overnight. This will help them to absorb excess water and keep their normal shape. Do not use newspaper or magazine pictures because the ink will run into the shoes.
7. Wash the laces in a load of laundry.
How to Keep Suede Shoes Clean
1. Brush out any dirt. Use a suede cleaning brush to gently brush everything off. Make sure to brush in the same direction and do not go back and forth. For stubborn dirt marks that won't go away with a brush, try using a pencil eraser.
2. Remove scuff marks. The suede brush can now be used in a back and forth motion to removed scuffed areas.
3. Remove water stains. To remove the water that can affect discolored suede, apply a light coat of water with a nail brush. Use a sponge or dry cloth to soak up excess water and then let the shoes dry overnight.
Nike Air Max 1 - Turbo Green Ridgerock
photo by VE3TRO
Watch out for Fakes!!
If you live in a city or shop online its easy to come across fakes. You must watch out for fakes, because the market for them is at an all-time high.
1. Always check the inner tag in shoe that shows the size. Many times the tag has the wrong production year and the font style is off from an authentic tag.
2. Look at the tag on the box. On most FAKES the box tag will be too big or labeled in the wrong place.
3. Check the original box, most FAKES boxes will be very thin and have lots of damage.
What are your thoughts?
- Favorite shoes/player lines?
- Thoughts on the current direction of the shoe game?
- Price increases vs declining material quality?
- Hype vs availability?
If you have a shoe collection, let's see it! And even if you just casually buy shoes or are thinking about buying a pair, come hang out and say hello!
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