March 30, 2009 by hunter.

Ahh…sunny LA. How I’ve missed you so. It’s been far too long since I’ve been back home to the SoCal coast. So many people to see, so much to do … so many sneakers to buy. No sneakerhead’s trip to LA would be complete without a visit to SportieLA. Digging through the ‘displays’ is always a treat for a hunter like myself. So why not commemorate that trip with a suitable Sneak of the Month? March 2009’s Sneak of the Month is the Reebok Ventilator “Sportie LA” edition.

This is a gorgeous ‘tech’ shoe. I’ve had my eye on this shoe for a long time, but it wasn’t until I saw it in person that I truly became enamored. It has a simple yet eye-grabbing colourway, and numerous different textures. Of course it has the ventilation section of pure mesh along the sides, so don’t wear your holey socks.

My only gripe is that the stitching on the back isn’t as ‘full’ as it could be, but most people won’t look at the shoe closely enough to notice. All in all this is a great shoe if you want to wear something with colors and design guaranteed to snap necks. Be careful out there, and rock your sneaks with pride. And to SportieLA- great job putting this Reebok Ventilator together.

Posted in Reebok, Sneak of the Month, Pics | No Comments »

February 20, 2009 by hunter.

February’s Sneak of the Month needs to be something different. Something that stands out. Something that fits with Valentine’s Day. Aha! How about these Nike Track Racers?! Welcome to February’s Sneak of the Month.

I’ve been kinda bummed lately because I’m no longer in one of the world’s great sneaker cities. This makes it hard to find fresh pairs, so I’ve had to branch out a bit and get creative with sourcing. But every now and then I stumble across a nice pair on the local market. This is one of those sneakers. The Nike Track Racer is a terrific shoe, blending the sleek silhouette of the Puma II’s with a simple colourway. Lately I’ve been enjoying sneakers that are more plain than a typical ’sneakerhead’ shoe, and the Track Racers are no exception.

Don’t forget, they go great with Valentine’s Day. (Nike Swooshes make decent hearts) So if you are looking for a present for your sneaker-collecting valentine next year, add the Nike Track Racers to your list. Much love, and stay fresh.

Posted in Gear, Sneak of the Month, Pics, Nike | No Comments »

January 23, 2009 by hunter.

Reebok announced job cuts of 300 workers. An odd part of the article highlights Adidas-owned Reebok’s difficulties increasing market share for US athletic footwear. From 2005-2008, Adidas and Reebok fell from a combined 18 percent to 9 percent market share! I blame their Kool Aid collection. Actually, Adidas/Reebok might fare better when you consider market share of ‘lifestyle’ footwear instead.

Brace yourselves for a bumpy 2009- a shrinking market means less revenue which means companies will take fewer risks on new sneaker designs. To paraphrase (now former) Pres. GWB- ‘Do your patriotic duty and get shopping!’

Posted in Reebok, Business, Pics, Nike, Adidas | No Comments »

January 11, 2009 by hunter.

Last post I wrote about the thousands of shoes that appeared on a Miami highway.

Thankfully, there is a very positive update. A terrific charity, Soles4Souls, offered to collect the shoes and distribute them to people in Haiti. Sneakerheads, take note. This is a charity we should look into if we want to do some good with our sneaker passion. We maintain sneaker collections, yet Soles4Souls estimates that 300 Million people around the world don’t own a pair of shoes.

For more on why Soles4Souls was created and what they have accomplished, check out this video:

If that doesn’t get you in the giving spirit, perhaps this video will.

Now if you’re in the helping spirit and are looking for ways to assist, Soles4Souls offers these suggestions.

Posted in Doing good, Gear, Commentary, Business, Video | No Comments »

January 4, 2009 by hunter.

First, the New Year froze legions of Zunes, and now this. Thousands of shoes were found on Miami’s Palmetto Expressway. Odd. Maybe there are thousands of barefoot hitchhikers a few miles down the road? Here’s a slideshow of the cleanup.

Posted in Odd, Gear | No Comments »

January 3, 2009 by hunter.

FIGHT ON!!! This is January 2009’s Sneak of the Month- Rose Bowl edition! This month we bring you sneakers fit for a Trojan- the Puma Speeder Cup (Team Regal Red/Dandelion).

Start off the New Year right by showing your Cardinal & Gold in celebration of the 2009 Rose Bowl champion USC Trojans! These sneakers are the latest additions to an important subset of my collection- sneakers I can wear to the Coliseum on game day. They get extra points for being Pumas. The Speeder Cups were originally designed for the Spanish soccer team, but they fit in with USC football just fine. Just don’t kick the flagpole on the way to the stadium in these sneakers! As always, Stay Fresh and Fight On!!!

Posted in USC, Rose Bowl, Sneak of the Month, Pics, Art, Puma | No Comments »

December 30, 2008 by hunter.

Time to wake up from your food coma, take out the Christmas tree, and look ahead to the new year. You might not have gotten exactly what you wanted this year (still no two front teeth), but there is another, brand-spanking new year right around the corner. So what is on my wish list for 2009, you ask? Well…

Nike Marty McFly’s
And not the weak, close-but-no-cigar Nike Hyperdunks. I’m talking the real-deal, straight outta Back to the Future 2 McFly’s. Hell, even a fan was able to make a McFly better than Nike’s release. Now I was gonna tell you to log onto McFly2015 and sign their petition, but their site seems to have gone kaput. Well, while we wait for a true McFly release you can always pick up an authentic Delorean. Can you imagine stepping out of your shining Delorean with a fresh pair of McFly’s on your feet? Jumping Gigawatts!!!

New Balance Pigeons (pic courtesy of hypebeast)
So the legendary Nike Pigeon SB Dunks live on with the release of the New Balance Pigeons. And this time the release seems to have been riot-free! Awesome, but where’s my pair? It must’ve gotten lost in the mail (I forgive you this time, New Balance). If you missed out on the release (like me) you still have some hope in getting a pair…Hope that your several-hundred-dollar pair from eBay isn’t a total fake. That’s ok- I’ll just have to wait for the Puma Pigeons to release. That’s right, I am starting that rumor right now. Get on it, Puma! Your sneaker lineup is sorely lacking in the pigeon department!

World Peace
Ok, so technically it’s not a sneaker, but a little world peace would go a long way right now. Who knows- it might even inspire some awesome sneaker designs? And if world peace is too much to ask, then just send us some awesome 2009 sneaker releases.

Well, that’s what’s on my wishlist for 2009. Let me know what you’re wishing for- drop me an email. Have a terrific New Year’s Eve and stay safe- no spilling champagne on your sneakers!

Posted in Sneaker Love, Gear, Odd, Commentary, Pics, Nike, Art, Puma | No Comments »

December 12, 2008 by hunter.

Ho Ho Ho. Sneaker Claus here spreading holiday cheer and bringing you December’s Sneak of the Month- the Puma Jetter. This one is destined to become a classic. My elves worked hard to put this sneaker together. Combining copious amounts of mesh and a masterful colourway, the Jetter (Black/White/Spectra Yellow) is sure to be on the wish list of good little boys and girls.

You know my favorite part of the Puma Jetter? The little speckles along the sides. If you are on my Nice list this year, you might find yourself with a pair of these sneaks under your tree. If you’ve been naughty, you’ll have to wait until 2009 for the next Sneak of the Month. Until then, have a merry Christmas/Hanukkah/Eid al-Adha/Kwanzaa/Festivus.

Posted in Sneak of the Month, Pics, Puma | No Comments »

November 4, 2008 by hunter.

On the tail of Halloween comes the November Sneak of the Month. Congratulations to Major DC and Adidas for the Adidas x Major ZX 600.

Major DC has been representing the District’s sneakerheads since opening in 2006. Major was a favorite stop when I visited Georgetown, but they saved their best release until I left Washington.

The Adidas x Major ZX 600 is a solid sneaker rivaling the best collabs on the market right now. We’ve seen some sneaker shops release sneakers that are uninspired, but Major makes a name for itself with their ZX 600. As you may know, I love orange in sneakers, and the colors in this shoe are sharp. The digital camo across the back of the sneaker is a nice touch also. In fact, there are tons of nice touches on this sneaker. From the branded lace eyelets to the premium packaging, the ZX 600 has been very well-planned.

Congrats to Major, and I hope to see more excellent releases in the future!

Posted in Sneak of the Month, Pics, Adidas | No Comments »

October 23, 2008 by hunter.

I just made a huge mistake. In fact, its the ultimate sneaker sin. I passed on a pair of sneaks that have haunted me ever since.

I was in New Delhi and I saw a boutique selling Reebok’s new Fish Fry line designed by Manish Arora. Intrigued, I popped in and browsed through the selection. Most of the shoes are for women, but they had a few nice designs for men. The price gave me a bit of sticker shock, so I decided to mull it over and come back. How is it possible to get so distracted that you forget to buy an awesome, regionally unique sneaker!?!? Ugh! If you’re in Delhi and you see a size 12 Fish Fry, won’t you help a brother out?

Moral of the story- follow your instinct. If you find a sweet pair of kicks, DONT risk letting them pass you by. Prop open your wallet and claim your sneaks. Your feet will thank you.

Posted in Reebok, Art | No Comments »