Sneaker Shoe Box

Detailed high quality designs to match our fresh kicks!

2011-07-07T10:56:00.003-05:00

Today on Sneaker Shoe Box I am proud to present the first in a line of SSB Fresh Sneaker Tees Series! The Black Metallic V. The V was based off of the WWII Mustang Fighter plane. This shirt has a fresh Metallic V flying with the Mustangs in which it was inspired by. The design of this shirt was hand drawn, concept from JStar teamed with P. Turnbaugh! You have a chance to own the first shirt in what will be a line of excellently designed limited shirts. You can pre-order yours today at SSB there are only 40 available for pre-order so cop yours fast because these will be sold out!!!!

Update on SSB show NEW MUSIC tell us what you think

2011-06-23T12:44:00.001-05:00

For more information head over to: SneakerShoeBox.com.

Lets kick it for a minute with: JStar

2011-06-20T14:51:00.006-05:00

This week on Lets Kick it for a Minute we have Sneaker Shoe Box founder and sneaker expert Mr. Jesús Estrella aka JJtar25 on youtube and MrJStar25 on twitter. First I would like to thank JStar for the opportunity to blog on this website. It's really fun!

SSB: How many sneakers do you currently have?

JStar: About 100 pairs

SSB: What are your all time favorite sneakers?

JStar: 1. The Adidas Superstar the kind Run DMC used to rock

2. Air Jordan 4 Black and Red pair

SSB: Which shoe would you like to be re-retroed?

JStar: The cool grey 4's. They should also start retro-ing the shoe past 14. The Air Jordan

10 with the toe cap. The playoff 12's and the obsidian 12's.

SSB: Do you collect any sneakers besides Jordans?

JStar: I have Adidas, Lebrons, Jordans, Nikes and a couple Foamposites

SSB: When did you start collecting Jordans or notice that you have a nice collection?

JStar: 93-94 Junior year of high school. Some of the girls at school were like dang Jesús you have more shoes than me!

SSB: Which star in the NBA has the best sneaker line?

JStar: Lebron James. The Lebron 7 is equal to the Jordan XI in the Jordan collection. Not saying the Lebron 7 is as nice as the XI but that shoe to me is the best shoe in that line so far.

SSB: Which are your favorite pickups so far this year?

JStar: The Adidas SuperBeast Red Carpet Editions are number 1. The year of the Rabbit Jordan 2011 are next and then the True Blue 3's.

SSB:If you could make any color way what would you do?

JStar: Aqua 4, White Cement 6, Charcoal 4 similar to the Derrick Anderson PE's when he ran with the Heat.

SSB: What are your future plans for SSB?

JStar: I'm working on shooting a web-isode that would show on SSB. It's about a half hour long and will feature product reviews, real vs fake, interviews with members of the sneaker culture and boutique visits. Hopefully try and grow SSB and a create a buzz.

We would like to thank JStar for "kicking it with me for a minute." For all of your sneaker news report to SneakerShoeBox.com.-Johnathan Tran

Nike's new edition to the hyper- family

2011-06-17T13:38:00.002-05:00

Today pictures have surfaced on the internet of Nike's new edition to its line of hyper-. This model is described as the hyperforce. The hyperforce has what appears to be a combination between flywire and the netting that was used in the hyperfuse. The back of the shoe and the swoosh is composed of 3m. Alot of the past Nike Hypers seemed like a different variation of the same thing but this shoe really pops to me. Nike is finally stepping their game up to compete with what Addidas has been doing with basketball. For all of your sneaker news report to The Sneaker Shoe Box.-Johnathan Tran

6/16/2011 Gilbert Arenas Giveaway

2011-06-16T13:09:00.003-05:00

Today on twitter Gilbert Arenas will be giving away a pair of Air Jordan 10 Ice Blues. In about 40 minutes Gilbert Arenas will ask a trivia question on twitter and the answer must go to @thesneakerchamp in order to win. These are a size 13 and the winner has a chance to have the shoes autographed by him also. The Air Jordan 10 Ice Blue was released in 2005 and this would be a great chance to win a pair. For all of your sneaker needs check the Sneaker Shoe Box.-Johnathan Tran

6/14/2011 Air Jordan X is confirmed to be release in 2012

2011-06-15T00:50:00.003-05:00

Today Jordan Brand has confirmed that the OG colorway of the Chicago X's will be re-retroed in 2012. This color way has not been retroed ever. The Chicago 10's were originally released in 1995. If this shoe drops in 2012 will it be an instant cop? I know I will. Being a young sneaker head new to the game it has turned out to be a very good year. For all of your sneaker news and needs report to The Sneaker Shoe Box. -Johnathan Tran

Lets Kick it For a Minute- JumpmanBostic

2011-06-14T13:15:00.005-05:00

After running out of things to talk about on the Sneaker Shoe Box Blog, I thought of a great segment idea. At Sneaker Shoe Box we are going to start a weekly interview with the sneaker heads from Youtube. The Segment will be called Lets Kick it For a Minute. Today we have a special guest on youtube he is known as JumpmanBostic. He is known for maybe having the largest Jordan collection on Youtube. Mr. Bostic collects all Jays not just the retros. Check out his videos on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/user/jumpmanbostic. I was lucky enough to interview Mr. Bostic.

SSB: Mr. Bostic, how many Jays do you currently have in the "Basement of Jays"?

JumpmanBostic: 711 pairs

SSB:If you could have shoe reretroed this year, which would it be?

Jumpman Bostic: The Air Jordan 8's

SSB: Any specific color way?

Jumpman Bostic: Any of them I really like the 8's

SSB: Do you collect any other brands besides Jordans?

JumpmanBostic: No all I have is Jordans

SSB:So When did you start collecting Jordans?

JumpmanBostic:1986 The Air Jordan 1

SSB:If you could switch color ways or create your own color way on a shoe what would you do?

JumpmanBostic: I would take the PE Air Jordan 8's that Ray Allen had

SSB: If you could choose a superstar in the NBA right now that has the potential of having the next successful shoe brand who would you choose?

JumpmanBostic: Kevin Durant

SSB: What shoe would you consider to be your "grail"?

JumpmanBostic: The shoe I consider to be my "grail" is the Jordan 2010 sample once owned by MJ himself

SSB : What upcoming release are you anticipating the most in 2011?

JumpmanBostic: I'm most anticipating the December release of the Concord 11's

We at the SneakerShoeBox would like to thank JumpmanBostic for "Kicking it for a minue" with us. For all of your sneaker needs report to the Sneaker Shoe Box. -Johnathan Tran

6/14/2011 Gilbert Arenas' Shoe Giveaway!

2011-06-14T10:55:00.003-05:00

Today Gilbert Arenas will be giving away the anniversary Air Jordan 11's on twitter. Although the shoe has already began yellowing this would still be a great shoe to have. If you want a chance to win follow @agentzeroshow for the trivia question and send your answers to @thesneakerchamp for a chance to win. The question will be given around 3:00 p.m Eastern Time, 2:00 Central time. For all of your sneaker news report to The Sneaker Shoe Box. -Johnathan Tran

6/13/2011 Hard Court Kicks

2011-06-13T11:49:00.002-05:00

After a great NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks prevail as NBA Champions of 2011. The kicks worn by both teams have been seen before in previous games with the exception of Dwayne Wade wearing a new color way of the Jordan Fly Wade.

Lebron James wearing the Lebron 8 PS PE

Dwade in the Jordan Fly Wade

Dwade in the Jordan Fly Wade New Color Way. Pre-Game

Dirk Nowitzki in the Nike 2010 Hyperdunk and Jason Kidd in the Peak Kid III

The Lebrons Episode 9 -"Misunderstood"

2011-06-09T19:05:00.002-05:00

This episode of The Lebrons Kid is disapointed that he has missed the game winning shot in the state championship and feels misunderstood...

Gilbert Arenas June 10th sneaker giveaway

2011-06-09T15:02:00.004-05:00

Tommorow Gilbert Arenas will be giving away a VERY exclusive shoe on twitter. Arenas described the shoes as the Addidas Gilbert Arenas 2.0 Slam magazine exclusive. Could this be an one of one? If you want a chance to win this pair of shoes follow Gilbert Arenas at @agentzeroshow but be sure to send your answer to @thesneakerchamp. The question will be asked between 3 and 3:30 pm Eastern Time. For all of your latest sneaker news please tune into sneaker shoe box. -Johnathan Tran

Air Jordan 9 Dark Powder Blue Sample

2011-06-08T22:04:00.008-05:00

This color way of the Air Jordan 9 is described as white/dark powder blue/ and black. A very similar colorway has been released in 2010. One of the variation that can be seen is that the sample has a darker tint of blue than the ones that were released in 2010. Jordan Brand also changed the color of the jumpman on the sole of the shoe. In the sample the jumpman is powder blue. On the pair that was released in 2010 the jumpman is black. Which pair would you perfer? For the latest sneaker news look to sneaker shoe box for all of your sneaker news and releases. -Johnathan Tran

Source: Footlockerunlocked

6/9/2011 Gilbert Arenas Giveaway

2011-06-08T21:31:00.004-05:00

Tommorow on Gilbert Arenas' giveaway on twitter he will be giving away two pairs of shoes! The first pair of shoes is the Nike Air Garnett III the second pair is the Air Jordan 9 Silver Anniversary. Both shoes are size 13. Gilbert Arenas will most likely be giving both shoes away to one winner like he did on friday. The winner can have both shoes signed by Gilbert Arenas himself. If you would like a chance to win follow @agentzeroshow but make sure you send your answer to @thesneakerchamp. For the latest news report to sneaker shoe box -Johnathan Tran

HardCourt Kicks

2011-06-08T14:21:00.009-05:00

Dwayne Wade in the Jordan FlyWade Playoff color way

Jason Kid in the Peak Kid III and Mario Chalmers in Addidas adiZero Crazy Lights

Lebron James in the Nike Lebron 8 Playoff Player Editions

Jason Terry in the Reebok Zig Slash Player exclusives

Mike Miller in the Nike KDIII and Dirk in the Nike Hyperdunk 2010

for all upcoming sneaker news Sneaker Shoe Box is your spot

-Johnathan Tran

6/8/2011 Gilbert Arenas Crazy Giveaway

2011-06-08T10:19:00.005-05:00

Today Gilbert Arenas will be giving away The Nike Foamposite Ones on twitter today. This colorway is being called the "Black/Cactus". This shoe features a glossy black upper and a "cactus" bottom. The winner of the shoe can decide between having the shoe signed by "Agent Zero". The questions airs today between 3 and 5 p.m. Eastern time. So if you want a chance to win follow @agentzeroshow . Bringing you all of the latest sneaker news The Sneaker Shoe Box.
-Johnathan Tran

Pointer x PickYourShoes.com

2011-04-27T18:05:00.000-05:00

UK casual brand Pointer present their first ever US collab, teaming up with online sneaker purveyors Pick Your Shoes on this Safety Gold Pack. The navy wax coated canvas duckboot, The Pluckrose, the navy canvas of the classic Mathieson, the all over navy suede, the Angus, all tied together with pops of outdoor safety gold yellow. On sale now, hit pickyourshoes.com to check 'em out.

Head over to PickYourShoes.com and you all know it's legit because it's listed on SSB's legit list and I have personally purchased from them!

Tips to avoid fake websites

2011-04-12T08:50:00.000-05:00

Okay, today I've reviewed probably my 50th email of the week about fake websites and it's only Tuesday. So I'm asking you guys for a little help. I have some rules that I go by when I look at a website when I'm trying to determine if it's worth the risk of making a purchase or not. They are listed below, but outside of those tips what are some of the ways you judge a site? So please comment and let me know.

1. Know your colorways! This will immediately eliminate many fake websites.

2. Know what the market value of the shoe is. Jordan's are not $49, $59, $69, $79, $89.

3. Check the size selection, if you sizes 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12 that should be a sign. Half sizes like 10.5 and 11.5 should be available.

4. Check for rare releases and availability of them. Example if the site has the XXIII Premier in a full size run for like $100 then you know the site sells fakes.

5. If you see the words "Cheap Jordans" you should be on alert because one thing Jordan's are not, is cheap.

6. Check there other shoe selections, example if they have Air Yeezy's for $89, or Louis Vitton, Prada etc for super cheap prices then you know it's a fake site.

Here we go... Again?

2011-03-29T15:50:00.000-05:00

Okay so today this is what has me scratching my head. Jordan Brand has decided to retro the Air Jordan XIV Final Shots... AGAIN! I suppose it was 2005 but are they really running out ideas on us? The year of the V is back... the Cardinal VII is back... III's are back... just seems the wheel that is turning should be bigger in rotation like 23 spokes in total not 14. Of course I fully expect to see some kind of "change" to the shoes material or shape but still why not give us a 14 we haven't seen in a while like the Indiglo's or the Oxidized?

On the one hand I get it, new collectors are entering the shoe game almost daily and this will be a nice pick up for them. On another hand we are sneakerheads so worried about "un-DS-ing" their J's? Why are you all so afraid to wear them, they are now on a 5 year rotation so might as well rock them right? The funny thing is in 2005, 2006 etc people COMPLAINED about quality, and here they are now about to start playing the "2011 Retro's ain't that great I got the 2005 joints" card thinking they are fresh. Is that only funny to me?

Anyway I know I've touched on this subject before and I now am looking like Jordan Brand putting my posts on rotation... oh the irony is not lost on me. Jordan Brand let's open the vault on the Retro XVI before we see the Retro XIV again huh? I might be out on a think limb on my own but I'll be happy to grab a pair of Cherrywood XVI's before I cop the Final Shots again. Who knows maybe they will put a nice spin on the shoe and make it worth while... making the toe box bigger would be a nice start! Wishful thinking I suppose...

Legit Website List Removals

2011-03-28T08:44:00.000-05:00

Hopefully by now you all know I have a growing list of Legit Websites on SSB, which is just a quick way to put sneakerheads in touch with legit sellers. That list has grown but you may notice that it has also shrunk a bit and here's the reason why.
POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE! Seems while some sites sell legit shoes they have gotten arrogant in their ways and have forgotten how important the customer base is. I've run into issues where someone made a purchase and waited far to long with little or no communication as to when they would receive their shoes. We've had people order a size only to be told "we don't have that size so take this one" instead of issuing a refund like they should have done.

So I'm not going to put these companies on blast because I'm trying to allow them to correct the situation. If I have a website that ends up selling a fake then of course they will be put on MEGA BLAST so don't worry about that, also that has not happened.

JStar where you been?

2011-03-23T09:59:00.000-05:00

Before I get started big shout out to Sergio thanks for the message sometimes it takes a little push to get back to blogging, thanks brother!

Okay so where have I been and what have I been doing? I'll be a little transparent with you all and let you know what's been going on.

I've been working hard on SSB the main site over the past few months, I've been driving the site to attain sponsorship so I could finance the site and create contests and promotions for everyone that has been with SSB for a while. So that's an on going process as it seems. Along side of that I've been working on putting together a "show" that will be around 20-30 minutes in length that will be me discussing the Sneaker Culture like releases, trends, store visits (near and far), real vs fake comparisons and interviews. That is still in the works but I was hoping to have the 1st show complete by now.

So as you can see I have been very busy not to mention keeping up with my actual business and family. But I'm going to keep pushing forward and see if things start getting off the ground for SSB. So with that said I'll post more personal perspective on the sneaker culture and keep you all updated on SSB and the items I mentioned! Thank you all for still checking this blog even though it has been dormant for a while! -Peace

Long time no post... need some feedback

2011-01-18T10:40:00.000-06:00

I wanna thank everyone that has kept up with this blog and have continued to check it even though I have been so busy with other projects to continue posting on a regular bases. Thank You!

As many of you know I have been working on SneakerShoeBox.com and I'm going to ask for some feedback on an idea I have for that site. I would like to continue growing it as a resource to help others in their pursuit of sneakers. So the question is, would you like to see a feature where the market value of a shoe is listed, that way you'll be able to see what you should expect to pay if you find the sneaker you are looking for? Maybe a high end price, median price and then the low end price? Anyway please comment on this posting below if you have an opinion. Thanks.

Concept 1s Banned in the NBA

2010-10-20T11:47:00.000-05:00

The NBA is prohibiting its players from wearing a new line of sneakers that claims to increase vertical leap.

"Under league rules, players may not wear any shoe during a game that creates an undue competitive advantage," the NBA said in a statement Tuesday.

Athletic Propulsion Labs' $300 Concept 1 shoe employs a spring-based system designed to increase lift.

The Los Angeles-based company was founded by twins Adam and Ryan Goldston, both former USC basketball walk-ons whose father worked in the shoe industry.

The brothers said Tuesday that many NBA players, including about 30 percent of the rookie class, expressed interest in the shoes but they wouldn't reveal names because the players had signed with other companies.

Derrick Rose Interview - adiZero Rose

2010-10-18T10:08:00.000-05:00

SSB has launched!

2010-10-13T16:07:00.000-05:00

So the new SneakerShoeBox.com has launched and is growing with information. Some things you well find include:

1. Legit website list.
2. Fake websites to stay away from.
3. Air Jordan Colorways.
4. Real vs fake videos.
5. Hot YouTube Channels to connect to.
6. Legit eBay sellers list w/tips.

and more on the way. Check it out SneakerShoeBox.com.

New SSB site coming soon

2010-10-06T17:05:00.000-05:00

Hello all, I've been working on a new SSB site designed to be more of a repository of information on real, fakes, YouTube videos, legit site list, legit ebay list and more. Just feel with all the questions I've gotten over the past couple years gathering that information and putting it together would benefit the masses. There will be no consignment, however we will list items from time to time and connect buyers and sellers together. The site should be launching later this week possibly this weekend. If you have any suggestions of what you would like to see please feel free to leave a comment. The blog will live on with a redesign possible and will drive the content and subject matter of the new site. Thank you all for the love over the past couple years and help me create a site that will help all.

Air Jordan III Doernbecher

2010-10-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Nike and Jordan Brand have been partnered up for a little while now bring some creative designs to both Nike's and Air Jordan's to raise money for the hospital. Below we have a first look at this upcoming November release of the Doernbecher Air Jordan III.

Details: The upper features a tonal red-on-red elephant print, a black lace placket and tongue, and a black and metallic silver midsole which is paired with a translucent outsole. The upper features a special grid graphic of tiles featuring hints of special shapes and patterns. Not sure what the inspiration of the design comes from yet but this is one HOT looking sneaker (cough cough much better than the Premio VII). Personally I really like this shoe the red and black just look great together. Enjoy.

Doernbecher VII will officially unveil on October 9th

Air Jordan VII BIN Collection - Vol WTH?

2010-09-29T10:31:00.000-05:00

So we all know about the Air Jordan BIN 23 Collection, exclusive sneakers with top shelf quality and so on. New pictures have surfaced of the BIN VII "Look-See Sample" and seriously I can't even put a positive spin on this shoe. If this shoe actually releases without significant changes to it I would have a hard time picturing anyone camping out for these as people did for the previous BIN releases. I can totally respect the Tribal-Esque African thought put into the design but seriously the Doernbecher Becker kids are putting together better designs than the paid professionals at Jordan Brand. Big Shake My Head to JB for this one, easy pass for me.

Images via SneakerNews.com

Cop to Rock or Stock?

2010-09-23T10:52:00.002-05:00

Real vs Fake Air Jordan V

2010-09-20T15:31:00.001-05:00

Along with my real vs fake video's, I'll be taking it a few steps further and putting together some areas to focus on with each shoe. Please keep in mind COLORWAY doesn't matter here, this is about the design of the shoe NOT THE COLOR. The flaws with many fakes are in the design, seeing an off the wall colorway should be evidence enough that a shoe is fake this will show SOME key areas to focus on with fakes in real colorways.

We have pictures of a fake Air Jordan V and a real one just below. 7 circles on the fakes which focus on 7 areas, explanation of each is below.

1. As the back of the shoe rises it should begin to curve inward wrapping the heal. It should not rise straight up.

2. Stitch pattern, see how much leather is sticking out from the stitches as compared to the real sneaker in the lower portion of the image? That extra flab of leather material should not be there, that's sloppy.

3. Netting/Mesh should be large and the dominant feature of the side of the shoe.

4. Toe Box, the leather around the toe box should come up over the toe not end before it reaches the top of the shoe.

5. Tongue, height is the tongue is critical, on fakes the tongue is always short.

6. Ridges in the tongue, fake tongue are flat, on a legit pair there are clear ridges that are seen just below the Jumpman.

7. Fakes for some reason have a stitch that connects the 2 and the 3, on real pairs that is not the case.

For more or to see the video I put together covering some of these areas click here.

By the way the fakes are from a site that MANY people say "look just like the real thing only cheaper" you be the judge.

Cool Grey V - Summer 2011

2010-09-16T13:56:00.000-05:00

The legacy of the Air Jordan Cool Grey marches on with the Cool Grey V set to drop next summer. TheShoegame.com has confirmed this release and already the sneaker heads are buzzing.

Personally I love all the Cool Greys, the only one I didn't care for was the III, and although I don't think these are completely as fresh as the XI or IV, I do think these are nice enough to be copped. They are very similar to the Pink V's that dropped not to long ago which I thought were one of the nicer female releases that JB has brought us. Enjoy the sneak peak.

No release date is set but the May 2011 is the early report.

Adidas x Star Wars

2010-09-16T12:19:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure how many of you are up on Adidas, but I am in a pretty big way and throughout the years Adidas has always been rather surprising with their creativity on sneakers. Like the 35th Anniversary Adidas Superstars that dropped a few year back and the work they did with Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was also nice. But now they have worked outside the box yet again with the Adidas Star Wars Collection and although some of the designs are bit of a stretch some are rather nice. The latest of these is the "Chewbacca" which is pictured below.

Like the shoe or not they expanded the level of creativity all the way down to the packaging, making it look like you're buying some toys off the shelf. For those interested in learning more about the collection and seeing how some of the other releases came out check out Adidas for a nice presentation of the models released.

On a slightly side note my personal favorite is the "Yoda" I think these joints are fresh! And yes I know I just recently saw the series of movies with both my sons that had to coach me up on Star Wars but none the less I really like what Adidas is doing in the sneaker world.

The Lebron 8

2010-09-14T16:01:00.000-05:00

Okay so I know Lebron isn't on everyone's favorite people of the year list.. (South Florida the obvious exception) but here is the LBJ8 and say what you will about the player the shoe looks nice, although not as nice as the LBJ7 which was my personal favorite style wise of all the LBJ's. Kind of figured Nike outdid themselves with the 7 so the 8 was surely not going to be as nice. Even with that all said if you are a ball player Nike always goes all out on the LBJ line so I fully expect the shoe to be tremendous on the court for comfort. Will the shoe sell as well as previous releases who knows guess it depends on how affected you were on the "decision" on whether you are willing to spend the money on anything LBJ related. As for me if I can just find the time to pick up a ball more often this fall/winter I will be grabbing a pair.

JB Summer 2011

2010-09-14T14:58:00.001-05:00

For those interested in some of the shoes projected for next summer here you go.

Nike Foamposite Pro Pearl 1997 vs 2010 by Sneaker Dave

2010-09-10T09:29:00.000-05:00

Thought this was a nice video to help everyone see the differences between the OG and Retro of the Charcoal. TheShoeGame is a great channel to connect to on YouTube so hit it up when you can.

Air Jordan quality?

2010-09-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

So someone recently contacted me via FaceBook and asked me a question and posed in such a way that made me sit back and think for a little while before I responded. They mentioned they saw my video My opinion on Jordan Brand... that I posted about a year ago now and this was the question that came of it.

Q: Have you ever thought bout most people don't buy Air Jordans to play basketball in anymore? So could this also factor in on the poor quality?

That thought process is an interesting one, yet in the question it almost suggest that it is now OK for Jordan Brand to cut corners on retros. So here was my response.

A: That would be true if only JB wouldn't have players wearing retro's in NBA games, that alone is promoting the quality and performance of the brand and shoe. Also most of the people that buy retros aren't SneakerHeads like us. SneakerHeads are a small number compared to the number of people that buy J's. Even with all that said there really is no excuse for a company that is now charging $150 - $175 on releases to cut corners on quality.

Of course this is just my opinion but honestly why would Jordan Brand have NBA guys wear the signature line retro's in professional games if they only wanted to market the shoes as casual wear or for collecting purposes? We've all seen guys like Jared Jeffries, Richard Hamilton, Ray Allen, Joe Johnson and many others wearing Retro's on the court and even if they make Player Exclusive shoes differently than they make the general release shoes that doesn't matter because the message is simple "the performance and quality of our shoes is good enough for the NBA."

So those that know me and communicate with me asking questions like "did you cop such and such?" are often surprised when I say "no, quality wasn't good enough." I love the shoes as much as the next guy but if your going to raise prices and hand us an inferior product than what we are use to then yeah I'll pass.

Just because the shoe says Jordan doesn't mean it's top of the line like it use to be. There was a time you didn't question the quality of Jordan's, you knew you were getting the best... now it only seems that way with the most recent release like the 2009, 2010 once retro'ing starts questioning the product starts and that's the reality right now.

Nike x Jordan Brand x Converse Hybrid Shoe

2010-08-26T11:11:00.000-05:00

Although Jordan Brand and Converse both fall under the Nike umbrella, this year's World Basketball Festival was the first time all three brands have had their names linked together, teaming up as 1 to make the event possible. As part of the Make Something!! Workshops at the Nike Stadium in Beaverton, the teens involved in the design classes had the chance to work with Nike designers to create a memorable product which further extends the three-way partnership, a hybrid shoe combining elements from basketball shoes from all 3 of the brands. A first of it's kind and a sign of big things in the making.

In a video provided after the jump, some of the Nike designers quickly discuss the project while shots of the hybrid design pan back and forth across the screen.

Heat - Hot or Rare Shoes

2010-08-20T10:51:00.000-05:00

So for those of you that are my friends on FaceBook or follow me on Twitter you know I've been working on this design since around early June or so before the "Decision" was made LOL. This is the new shirt design we will be pushing out shortly. First dibs on pre-orders will go to those that have subscribed to SSB to receive e-mailings (click here right column). After pre-orders we will post for everyone else to purchase (supplies will be limited after pre-order). As we did before we will be having a give-a-way attached which will be determined by you, just vote for your preference on the right column of this blog between the BIN IX size 10, or Cool Grey XI, Fire Red V in your size choice. As before we will shoot for 100 to be entered, pre-order is just that pre-order, once the pre-order time is over the shirts will be ordered and sent out to you.

About the design, it's inspired by HEAT as in your fresh sneakers. Definition is not needed on this shirt because if your a part of the culture then no real explanation is needed. Shirt will have small SSB logo on the back just below the neck line.

4 Air Jordan VI Infrared Packs available $450 shipped.

2010-08-18T10:39:00.000-05:00

4 sets of the Air Jordan Infrared VI Pack are now available for $450 shipped. Grab them while you can because as you all know the price of this pack is steadily rising. Just click the image below to see the available sizes.

KixUltra.com real or fake?

2010-08-16T10:40:00.000-05:00

So over the past few weeks I have received roughly 60 emails asking me about KixUltra.com. I have taken plenty of time to review their site and have had a few reliable sources tell me they have ordered from this site only to be disappointed. Bottom line is aside from the prices and selection which let's be honest no site has EVERY Air Jordan in EVERY colorway available in EVERY size, not to mention at a price of less than $90. That alone should be a flag for anyone to think something funny is going on here. To add to that to make it even more CLEAR that the site is selling fakes is the fact that they have garbage unreleased colorways listed for sale on their site. Not to mention it's not just fake Air Jordan's they have fake everything out there Air Yeezy's in colorways that look like stir fried trash for example:

So please stay away from this website, 100% fakes up and down the board. I would expect KixUltra to remove some of these whack colorways off their site soon to help further confuse people into thinking they are legit but sadly there are many more out there that are complete trash.

Footlocker - Back to School

2010-08-05T15:18:00.000-05:00

Air Jordan 2 Candy Pack Halloween 2010

2010-08-05T10:16:00.000-05:00

Twenty five years ago, Air Jordans brought color to the court and continues the tradition to this day. Fresh off the heels of last week's release of the University Blue Air Jordan 2, Jordan brings more bold colors to the shoe game. These solid green, yellow, and red colorways of the Air Jordan 2 Retro will be available to the public on October 30th.

Although I'm not a fan of the Blue II's that just released I have to say these bold colors look pretty nice. Fall is going to be even bigger than spring for Jordan Brand and SneakerHeads!

2010 Air Jordan Cool Grey XI first look

2010-08-02T15:34:00.000-05:00

Here's a good look at the upcoming Air Jordan XI Cool Grey the sneaker many of you have been waiting for all year. As you can see they have a blue tint to the clear sole this time around, some have suggested that the blue tint may only actually release in youth size while others believe it will be on all sizes. I have to think it's going to be on all sizes. Other than that the shoe seems to be on point with the CDP XI and Space Jam, left shoe has Jumpman facing the rear and over all they look nice and will sell out.

2010

2001

HypeBeast or SneakerHead?

2010-07-27T11:11:00.000-05:00

If you are a follower of this blog then it's pretty safe to say your on some level a "SneakerHead." You may not collect sneakers but you have a full appreciation for sneakers and what the represent to you may be a little different that what they represent to others. It seems lately I've been seeing a side of the culture that has made me really stop and think for a moment as to why some people are even in the culture.

Have you ever ran into that Sneaker Head that loves nothing more than to tell you what he/she has? Like as soon as you say "hey, what's up? Their first response is "I copped the [Insert Sneaker Name Here]" as if having the material position of a pair of shoes makes them a better person in some way. Doesn't it make you want to ask the simple question of "what are you even collecting them for?" Seems to me there is a SneakerHead subculture which we'll call "HypeBeast" living among us that are only in it to brag about what they have, which just seems a bit odd to me that they are blending in so well.

Have you ever ran into the guy that spends hundreds on OG's no matter what condition they are in just so they can say "Hey man I have OG such and such?" I love OG's just as much as the next guy and fully understand if you want them for collecting or because they remind you of a certain time and you are truly a collector then it makes sense to me that you would hunt them down. HOWEVER we all know people that just love to say "I have the OG" just to come off like they are super cool and really how cool are you at the end of the day spending hundreds for shoes you can't wear and someone else already got the enjoyment out of?

It just seems there are too many "I'm the greatest because I have this shoe or that shoe" people among us and it's kind of odd and make us all look greedy and arrogant . If you take offense to this posting then you are the people I'm talking about and to be quite honest your nothing more than a HypeBeast and not really a Sneaker Head at all. If you are in agreement with this line of thinking then you are the type of person that cops your shoes, don't boast about them and rather people see them on your feet or in your display case without having to say "hey look what I got" and in my opinion that's what we need more of. Just food for thought and would love to hear some comments.

Should you plastic wrap your sneakers?

2010-07-20T10:41:00.001-05:00

First and foremost I must credit JohnnyBananas1990 for inspiration on the topic.

I am asked this question more often than I care to count but would you wrap your sneakers in plastic to include plastic bags to keep them fresh? My answer is always the same NO, simply because leather needs to breath, there is no sense in drying out leather. For those that don't understand what I mean let's go through the thought process...

1. You see the shoes you want and have to have them!

2. You say these are too fresh I'm never going to wear them and keep them forever and show off later that I have the DS or even sell them in a few years! So I'll wrap them in plastic that will preserve them for sure!

3. You decide it's time to pull them out and sell them or wear them only to realize they have mysteriously crumbled at the midsole!

4. Now your thinking man I could have sold these for more than retail and missed out on some money, I could have worn them and looked fresh... then you realize your $135 investment was all for nothing because now you're just serving as a warning to others!

DON'T DO IT... COP TO ROCK!

Top Five Air Jordan releases of 2010 so far...

2010-07-15T16:20:00.000-05:00

We are 6 months into the year and this year has been a BIG year for Jordan SneakerHeads. I like to think of it as a nice "catch up year" because a lot of the retro's that are being released this year were also released not to long ago, like Flint XIII's, Air Jordan II, Air Jordan IX's were part of the CDP. None the less it has been a great year so far for most and with that here's my picks for best releases of 2010 so far.

#5
Yes that's right a Spiz'ike! This colorway is very fresh and eye catching and be wrong for me to ignore it.

#4
Everyone loves all white shoes, everyone loves Air Jordan XI's. Pretty no-brainer for this pair as many of you camped out for a pair.

#3
Now I'm the first to say when I think of Air Jordan's I think of basketball not motorcycles but the way the white makes the black POP on these shoes is no doubt fresh!

#2
Seems to me those that hate BIN's in general are mostly those that can not get their hands on a pair because if you could you would find out what all the fuss is, quality is great on them. These are no doubt a GREAT pair of sneakers that in most cases will never be worn. White and Gold is a very nice blend on this shoe.

#1
Almost made this #2 merely because the impact of them would have been off the charts if JB didn't release Varsity colorways to water things down for us but either way OG colorways on a VI trumps all.

Thanks for checking this out, post your opinion in the comments section would love to read those. The second half of the year will be a bit more difficult to rank Quality will be the driving force of the upcoming releases.

SSB Air Jordan XI Anniversary Give-A-Way!

2010-07-08T13:36:00.003-05:00

Give-a-way Winner is Gisele L. of Miami, FL thanks to all that participated.

Win a pair of Air Jordan XI Anniversary Edition sneakers! We are limiting the give-a-way to 100 entries, entry is simple with any shirt purchase from SSB you will be entered to win a brand new pair of Air Jordan XI Anniversary Edition sneakers size 10, you can keep them or sell them whatever you would like. (If you purchase more than 1 you will have more than 1 chance to win.) There will be 1 winner, chances are 1 in 100 chance.

Winner will be notified via the email address attached the PayPal account used to make the purchase. I will also make an announcement via YouTube video and post the winner here on this blog. We'll keep a count posted here on this blog which will be updated daily with the total number sold, announcement will be made within 48 hours of the 100th shirt sold.

Also future give-a-ways will be coming, once JStar25 reaches 5,000 subscribers to YouTube there will be another give-a-way or a few give-a-ways handed out. Thank you for your support and good luck!

UPDATE: As stated in the video posted on YouTube, if you do not want the Anniversary XI's due to size or whatever you can elect to receive in your size the Air Jordan IX Charcoal.

Note: If your size is not in stock we will order it for you. Shirts ship within 48 hours of order unless size is not available in which case your order will be shipped within 5 business days.

My Opinion on Jordan Brand II

2010-07-06T10:56:00.003-05:00

So it has been asked, what my opinion is on Jordan Brand now in 2010, this of course stems from my YouTube video on the subject posted back in 2009.

Unfortunately I don't think things have gotten much better over the past year, I mean yeah they are finally releasing some nice shoes that people have been waiting on for a while now which is cool. However the quality is still a little suspect to say the least and the thinking behind some of the releases is just a smack in the face to collectors. Example would be, releasing the Varsity VI's which upset a lot of people because they wanted the Infrared VI's, then JB turns around and releases an Infrared Pack which upset a lot of people because with the economy why continue with the packs and why release the pack so close to the release of the Varsity's?

Back to quality for a moment. The Air Jordan II QF & IX Powder were reasons to get excited however when the shoes actually released and the plastic like leather was seen it was just another swing and miss from JB. They continue to cut corners and sadly the masses don't notice or don't care and the purist do but since the masses rush out and buy them quality isn't really an issue with JB, why give us OG quality when they sell out with corning cutting quality?

Then my newest irritation with JB is the lack of creativity! This is huge with me these days and is really causing me to lose interest. It seems EVERY shoe that I see that JB is releasing is just some mixture of something they did in the past. I RARELY see anything new or ground breaking except when the newest signature shoe releases (ie the 2010). Just think about it for a moment everything is a blend of something old like you got the Dub Zero's, Spiz'ikes, Tru Flights, Six Rings, Accolades, 60 Plus and when all else fails FUSE Jordan with NIKE and get Fusions and now the latest un-original creation I've seen is the Jordan Comfort VIS 11 a hybrid of the Air Max 1 and the Air Jordan XI is JB serious?

With all that said many people have wondered why I haven't been copping J's, it's not that I don't like the signature line because I still have my favorites, but the cycle is just not exciting as it use to be, also there hasn't been a non-signature line Jordan has produced that has made me say I have to have those... I mean really why the heck would I wear a Fusion III if I have the actual Air Jordan III? Wouldn't any Air Jordan III be 100 times fresher than a III fused with an Air Force One? Not to mention the cycle itself is just repeating, like not to long ago the XIII's were released and people were quick to complain about toe creasing, the XIII is coming back and people will rush to cop and then complain about toe creasing AGAIN!

I know this was a long read but that's the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my opinion on JB, of course I have my ideas of how to right the ship for the masses and the purist but I don't think JB is interested in hearing it. Well I cop J's in the future? I'm sure I will but as always I am selective in what I buy, just because people think every J is the greatest thing ever doesn't mean I do.

Sample Air Jordan BIN XIII Jordan Brand STOLE my design!

2010-06-29T14:06:00.000-05:00

Okay so should I be a little upset? Last year I photo-shopped a pair of Air Jordan XIII's in what I think would be a NICE colorway and today I see via TheShoeGame.com that Gentry of Jordan Brand was caught out wearing some "Sample" Air Jordan XIII BIN Collection's and please help me out here but don't these look AWFULLY similar to the pair I created in PS?

Pretty close huh, for the record I think the white inside on my pair would be better than the dark inside on Gentry's pair.

So what do you all think?

Air Jordan Charcoal IX Retro this fall

2010-06-23T13:35:00.000-05:00

Set to release in September time frame this is the FIRST time this Air Jordan has been retro'ed. This is one of my personal all time favorite Air Jordan releases and from the initial looks of it courtesy of MarqueeSole.com JB did not disappoint! This looks like it will easily be the HOTTEST IX of the year with the exception of the BIN Collection IX.

If you would like to get your hands on them early check out MarqueeSole.com located in the top right of this blog under the Legit Sites section.

John Wall - Signs with Reebok

2010-06-21T11:45:00.000-05:00

John Wall has signed a 5-year, $25 million deal with Reebok. Wall has plans that go beyond the basketball court, "The impact was basically me wanting to go where it's best for me and what can help build my brand and make me more marketable and having a better image."

Now before I get to deep into this discussion I know Nike has the basketball market locked up. But could the fact that Nike has it on lock be the reason guys like Derrick Rose (Adidas) and John Wall are opting to go with other brands? Or are they just testing the waters much like Vince Carter did with Puma (Yikes) or D. Wade tested the waters with Converse? Both Vince and Wade eventually were lured under the Nike umbrella. The question is will there be another athlete to take a sneaker company above Nike or does Nike just have locked up?

Either way congrats to John Wall for signing a sneaker deal worth $25 million.

Kicks Info for the Female Sneaker Enthusiast

2010-06-17T15:10:00.000-05:00

Looking for information for the female sneaker heads out there. Then you should click the image below and bookmark the SneakHerBox blog. Blog is geared to providing information on female and youth size releases of all the hot sneakers out and that are coming out. Got interesting posts dating back to 2008 in the archives. So fellas I know your interested in sneakers and I know you know ladies that are trying to get plugged in as well, so put them on to SneakerHerBox.com.

Air Jordan XIII BIN 23 Collection

2010-06-14T09:20:00.000-05:00

The Air Jordan XIII (13) BIN 23 model will be just as limited as the previous BIN 23 models and there is no set release date yet.

As with the previous 2 releases of the BIN Collection your gonna want to make plans to camp out if you want to get your hands on these for retail, otherwise you'll be looking to spend hundreds over retail to get them.

As more information is released we'll post it.

Legit eBay sellers Vol 1

2010-06-08T15:27:00.009-05:00

As easy as it is to point out the fake ebay sellers like for example: kendigglerstuff who has a great feedback of like 98.8% and has made a good living on eBay selling Diet & Energy pills has now started selling fake Air Jordans, we will not focus on those fake sellers.

Instead let's begin creating a list of legit sellers, those that we would not have hesitation on buying from. With that in mind let us begin creating this list, if you have someone you would like to submit please use the comment link to let us know about them.

Let's get started:

Indicates Newly added.

gto6900
kixpress
Hottestfootwear
air19710617jordan
id4shoes
coolspring95
mental_therapy
supremehut
uptempoair
neo122401
thecoolshoeshine
noname2828
jesgo_sports
ivehademall
sunshining7
nyzcorp
depeche23mode
solesupremacysales
kaili_001

The list will continue to grow over time, please feel free to submit sellers name by using the comments button (Not all sellers submitted will be listed).

Please Note: SSB is not responsible for your eBay transaction, this list is simply a list of reputable sellers to help you in your search for authentic sneakers. Any problems you run into with a seller is between you and that seller and not SSB.

Air Jordan sneaker game getting too predictable?

2010-06-04T13:19:00.000-05:00

The question is simple on the surface but could easily get deep if you really look at it. Is Jordan Brand getting to predictable & somewhat boring? I mean for years we have all been excited about Jordan's being retro-ed and for years the cycle has been the same, people hear of a shoe being retro-ed and get OVERLY EXCITED, as the shoe gets closer to release people begin to OVERLY COMPLAIN about quality, colors and so on, when the shoe actually releases the same people go OUT OF THERE WAY to buy them anyway after all the complaining. It doesn't stop there because the same people that complained the loudest continue to complain about the shoes they just spent their hard earned money on.

Of course I could go on and on about this subject but my question is not so much is Jordan Brand getting to predictable as it is are the sneakerheads too predictable and in many cases unsatisfiable?

In my opinion Jordan Brand has somewhat made a nice bounce back in 2010 thus far, with the exception of the recent QF II & Powder IX's (Plastic like leather killed them for me) and JB seems to have a STRONG fall/winter lineup schedule which will no doubt have sneakerheads lined up outside of retail shops on Saturday mornings. Quality of recent Jordans has been much better in 2010 then say 2006, Jordans are still selling out and people are still excited and we "sneakerheads" need to remember we are a small segment of the actual JB customer base. The question that I will leave my readers with is one I ask myself every time I see a YouTube Video or Forum post of a person complaining about a shoe they just bought, why buy it if you don't like it? Straight up hypebeast status when I see that... what other reason is there to buy them??? -Peace

Chicago Sneaker Spot: Vol. Yeah Board Shop

2010-06-01T10:40:00.000-05:00

In cruising the Chicago-land area for fresh sneakers I have many times passed right by Yeah Board Shop without realizing it was there. For some reason it caught my eye one day and popped in to see what they had to offer and to my surprise they have plenty, from skateboards and all the accessories for them, to pants, shirts and of course sneakers! This was the place I purchased my first pair of Nike SB Dunks (Larry Perkins) and since that day just a few weeks ago MANY people have asked me where I got those Dunks from. Well that place is Yeah Board Shop located at 148 Bartlett Plaza Bartlett, IL, if you are interested in securing some SB's along with a host of other skateboard shoes please give them a call at 630-540-9324 they can and will do phone orders to help you get what you need. Below are some pictures to give you a taste of what they have going on. For those in the Chicago-land area this is a hidden gem just off the beaten path, take I90 West take 59 South right into Bartlett

Location: 148 Bartlett Plaza Bartlett IL
Phone: 630 540-9324
Website: YeahBoardShop.com

Selection: True Skate Shop
Prices: GREAT Prices
Atmosphere: Urban look and feel very welcoming and upbeat.

Air Jordan I Spice

2010-05-26T14:27:00.000-05:00

So as many of you know I'm not the biggest fan of the Air Jordan I simply because they have created so many colorways of the shoe that I've pretty much given up on them unless they are OG colorway and even then I'm just like blah...

This new Air Jordan I has made me sit up in my chair and give it a second, third look. I have to say these are most certainly a HOT colorway in my opinion. All leather upper with white midsole and patent leather swoosh these look like very clean and they are set to drop in July.

Q & A: Recommended Jordan's for a newbie to the game

2010-05-25T10:43:00.000-05:00

Every week I am asked many questions and some of the questions asked of me are really more direct, as in the answer really applies only to the person asking me. There are a good number of questions that are asked that the answer could help many people out. With that in mind this is the question of the week.

"I'm new to the sneaker game and of course I'm a Jordan fan.. Whats are sum pairs of J's you recommend for a newbie like me?"

First off my answer to anyone would be start off by purchasing what YOU like, don't worry about what other people like. You'll get little or no respect if you just follow the already over populated herd of sheep, so be as original as you can be and buy what you like. If you new to the game then you don't want to start off in the sneaker game and be label a "Hypebeast" right off the bat.

If you are truly a fan of Michael Jordan then I would suggest getting some Original Colorway Jordan's in your collection to start you off with a nice base to work with. This year has been a great year to jump in sneakers I would suggest you grab would be the Air Jordan II (Released this past Saturday), maybe grab the Powder Blue IX's releasing next Saturday and then keep your eye out for upcoming releases to add to your collection. There are a lot of "Gems" dropping this year and I'm not going to give away the farm right here, but do you homework get committed to what you want and go for it. Don't let anyone tell you your collection is whack, weak or whatever always remember it's YOUR collection not theirs.

Hope this has helped more than one person out. Last but not least KEEP IT REAL & NOT FAKE.

Match your gear to your sneaks? Meet Jumpman Bostic

2010-05-23T14:06:00.000-05:00

For those of you that enjoy matching up your clothes to your sneakers, let me introduce you to Jumpman Bostic. Check out his videos, rate, comment subscribe and all that good stuff. He has plenty of combinations to keep you tuning in to his almost daily videos.

Video by: JumpmanBostic

A good look at the Kobe Aston Martin Package

2010-05-21T09:19:00.000-05:00

Video by: MyIRocZ1989

Hot release that you might sleep on, the Air Jordan II

2010-05-19T11:12:00.000-05:00

This weekend the Air Jordan II is set to release and although the masses won't flock to the store to snatch these up like they did with the Anniversary XI's or Space Jams these are a must have to any Air Jordan sneakerhead out there. I can't count how many sneakerheads see me wear my 2004 Air Jordan II's and say man I wish I would have got those when they came out. So this is me saying don't sleep on this release, although these will be on store shelves for a little while don't keep putting off copping a pair because you will be sorry in the end. Seriously no need to pay more than retail ($135) on these so grab them when you have the chance.

SSB Forum News

2010-05-18T14:02:00.000-05:00

If your not a member of the SneakerShoeBox Forum yet, now would be a good time to join, it's free and has been growing over the past few months. We have a Give-A-Way coming up in June for one lucky active member and you still have time to get in and be eligible. So if you're interested please sign up today and let's grow the community.

Air Jordan RPM, another lackluster design from Jordan Brand?

2010-05-17T11:40:00.000-05:00

Today I was shown this picture of the upcoming Air Jordan RPM and asked what I thought about them. Well this kind of piggy backs off of my more popular YouTube Video's titled My Opinion on Jordan Brand which I did back in August of the 2009.

I believe Jordan Brand works hard to bring out fresh new designs to the marketplace however sometimes the designs are just boring and plain as is the case with the Air Jordan RPM (pictured below). In my opinion when the design lacks Jordan Brand always seems to toss on some Cement Print or Elephant Print or whatever to make the shoes more respectable as a Jordan Brand release. For this reason among others is why it would seem most true Jordan Sneaker Heads only focus and purchase the signature line of the brand, meaning Air Jordan 1-23 and 2009-2010. Of course Fusions, Spiz'ikes, Dub Zeros etc sell but what's making them sell is it the resemblance of the signature line?

Use the comment link below and let me know what you thin of this upcoming release.

Toe creasing on your fresh Sneakers? Meet ForceFields.

2010-05-13T14:08:00.000-05:00

Seems as though I am asked this question daily. What do you do to keep the toe box from creasing on your shoes? Short answer is nothing, I don't do anything special because I have learned to accept certain things about sneakers that many people just have a hard stomaching. Things like clear soles yellow over time, sneakers are not made to last forever and feet bend therefore toe boxes on shoes crease. It's not a big deal to me that they crease, as long as the shoes are clean I could care less if the toe has a crease them because they are conforming to MY foot. On the flip side of the coin I know there are plenty of people that go out of there way to keep their toe boxes from creasing, from walking like Frankenstein to stuffing paper in the toes after they take them off.

Well I have a couple friends in the sneaker community that have really taken a liking to ForceFields (pictured below). ForceFields are pretty cool they slide into your shoe and stick to the top of the toe box area and help prevent toe creasing as it stiffens the toe box area. Of course you have to get use to having something in your shoe when you walk, and you may have to purchase your shoes a half size bigger to attain the comfort your really looking for but it will help you keep a more crease free toe box. Believe you can find these are Footlocker & Finishline stores.

Legit site sending out damaged goods? Vol: SneakerFather.com

2010-05-05T14:07:00.000-05:00

Now I'm not here to put any person on BLAST but there is a company that we do need to put on blast for poor company practices.

Everyone wants Air Jordan's, everyone wants LEGIT Air Jordan's but the question is should the trade off for legit sneakers be damaged or already worn shoes when they are listed as NEW? Should the box the shoes come in be borderline destroyed even when it comes DOUBLE BOXED? I mean seriously how does that happen?

Well below we have a few testimonies on SneakerFather.com and the poor quality sneakers they are sending to customers and in my opinion doesn't matter if it's 1 customer or many because how would you feel if you paid MORE than retail for some sneakers that are listed as NEW and got some pre-creased, scuffed up sneaks? So let this message be a warning to you all and seriously consider where you spend your money, because right now SneakerFather.com is not looking like they appreciate the business that we as sneakerheads have provide them.

Scenario One:

Scenario Two:

Scenario Three:

Again I'm not coming at anyone on a personal level but on a business level this type of practice is not acceptable. And I wouldn't be true to the culture if I didn't speak up and spread this word. So just use this as a warning to be careful and do your homework.

Nike's new slogan: Just Sue It

2010-05-04T10:54:00.001-05:00

Counterfeiters are cashing in on Nike's valuable brand name, posing as authorized resellers online and playing on consumer trust in the company. But Nike's saying it's game over.
Nike Inc. is seeking to wrest control over 66 Internet domain names it says are hawking counterfeit goods.

The athletic footwear and apparel giant filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Virginia against the domain names, all of which are registered to entities in China.

The domain names were registered through VeriSign Inc. in Dulles, Virginia. Nike is seeking an injunction to have VeriSign transfer the names into Nike’s control.

Nike officials declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Read more: Here

Introducing Future Sole 2010

2010-05-04T10:45:00.000-05:00

Future Sole 2010 registration just started on May 1st, so if you’re a student between the ages of 14-25 with design skills, enter the 2010 Future Sole competition. For the first time, Future Sole will feature a Jordan t-shirt design category, as well as the usual footwear design category. This is your chance to win $5,000 in prizes, plus a $5,000 grant for your school. Register today, online voting begins on July 7th, and the winner will be announced on August 30th. Heads up, and good luck!

Register: Future Sole 2010 Design Competition

...but how long will the Air Jordan XI be ICEY?

2010-04-29T15:40:00.002-05:00

This weekend people are just getting geared up for the release of the Air Jordan XI Anniversary Edition, the shoe looks nice and white, many just describe it as ICEY! Now I think the shoe looks great and it's pretty cool to see people getting ready for a Saturday release, getting to the mall early just to cop a pair.

My question is how long before all the excitement for the release is eclipsed by people being down right upset, looking for a solution to clear up the yellowing that will come? I'm not talking about the soles of the shoes I'm talking about that nice crispy bright patent leather? Younger sneakerheads may not remember the Air Jordan XI Columbia (pictured on the right below), when they released they looked GREAT but over time and not a long time either they began to yellow in the wrong place. So as you get excited and start counting down the hours to the midnight release of this sneaker just remember you might not be so excited about them in a few months.

Chicago Sneaker Spot: Vol. Kuts & Kicks

2010-04-21T14:18:00.018-05:00

Heat! Heat in the sneaker culture means that the shoes are extra nice and in most cases rare & highly sought after. If you are at all into Air Jordan's, Air Force One's, Nike SB's, Air Penny's and the like then Born with Soul / Kuts & Kicks Boutique is most certainly the place for you. It's a full service salon and sneaker boutique in one. And believe me you will not be disappointed by the selection and if your unable to find what you want just ask owner Melo to help you find it.

As you can see the shop itself breaths Hip Hop/Sneaker Culture from the fresh paintings on the wall to the sneakers on display this is a MUST visit for any Jordan head out there.

As Melo says: "You can come in and get the freshest kuts and leave with the dopest kicks. So come in and check us out! We're located at 2092 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL."

Location: 2092 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago IL
Phone: 773 252-4743
Website: Friend up on MySpace

Selection: Very nice wide selection of Jordan's, SB's and Retro Nike's
Prices: Supply and demand prices.
Atmosphere: Urban look and feel with plenty to look at.

Chicago Sneaker Spot: Vol. UpRise

2010-04-20T12:46:00.004-05:00

Uprise is a skater-owned shop run by people that are passionate about skateboarding and the City of Chicago. If you at all into the skateboarding scene this is the place you MUST visit. Located in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago on 1820 N Milwaukee Ave (between Bloomingdale Ave & Moffat St) this shop has the Nike SB's you may be looking for. As seen in the picture below they had on display the quickstrike Nike SB Dunk High Skunk 4/20 which is available today and Uprise has them and their doors open at noon.

The shop itself has a real personal touch on it, makes you feel like you walked right into the deep in of a pool of skater culture. The staff is very knowledgeable and easy to talk to, they treated us very nicely even though I know nothing about the Skater world. There was even a young kid just getting into skateboarding and they treated him very well.

I'd say if you are at all into Nike SB's then this is your place.

Location: 1820 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago IL
Phone: 773.342.7763
Website: www.UpriseSkateShop.com

Selection: Very nice wide selection of skateboarding sneakers
Prices: Very fair market prices.
Atmosphere: Skater friendly urban look and feel.

Chicago Sneaker Spot: Vol. St. Alfreds

2010-04-19T11:31:00.003-05:00

Fresh. Slang Excellent; first-rate. That's pretty much all I need to say about one of Chicago's hot spots for sneaker heads. A very slick and stylish boutique located at 1531 North Milwaukee, the atmosphere is very chill the staff has always been excellent and personable. Although it has that upscale look and feel it does not have the upscale attitudes that often make a person feel under-classed or out of place, that couldn't be further from the truth with St. Alfreds. The staff is always willing to help and know a thing or two about the sneaker culture. If you are a Chicagoan or are coming out to Chicago anytime St. Alfreds is a good place to visit.

Location: 1531 North Milwaukee Chicago IL
Phone: 773.486.7159
Website: www.StAlfreds.com

Selection: Mostly current items, if you see it grab it cause it may not be there next time.
Prices: Very fair market prices.
Atmosphere: Very Nice.

Air Jordan VI Pistons

2010-04-16T15:17:00.002-05:00

Detroit Pistons inspired Air Jordan 6 comes out tomorrow the 17th of April. The Pistons Air Jordan 6 is made up of a mixture of suede, patent leather, and speckled detailing. Some of you may still be on the fence about this release, because I know I am, really why in the world would Jordan make a shoe inspired at all by the Pistons? I guess it is what it is but makes me scratch my head. You can scoop a pair up Saturday, April 17th for $150 at Jordan Brand dealers.

If you are copping or not post a quick comment and let me know your opinion of this release?

Nike x St. Alfred open new temp spot in Chicago

2010-04-15T11:56:00.002-05:00

Nike x St. Alfred 1529 N. Milwaukee Ave. The temporary shop (expect it to be around at least through July) is all about the World Cup, stocking soccer-centric clothing and shoes from Nike, as well as soccer jerseys that St. Alfred designed. In an effort to mash-up art with sports, the store will also feature artwork by local artists. For this month, Cody Hudson created a funky geometric mural that covers the gymnasium-style bleachers along one wall. He also created five graphic designs that you can customize the colors of and have printed on a T-shirt with the help of a staffer.

The next big signature shoe line? Who got next?

2010-04-12T10:34:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend I started to think about the prestige behind the Air Jordan sneaker and of course we all know what they are today, highly regarded, sought after sneakers. If you don't know the story of the NBA banning the Air Jordan I which resulted in controversy which made Nike and the Air Jordan transcend the sneaker culture into what we all know it as today, you should read up that to get a better understanding of why it is what it is today. But this isn't about that it's about who's got next? Jordan has had the sneaker game in a head lock for 25 years, who's going to take the torch and have people lined up on Saturday mornings or camping out for days on end to cop their signature line? Some of you may not remember but when Shaq enter the league ReeBok did all it could to steal some of Nike's share of teh market with Shaq's signature line commercial below:

Of course Reebok didn't get quite reach the level of success that Nike already had. Then came Grant Hill and Fila made an attempt, ReeBok later came back with Allen Iverson and the Answer, Adidas gave us a few releases of the Kobe and it just seems that no was able to really contend with the Air Jordan. Is the legacy just to tall a mountain to climb, I mean Jordan has passed the torch to a new generation in Melo and Wade will it continue to be the bench mark? My real question today is, if Lebron can secure a title/s and put the league on lock down for a few years like MJ did will it be safe to say Lebron's got next?

Comment with who you believe has next?

Air Jordan XI Anniversary Edition Release May 1st 2010

2010-04-08T16:08:00.000-05:00

So what are your plans for Saturday morning May 1st? What ever they are you might want to change them up a little bit because the Air Jordan XI 25 Anniversary Edition will be released and get this, they will be a GENERAL RELEASE price tag is $150.00 for them and they will also be released in grade school sizes.

Air Jordan BIN23 Collection II

2010-04-08T10:40:00.000-05:00

The first offering from the exclusive Bin 23 collection will be available for purchase on April 10th. The Air Jordan 2 Retro Premio features supple chocolate brown leather and crocodile print, paying homage to the exquisite craftsmanship of the original Air Jordan II. Each pair of the Air Jordan 2 Retro Premio, like all Bin 23 releases, will be individually numbered and carry the Bin 23 seal. Only a few retailers will carry this ultra-exclusive shoe, so call around to see who will have these special kicks! -Jordan Brand

As I have come to understand it initially people were hating on these as most SneakerHeads hate on everything Jordan related, until release day gets near and then everyone jumps through hoops to get their hands on anything label rare, limited etc. In two days the BIN23 release of the Air Jordan II will happen and "sources" have said the stores that will get them will only be receiving 18 pairs with a total release number of 1097 pairs. Not really worth doing the math on how many stores will get them because we all know wheeling and dealing happens since some folks have already secured a pair. None the less the question today remains: If you plan on purchasing a pair, do you like the shoe or do you like the idea of the resale value on the shoe?

Air Jordan BIN23 Collection IX

2010-04-07T11:38:00.000-05:00

The Jordan Brand BIN23 Collection features classic Air Jordan silhouettes constructed with high quality materials and placed in premium packaging. Here's a peek at what could be the next addition to the BIN23 Collection.

Personally I'm really liking this color combination and would like to see it in person but for now we can only wait.

Sneaker Culture - Your all time favorite sneaker?

2010-04-07T10:32:00.000-05:00

The sneaker culture is always evolving and growing and some people aren't quite sneaker heads but when they purchase a pair they want to get a fresh pair that identifies with them. Other are SneakerHeads and think about their next pair while in line purchasing a current pair. Then you run into those that are so immersed in the culture that they are almost identified by a particular brand or particular release. I stumbled upon this image and was taken back a bit as to what I was seeing, of course is picture is worth a thousand words and in my mind I think the person has become so seduced by the Nike Foamposite design and mystic that they had to have it tattooed on their arm. Really how many times have you bought a pair never could bring yourself to wear it, you go through all the obstacles of plastic bagging, silica packs etc to keep your sneakers fresh, and from time to time you just pull them out to look at them, just peak at them and think to yourself these ARE the freshest pair. Well this person took that to another level and tattooed what I hope is his favorite sneaker of all time on their arm. My question today is what is your ALL TIME favorite that you would ever consider tattooing on your arm?

ScAIR Jordan's, why are you even asking me if those are real?

2010-04-06T11:50:00.000-05:00

What's up everyone? First let me give thanks to all of you that stay tuned in to my blog postings I really do appreciate it. As you all know I never turn anyone away when they come to me with sneaker questions I always give the person as much good information as I can whether they are 12 years old and brand new to the culture or 30 years old and been around long enough to teach me a thing or two.

Today I'm caught off guard by a message asking me if the below sneaker is in fact an Authentic pair of Air Jordan XI's. Sometimes I can understand if a colorway is right but the shoe itself is wrong like carbon fiber wrong or space on the 23 is wrong etc. But seriously how can a person look at these and say "dang those must be legit" is it wrong for me to tell them yeah those are legit? LOL I wouldn't do that but sometimes I just feel like saying if you can't even try why should I. These are obvious and painfully some what I call ScAIR Jordan's, I mean really could anyone be convinced these are some exclusive, limited, rare air whatever J's? Anyway just thought I'd share some insight into my mailbag.

How to remove the yellowing from the AJKOS (from: Johnny Bananas)

2010-04-05T12:02:00.001-05:00

If your coped a pair of AJKO'S saturday(3-27-10) and don't want that yellowing on the midsoles that the shoe already comes with here are a few things Johnny Bananas has been hearing to help remove it. TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK! If you use soap and water and baby wipes over and over on the midsole it will remove that yellowing affect.I've also heard you can use nail polish remover on the midsole to remove that yellowing affect.

This is via SneakerheadsUnite.blogspot.com by Johnny Bananas.

The Air Jordan Anniversary releases, flopping?

2010-03-29T09:35:00.000-05:00

So when Jordan Brand came up with the idea of releasing all white Jordan's and calling them the 25th Anniversary's I have to say initially I was kind of excited, however with the releases so far they seem to all be flopping, I, II, III, IV, and IX with the exception of the all white AJ 2010 which was limited. So I ask these questions, are they flopping because of people saving up for the already great line of retro's set to release this year, like the VI's, IX's, XI's etc? Are they flopping because when you hear something like anniversary edition you expect something unique about the releases, instead you get Pure III & IV's that are pretty much the same thing that released in recent years? Seriously JB went a long way to build the hype around the 3 releases this past weekend III, IV & IX's with contests and spreading the shoes out to make it like a hunt for all 3, is it flopping? As I type this on a Monday morning I see Eastbay still has a full size run of the III & IV, Finishline still has the IX's and almost everywhere still has the I and II. Are we all sleeping on releases that will become something special later or what? Comment away people, I'd like to know your opinion.

Flag on the play - Updated!

2010-03-23T10:33:00.018-05:00

This is a special alert to all REAL SneakerHeads! Have a few new sites to add to the list of Fake sellers out there to STAY WAY FROM. I have also made the list alphabetical to help you in your search. If you know of any that should be added please let us know by posting a comment, or if you have one in question and aren't sure of.

Indicates Newly added.

100Jordans.com
23isKing.com
23Fans.com
888Kicks.com
99Pair.com
AirJordanCity.com
AirJordanDepot.com
AirJordanToday.co.uk
AJ2U.com
AllDayAirs.com
B2C2U.com
BrandDaze.com
CheapJordans.org
CheapMass.com
CrazyJordans.com
CoolJordanShoes.com
DiscountJordanShoes.com
DragonKicks.com
ExclusiveJay.com
FirstSneakers.com
Good-Seller.com
HeyKicks.com
IEShoes.com
INeedJordanShoes.com
Jordan9.com
JordansAir.com
JordansBox.com
JordanFiles.com
JordanSelling.com
JordanZone.com
Kick-Mart.com
Kicks4Less.com
KicksBay.com
KickShoesEbay.com
KicksPalace.com
KixUltra.com
Know-Ware.com
MySoleGame.com
NeedAPair.com
OKJordan.com
Pick-Air-Jordan.com
PickProduct.com
Retro-Jumps.com
RetroJordanKicks.com
ShoeClub123.com
Shoes-Jordans.com
SmallMarketSite.com
SMKings.com
SneakerStock.com
Sneaker-File.com
SoleSold.com
Soopos.com
ToeToeShoes.com
USAJumpman.com
YXKings.com

Stay tuned...

The Air Jordan I KO and my opinion on them...

2010-03-18T11:33:00.000-05:00

What's up sneaker family. Lately I have been asked a countless number of times if I would be copping the Air Jordan I KO or what's my opinion on the Air Jordan I KO. No before you all get upset with me, understand the only person I agree with 100% of the time is myself, so although I am inspired by Air Jordan sneakers and the brand they do make decisions that I don't agree with... big example is the Fusions but let's not beat a dead horse anymore than we have.

In my opinion is really neutral at this point, although I do appreciate the shoe and the history behind it, I'm not really that happy with the way this retro is being presented with the already yellowed midsole to give it that historic look. That style works well with jeans and t-shirts but sneakers? The killer part is people are going nuts over these and I just have to raise this question to you all. As excited as you are to run out and cop a pair of shoes that already look worn like these Air Jordan KO's:

Would you be as excited to run out and cop the Air Jordan XI with an already yellow clear sole, so you could have that nice historic look? Please comment away and let me know your thoughts, perhaps I'm just on my own with this line of thinking.

Air Jordan VI Infrared Package set for June Release

2010-03-11T09:43:00.000-06:00

Air Jordan VI (6) Retro Infrared Pack, featuring both the black and white colorways of the Infrared Jordan VI that are regarded as two of the greatest Jordan colorways of all time. Product information and style codes have surfaced, confirming the release of the Infrared Jordan VI Package for June 2010.

JGoods™ Sneaker Restoration Kit

2010-02-26T10:28:00.000-06:00

I'm always asked about cleaning shoes, how to make them look fresh again. Well here's a GREAT resource for you, JGoods has put together a kit designed to help you turn those beaters into heaters again!

The kit includes all the necessary materials for sneaker restoration and the most comprehensive guide to sneaker care, cleaning and restoration available.

For unparalleled Sneaker renewal, purchase The JGoods™ Sneaker Restoration Kit.

The kit includes:

The JGoods™ Guide to Sneaker Restoration
12" by 12" white towel
Stiff Poly Scrub Brush
Melamine Foam Pad
The JGoods™ Finish Remover
White and Black JGoods Leather Paint
One High Quality Paint Brush
Cotton Swabs
Scourer Sponge

Click the image to visit the site and purchase the kit for $35.

Air Jordan III (3) IV (4) and IX (9) 25th Anniversary White Collection Release Dates

2010-02-24T10:15:00.001-06:00

From Jordan Brand: To continue the celebration of Jordan’s silver anniversary, on March 27th we will be launching the White/Metallic Silver versions of Air Jordans 3, 4, and 9. These instant classics will be available at select retail partners, though each style will be distributed at different retailers. For those that want all three styles, it will require some extra effort, dedication and a commitment to the hunt to collect them all.

A list of legit websites that sell authentic Air Jordans

2010-02-23T16:51:00.001-06:00

Okay, so I have been doing video's on sneakers for a little while now, and recently I have been asked at least 3-4 times a day is this website legit or is that website legit and so on. So I decided to put this list together of sites that are legit. Of course I won't be listing every site in the world because new sites pop up daily, so please understand there are going to be other sites that are legit that are not listed here. Okay so here we go with legit sites:

SneakerHead.com

UptempoAir.com

SneakerFather.com

MarqueeSole.com

FlightClub.com

CitySole.com

PickYourShoes.com

EastBay.com

Granted some of these sites need to be revamped a little to give a more professional look but none the less they are legit. I will continue to add more as I get to them but this is a good place to start your search for legit sneakers.

Flag on the play! SneakerHead Alert

2010-02-18T10:05:00.006-06:00

This is a special alert to all REAL SneakerHeads! As I cruise the internet from time to time I run into someone that is selling fakes and doesn't believe or understand it when I try to help them out. So from now on these "Flag on the play" postings will appear to let you know to avoid these people at all cost or you will be sorry when you receive fakes!

Today we are zooming in on the following websites. Stay away from these fake sneaker selling websites:

okjordan.com
CheapJordans.org
SoleSold.com
FirstSneakers.com
KicksBay.com
AirJordanToday.co.uk
23isKing.com
100jordans.com
888kicks.com
ieshoes.com
crazyjordans.com
jordanzone.com
23fans.com
kicks4less.com
alldayairs.com
retro-jumps.com
smallmarketsite.com
mysolegame.com
retrojordankicks.com

Stay tuned for the next "Flag on the play" because we are going after sellers on YouTube as well as eBay.

Special thanks to: James A.

Air Jordan IV Cool Grey for sale

2010-02-12T15:38:00.000-06:00

In the consignment shop some nice heat to warm you up this winter. Air Jordan IV Cool Grey 2004 Retro size 9 DS and shipped for $270.00.

Available Lebron VII Size 10 China Edition

2010-02-11T09:46:00.000-06:00

We have opened up the on-line consignment shop and we have 1 pair of the Lebron VII China edition available in size 10. The image is of the exact pair you will get.

Tinker Hatfield Air Jordan Alpha I "Quickstrike Release & Limited"

2010-02-09T10:43:00.000-06:00

Below is an image of the custom Tinker Hatfield Air Jordan Alpha I. For those of you unaware Tinker did not design the original Air Jordan I, but he has put his spin on the Air Jordan I Alpha as seen below.

The Alpha 1 Tinker edition is slated for a February 15, 2010, release date and is retailing at Wish for $125.

HUPBOX Clear Shoebox Available Now

2010-02-04T10:15:00.000-06:00

Whether you are looking to display the crown jewels of your collection or you need a much easier way to see what is inside all of those sneaker boxes, the HUPBOX is now providing a solution for both scenarios. The HUPBOX is constructed of a high-quality and impact-resistant acrylic. From a visual standpoint, the HUPBOX provides a 360-degree clear view of the box's contents and provides a display option for your most prized sneaker and footwear possessions as well as a storage option. The box measures in at 13 1/8 in x 9 1/4 in x 4 13/16 in (approximately 33.3 cm x 23.5 cm x 12.2 cm) and can fit most low-top shoes, outsoles-down to a US size 12.

HUPBOX is currently available through www.HUPBOX.com with a retail price of $40 USD per box. For any further questions or inquires, please send an email to info@hupbox.com.

Michael Jordan on Leno

2010-01-29T13:47:00.000-06:00

Air Jordan XI Cool Grey Confirmed

2010-01-29T11:52:00.000-06:00

The Air Jordan 11 Retro Cool Greys - 378037-001 have been confirmed for this holiday season (Nov). I believe the frenzy will be even bigger than it was for the Space Jams that released this past Christmas.

Louder than your voice, is your wallet.

2010-01-26T09:57:00.000-06:00

This is a follow up to an article I did last year titled The details are lost... I've seen the changes in Jordan Brand over the years and have heard almost every opinion on the matter, from quality issues, to colorway complaints, to material adjustments and so on. My question is this, if you are upset with the product why are you sneaker heads still making the purchase, camping out, staying up to midnight to make your purchase online?

I think a good percentage of sneaker heads are unoriginal in their own thoughts and style, they see others complaining and feel it's the right thing to do. Much like when they see others hyping up a release and feel they have to have it. We'll label this group of people sheep, because they are just following the masses.

True I would change some things about some of the retro's that have been released, and the ones that I don't like I pass on, why continue spending my hard earned money for a product that I'm only going to complain about. Which is why all of 2009 I bought ZERO Air Jordans, that's right not a single pair because I felt the product was just not up to par. Now many of you went bananas over the Space Jams, and complained about the quality of the shoes, as well as the price. You wanna know the message Jordan Brand got from you all? They got the message of "GREAT JOB JORDAN BRAND, it was inferior to the OG yet $50 more and we sold out of them so GREAT JOB." Guess what the future will bring... better retro's a cheaper price? Probably not.

My point would be if your going to complain, louder than your voice, is your wallet when your talking to corporate America. Just something to think about when you put on that pair of sneakers that you bashed over and over again only to go and buy them anyway.

Forum is open and membership is free!

2010-01-25T16:08:00.000-06:00

The new forum is now up and running. It's free to join! Click the image below to access the forums. Invite your friends and be apart of it from the beginning!

Air Jordan Spiz'ike... what has happened?

2010-01-21T10:42:00.000-06:00

Remember the first few releases of the Air Jordan Spiz'ike (which I always referred to them as the Dub Zero II) were a big deal, it was hard to get your hands on them and everyone wanted a pair. Basically they were the Air Yeezy before there were Yeezy's as far as hype goes. Well over the past weekend the Mars version of the Spiz'ike, as if they needed a Mars version, were released and I'll be honest this colorway is very nice however they are sitting on store shelves days after the release. So I got to thinking what could it be that is causing people to not buy them? I know your thinking it's the economy dude, but I would disagree with you. I believe the reason they are still sitting on shelves is because Jordan Brand has set the release of the Air Jordan VI one week after the release of the Spiz'ike. Really who wants to spend $175 on the Spiz'ike when the signature line is retro-ing they ever popular Air Jordan VI's in 2010? Just my opinion but Jordan Brand should have released these a few weeks between signature line retro releases.

None the less like I said next to the Cool Grey Spiz'ikes I have to say these are very fresh and if I see a pair dip in price I might actually snatch'em up.

First look at Air Jordan VI Black Varsity Red

2010-01-20T20:34:00.001-06:00

I just secured my Air Jordan VI's and in person I have to say they are very nice. The material is not as distracting as I thought, also the toe box looks great! I thought they were going to be altered but I was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn't say camp out for them but they are worth copping.

Very good review of Air Jordan Alpha I (on the court)

2010-01-20T10:11:00.001-06:00

By: iufreak18

Crash the Boards!

2010-01-18T16:31:00.000-06:00

Hello all, looks like things are being put in place fairly quickly. Look like in the upcoming days we'll be launching a new message board community. Basically a place to talk sneakers, sports and so on. Once we are up and running with it I'll be sure to post a comment and probably make a YouTube announcement. Thanks for your time.

Air Jordan I Alpha JStar first impression

2010-01-18T11:21:00.000-06:00