The Jordan Pinnacle line. A point of contention among many sneakerheads. Some love the high-fashion twist and premium materials on their favorite Jordan models. Others think paying $400 retail for a Jordan shoe is outrageous, and that the high-fashion shoes should be left to high-fashion brands.

We’re of the first school of thought. We’re big supporters of the Jordan Pinnacle line. We think it’s a dope concept, and that putting a high-fashion twist on classic silhouettes is a great idea, and we’ve got a few reasons why, so pull up a chair and put your reading glasses on. read more

Anyone who’s into sneakers (and even a lot of people who aren’t) know: the Jordan XI causes mass hysteria  every time it drops. From the summertime low-top releases, to the thirsted-after holiday release, XI’s cause sneakerheads, fashionistas, and Michael Jordan fans to lose their collective minds every time they drop.

I love Jordans, (I’s, III’s and IV’s especially), and I think the XI’s are dope, but I don’t love them as much as most people seem to. So I figured we’d take a journey together today. A journey in which we try to figure out why people love their XI’s so damn much. Let’s begin. read more

There’s really nothing quite like copping a new pair of kicks. The rush you get when you see something that you like and you cop it is a unique and extremely enjoyable feeling, and when you’re borderline obsessed with buying shoes, you tend to want that new-cop feel over and over again. However, in this case, you can have too much of a good thing.

In the pursuit of that rush, you may find yourself doing a lot of mindless copping. See shoe, like, shoe, buy shoe. See how thinking wasn’t involved in that process? That’s how you wind up with a closet full of kicks you won’t wear and didn’t really want in the first place. We’ve been there before, and we know how it gets. Thankfully, we’ve learned from our experiences, and we also know the best ways to ensure that you don’t wind up doing way too much mindless copping. Sit back and relax. You’re about to get educated. read more

Shoe collecting isn’t a cheap hobby. Even if you’re not fully invested into it, it’s easy to spend hundreds of dollars a month copping new releases and paying resell prices for kicks that you really want and missed out on. It’s not something that’s financially feasible for a lot of people. Thankfully, over our years in the game we’ve found that there’s a few ways you can save money here and there and collect kicks on the cheap, so we compiled the best ones for you. Don’t break the bank just yet…check out these tips first! read more

Sneakerheads love a heated discussion. Whether it’s about which retro is better, who the biggest influencer in sneakers is right now, or what shoe has the best quality materials, they have their opinions and will defend them to death. There’s a lot of room for interpretation and opinions in the sneaker game, and that’s what makes it such a fun hobby, as there’s always something to talk about.

However, there’s one argument sneakerheads love to have that’s just flat-out pointless, and it begins with something like this: “If (insert hyped shoe here) wasn’t associated with (insert celeb or influencer here), then nobody would care about it!” If you’ve ever said that, we’ve got one question for you: So what?? read more

Nike SB. If you were into sneakers in the mid to late 00’s, you at least had a few pair in your collection…well let’s be honest here, your collection was probably mostly comprised of SB Dunk Lows and Highs, with a couple P-Rods thrown in for good measure. Nobody was better at coming up with interesting concepts and dropping limited releases than the folks at Nike SB.

But now things are different. Nike SB’s sit on shelves. Apart from the core SB fans, sneakerheads don’t get excited about the releases anymore. You can even find them at outlets. Go into your local Nike outlet or factory store right now, and you’ll probably see a full run of De La Soul SB Dunk Lows sitting on the shelves. How could something like this happen? How could the coolest brand out turn into a denizen of sale shelves and outlets? read more

10 Deep (word to Scott Sasso).

We’re back again with the 10th edition of Sunday Sneaker Ramblings…and it’s been a while, as the last one was all the way back in February. If you’re new to the site, here’s a quick background: I share my unfiltered thoughts on everything that went down in sneakers the past week. That’s it. Plain and simple. Now that the background’s out of the way, let’s get right to it. Round 10 begins now.

Let’s go ahead and start things off with the Yeezys, as everyone’s hyped to hear some news on the Kanye front. A June 11th release date has been announced for the next color of the wildly popular Yeezy Boost 350’s, and this time it’s going to be a “beluga” colorway (probably the first time a lot of sneakerheads have heard that word). If these rumors, which seem solid, are indeed true, we’ll have a white 350 to rock this summer. Prepare yourself for the Yeezy madness. We’ve had a nice break, but it’s about to envelop everything once again. read more

Trends come, and trends go. Some, you miss. Others, you catch. It’s the name of the game, and there’s always something new and dope right around the corner.

What’s in currently? Tan kicks. Yes, tan kicks. A color you though you’d only see on dress shoes has made its way into mainstream sneaker culture, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon. The most obvious example is the Oxford Tan Yeezy 350 boosts pictured at the top of the article, but that’s not even close to everything. Vachetta Tan Jordan I’s. NikeLab tan Air Flight 89’s. NikeLab Vachetta Tan Air Force 1 Mids. Tan Common Projects Achillies Lows. Tan/white Filling Pieces low tops. Any Hender Scheme. read more

There’s no denying it, sneakers are a very expensive hobby. Even a pair of kicks every other month is a budget-stretcher for some sneakerheads, and as kicks continue to get more and more expensive, there’s a simple question that’s just begging to be asked: When is a sneaker’s box price just too damn high?

This is a difficult question, and one with no solid answer. Shoes used to be somewhat reasonably priced. Remember when you could get a solid pair for under $70? Remember the 2 for $90 deal at Champs (still the best deal in the history of sneakers if you ask us)? Well, those days are long gone. So you’ve got to ask yourself: where are you going to draw the line? Will it be at $190 for a Jordan? Will it be at $230 for a pair of American-made New Balance? Will it be at $500 for a designer shoe, like a Balenciaga? Will it be at $650 for a pair of Just Dons? Mind you, we’re not talking resell prices here. We’re talking about what you’re willing to pay for a new pair of shoes from a retail location or website. read more

Some call it the outlet. Some call it the factory store. Some call it the clearance store. No matter what you call it, you know Nike’s outlets are chock-full of great deals on sneakers and apparel. However, much like thrifting, there’s an art to getting the most out of your experience when you hit the outlets. Here at KicksOneTwo, we’d like to think we’re very skilled at getting deals…and we’re feeling generous, so we’re going to share some of our best outlet tips with you. Let’s get it. read more

Every so often, something special happens in the sneaker game. A new model comes out, or an old model gains steam again for some reason, and it’s the hottest thing out for a good minute. New colorways and special editions drop, sneakerheads and fashionistas sing the praises of the shoe from coast to coast, and then the market gets saturated. The “cool shoe” becomes a favorite of suburban high school kids and 50-year old men. The “cool shoe” is now firmly buried 6 feet deep in the sneaker graveyard. read more

You’ve got some rare heaters in your collection. From limited-edition Jordans, to retro runner collabs, to any type of Yeezy, there’s some valuable kicks that you possess. You’re happy and proud to have them and you should be. Having valuable pairs is always dope. However, there’s a very important question that you need to be asked: does the vaue of your kicks affect how much you like them? 

“What are you saying?” you might be thinking. “Where’s the connection?”. Fair question. Sometimes, when a sneaker’s limited and expensive, people grow to like it simply because it’s limited and expensive, not because they actually like the design or the aesthetic of the sneaker that much. read more

Restock.

It’s a word that makes your pulse quicken. Makes sweat drip down your brow. Makes your hands feel fuzzy. You’ve got to drop everything you’re doing and get online as quickly as possible so you can hit on whatever kicks are being restocked on whatever site. They were limited, you missed out the first time, and now the sneaker gods are sending you a rare second chance.

At least that’s how it used to be. Restocks aren’t the same anymore. See, even a few years back it would be one or two shoes at a time, in very small quantities. You had to have a fast trigger finger and even better luck to get whatever pair you wanted. Nowadays, every restock is massive, with multiple pairs from the past six months to a year dropping…and most of the time, they’re not even shoes anyone wanted anyway. Wolf Grey XIII’s? Statue IV’s? No thanks read more

Shorts SZN is almost fully upon us. It’s finally getting warm enough for you to put the pants back in the closet, and break out that pile of neglected shorts that’s been sitting in your bottom dresser drawer for the past half year or so. Khaki shorts. Ripped jean shorts (not jorts). Tech Fleece shorts. Printed basketball shorts. Whatever your flavor is, it’s time to bust em’ out.

When you change from pants to shorts, it’s often important to change your footwear as well, as some  shoes that just plain look better with pants should be left in the box in favor of more short-friendly models. We’re going to strive off the beaten path here and not mention the obvious shoes that look good with shorts like Yeezy 350’s or Jordan I’s as we want to give you something fresh you can try out this summer, so without further ado…let’s do it. Here’s 5 kicks that look great with shorts. read more

Sneaker culture is a beautiful thing. It brings together all types of people from all different backgrounds who share a common love for shoes. This love transcends age, race, background..all of that., and that’s amazing. The inclusion and diversity of sneaker culture alone make it a worthwhile hobby.

However, like most good things, there’s a side of sneaker culture that’s not so great: its materialism. You’re collecting things. Objects. Sometimes you get in too deep, and when that happens you can drown yourself in these things and objects. It’s important to keep you head around you in the sneaker game and always remember what’s what. read more

Think about a memorable summer you had. It could be two years ago. It could be five years ago. It could be ten years ago. It doesn’t matter how long ago it was. Then think of your style choices that summer. You probably had a go-to pair of kicks, right? That’s what we thought. For every memorable summer, there’s a memorable pair of kicks to go along with it. We’ve got a hunch that in the summer of 2016, that shoe just might be the Nike Presto.

Why’s that, you may ask? Fair question. First off, sneakerheads have been loving the classic Presto recently. No matter if it’s white, blue, or black, they’ve been eating it up. They’re lightweight, comfy, look really dope, and are easy to wear with anything. There’s a lot to like. Retro runners are always in heavy rotation during the summer months, and the Presto is peaking at the right time. Plus, with the Nike ID option, you can make literally any colorway that you want. read more

May is upon us. Summer is right around the corner, and with the warmer weather comes a lot of fire kicks. There’s a whole lot of heat dropping this month, so we narrowed it down to a few of our favorites, and we were even nice enough to list their price and release date so you (and your bank account) can be prepared when they drop. Let’s get to it.

Nike Air Presto Ultra Flyknit-May 5th, $160

The first shoe we’re really excited for this month is definitely the Air Presto Ultra Flyknit. We weren’t sure how the classic silhouette would look with a Flyknit makeover at first…but it works great. They’ll be a home run with tapered, cuffed pants or Tech Fleece. A W for Nike Sportswear. read more

Saturday. A day of the week that most of the general populace spends either relaxing, getting stuff done around the house (if you’re a middle-age suburbanite), or fighting off a hangover (if you’re a 20-something like us). It’s also a great day of the week for any sneaker fan, as it’s often a Jordan release day.

Jordans and Saturdays have become synonymous. They’re tied together. Everyone knows the heat is coming out on Saturday, and everyone has money because they just got paid the day before. It works out great. However, sometimes things get switched up. That’s what happened this week as the Jordan X “NYC” was released yesterday, on a Wednesday. Rather peculiar, right? read more

Let’s be honest: copping shoes online is a chore. You’ve got to have the speed of a sprinter and the reflexes of a Gold Glove-winning shortstop to hit on a pair of hyped shoes on any website. If you don’t get the shoes in your cart and check out mere seconds after they drop, you aren’t getting them. It’s a pain in the ass and can lead to a lot of unnecessary stress.

But what if there was a solution? What if there was something that you could use to cop effortlessly and not have to worry about your fingers fumbling on the keyboard as you attempt to type in your card’s security code? Well, there is. read more

We’re still reeling from Prince’s passing here at KicksOneTwo. He was tremendously important and influential all over the world, but here in his hometown of Minneapolis, his presence was felt like none other, and he’s missed greatly. As it’s Sunday, we figured it was only right to pay our dues and share a few of our favorite Prince clips with you. Enjoy.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

At the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in 2004, Prince tore the roof off the building with a fantastic guitar solo. The effortless confidence he portrayed, and the solo itself are nothing short of incredible. He was on stage with legends like Tom Petty and Steve Winwood, and outshined them by a long shot. Incredible. read more

Yesterday was an epic day for the Internet.

Birdman, of Cash Money fame (or infamy, depending on who you ask), made a brief visit to the world famous Breakfast Club morning show on New York radio station Power 105.1. The visit was brief because he started tripping the moment he came through the door, berating the hosts and telling them to put some “respek” on his name. He made a fool of himself, and has become the laughingstock of the internet. If you feel like watching it again, we’ve got it for you right here. read more

The world lost a legend yesterday. Prince, of Purple Rain fame passed away at 57. His impact was felt all over the world, and especially here in Minneapolis, as his fans turned out in droves to honor him and his memory.

As Minnesotans, we felt a need to pay homage to Prince in our own way. We could write about his music..but that’s been done, and we’re not a music-centric website (even though we do hope you enjoy Music Mondays!). Besides his music, Prince was known for his love of purple, so we thought we’d bring together 5 of our favorite purple kicks, in no particular order. We can only hope that Prince himself would approve of these purple beauties….so we’ll get right to it. read more

It’s gearing up to be a big summer for Adidas. They’ve got a bunch of new lifestyle shoes dropping. More Kanye footwear should be hitting shelves soon. Superstars and Stan Smiths can be spotted all over the place. They’re winning. But out of all their models, nothing has captured the moment quite like the NMD Runner.

The price is reasonable. They’re relatively easy to get your hands on with a little work and not a ton of cash (unlike the Yeezy 350 Boost, the other shoe of the moment, which is hard to find and prohibitively expensive). They come in a wide swath of colors. They’re comfortable. They work with any outfit. They’re a great throw on and go shoe. With summer right around the corner, they’ll only become more popular. read more

It’s Wednesday. You’re probably slogging through the workweek and in need of a laugh. Thankfully we’ve got you covered with one of Dave Chappelle’s best skits ever. Here’s “Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories-Prince”. If you haven’t seen this before…you’re in for a treat. If you have…you already know you can enjoy it time and time again.

–RDwyer

A very special day is almost upon us.

This Thursday, two juggernauts, one of the skate/street industry, and one of the athletic footwear industry will come together as they have in the past for another collaboration. Hypebeasts will develop uncontrollable erections. Sneakerheads will start foaming at the mouth. Kids with their dad’s credit card will…well, they’ll just continue to spend their dad’s money.

That’s right, the next Supreme and Nike collaboration will be here on Thursday, the 21st of April..and it’s the Air Max 98, a model that occasionally gets lost in the vault of Nike’s classic kicks. We’re big fans though, and think this is one of Nike’s better collaborative efforts of the past few months. read more

You’re out and about. You’re chilling with the homies. You’ve got some fire kicks on (as always), because you like to be fresh when you step out. It makes you feel good. You’re killing it. But then something horrible happens.

You step in a puddle of mud. Somebody spills beer on your new jawnz. You get ink on your shoelaces. Yes, it’s a grade-a, five-alarm emergency. You can’t have this. What can you do? Thankfully…a lot.

There’s a lot of great on-the-go cleaner products, and simple solutions that you can use to ensure your jawnz always stay on ten no matter what life throws at you. Here’s three of our favorites. Don’t say we never saved your from an emergency. read more

The internet has created a lot of great things. From inside jokes to memes to hilarious videos, there’s a plethora of humor that you only understand if you’ve fully immersed yourself in internet culture.

One of the best things the Internet has ever created is the crying Jordan face meme. Here’s the scoop for those of you who have been living under a rock: during his Hall of Fame acceptance speech, Michael Jordan grew emotional and began crying. Some genius took his face, and turned it into a masterpiece that has now covered anyone who’s failed at anything. It’s absolutely hilarious. read more

Last night marked the end of an era.

The Black Mamba himself, Mr. Kobe Bean Bryant played his last NBA game on Wednesday, and left in resounding fashion, scoring 60 points and helping the Lakers to a 101-96 win over the Utah Jazz.

He’s one of the greatest players of all time, and did a lot of incredible things during his 20-year career in the NBA. The only guard to ever play 20 seasons, his accolades range from championships to MVP awards to 81-point games. You know his history. You know what he did. You knew him for the killer instinct, the ferocity he attacked the rim with, the burning passion he displayed every time he set foot on the court. read more

There are few things in the sneaker game that are better than catching an oop. You struck out on a hyped-up sneaker that you really wanted….but lo and behold, your homie came through and tossed you an oop on the kicks that you wanted so badly. Maybe he got lucky on a raffle. Maybe he hit on a random draw online. Doesn’t matter how you got tossed the oop as long as you caught it.

You got plugged, and you need to treat the plug with respect. There’s a few simple guidelines to make sure that the person who tossed you the pop feels good about doing it, and we’ve got them right here for you. read more

Allen Iverson was elected into the Hall of Fame this week. One of the best to ever do it, he was beloved by basketball fans around the world for his skill, his heart, and his attitude. He received the highest personal honor a basketball player can earn, and he fully deserves it.

But he wasn’t just loved for what he did on the court…he was also loved for his dope signature footwear that left an impact on sneakerheads everywhere. So we’re honoring AI in the best way we know today…by ranking his three best signature shoes. Put on your shooting sleeve and your headband, we’re getting right to it. read more

There’s a retro release this weekend.

That’s not a terribly uncommon occurrence. There’s retro releases most weekend. Jordan Brand keeps sneakerheads happy with new heaters coming out what seems like every weekend. However, this weekend’s release is a little bit different. It’s not a I-XIV like normal. It’s not a new colorway of an old model. It’s the very first Jordan XVII, the “Copper” to be specific, marking the first time an XVII has been released in over a decade. read more

It’s getting a little warmer. There’s no more snow on the ground. Baseball season just started. It might not feel like it just yet (this is Minnesota after all), but spring is upon us, and summer is right around the corner.

You know what that means? It’s time to put the boots and heavy winter kicks away, and break out new jawnz for your rotation. Sure, you’re going to have your heat ready to go year round, but there are a few kicks that scream summer, are easy to find, and deserve a spot in anyone’s rotation. Without further ado, here’s 3 must-have spring/summer shoes. read more

If you turn on the TV, go on the internet, or pick up a newspaper (some people still do, and I’m one of them..call me old-fashioned if you want) in search of some NBA coverage, there’s only one name that you’re going to hear. Steph Curry. The 6’3 shooting savant from the Golden State Warriors, by way of Davidson University in North Carolina. He’s got the sweetest jump shot you’ve ever seen, and a killer handle to go along with it. He’s the man in the NBA right now (sorry LeBron), and is easily the most popular basketball player in the world. And of course this popularity extends to his shoes. read more

You can say a lot about Nike, but one thing you can’t say is that they’re not willing to take chances and try something new. Be it new technologies or new designs, they’re always willing to give something a shot, and that’s one of the things that’s kept them at the forefront of sneaker innovation for years.

Along their path, they’ve had hits and misses (just like any major brand does), but they just announced one of their biggest misses yet, and that’s the KD 8 Elite pictured above. If there was a dictionary of sneaker designs, these would be right under “horrible”, next to any Derrick Rose shoe, and the Kobe 9 EXT’s. read more

Nike Frees. The favorite shoe of high-school kids, casual runners, and Instagram “fitness models”, you’re bound to see multiple pairs every day no matter where you go. They’re available in a plethora of colors and styles, and are released at such a blinding pace that they’re impossible to keep up with.

The Free line has always been held down by their three key models: the 5.0, the 4.0 (available with both regular and Flyknit uppers), and the Flyknit 3.0. The lower the number on the shoe, the flatter (8mm, 6mm and 4mm heel to forefoot drop respectively) and less supportive it gets, allowing for a more natural range of motion. All three models are loved, and sell well. read more

There’s nothing that sneaker companies love more than a capsule collection. Any time a holiday/historical event comes around, you can bet that at least one brand will release shoes that draw inspiration from it. Christmas, Black History Month, and any All-Star game are just a few examples. Some collections are great, some aren’t so great.

One that seems to always fall in the latter category (collections that aren’t so great) are the Easter collections. Every year, various brands shoot their shot at releasing Easter-inspired sneakers, and every year those sneakers turn out to be bricks. Hardly wearable, strangely colored bricks. read more

When you step into a shoe store or check out a website selling kicks, you’ve got a lot of choices. With all the brands, styles, and colorways available, it can be a little bit overwhelming. Even when you’re an experienced sneaker head, you’ll occasionally be a little too hasty and pull the trigger on a pair that you really wish you hadn’t. I won’t lie, I’ve done it before. A few times to be completely honest.

So I got to thinking: what shoes do I regret buying the most? A few pairs came to mind. Either I was too hasty, got caught up in the hype, or just needed something new and wound up with a pair I didn’t really want. I’m not saying that I don’t like any of these shoes (because I do)…I just find myself wishing that I hadn’t bought them. Without further ado, here’s 5 shoes I regret buying. read more

The shoe game. A game where trends rise and fall faster than ever due to the internet. Something’s hot one day and colder than the North Pole the next. People flip their favorite brands every week. A certain type of shoe is cool. No, it’s whack. No, it’s cool again. It’s a tough market, and one with a lot of ups and downs.

However, every so often there’s the rare brand that remains relevant and cool through all the ups and downs. In the footwear industry you’ve got to carve out your niche, and you could argue that no brand has done that better than Vans. read more

Adidas is killing it right now.

About a month ago, I wrote an article asking if anyone could slow their roll, and the last 30 continued to prove what the beginning of 2016 and pretty much all of 2015 told us: no, nobody could slow their roll.

It’s rare you see a brand get hot like this, and you’ve got to pay respect where respect is due. No matter how you feel about the brand, love them or hate them (I’ve got friends that fall on both sides of that spectrum), you can’t deny that Adidas has got the juice right now. read more

It’s just past 11 PM. I’m sitting here thinking about style, fashion, and jawnz as I so often do. I’m thinking about what shirt goes the best with what jacket. I’m thinking about what denim looks the best with what kicks. I’m letting my mind wander with wonderful visions of crazy alphets and fire jawnz.

When I do this, I usually have revelations of some sort. Some are small, some are life-changing, and some are plain humorous. This one would fall in the third category: have you ever thought about how Target may have  forever ruined the red tee & khakis fit?  read more

It’s March in Minnesota, and the weather is out of control as usual.

It rained yesterday. It’s apparently going to be snowing tomorrow. It could be in the 60’s next week for all we know. The weather’s crazy, and you’re in need of a versatile pair of shoes. One that can get you through all of these conditions, stay clean, and still look fly. We’ve got you covered. Here’s 3 great all-weather shoes.

Adidas Tubular X

Kicking the list off is the Tubular X, a new model from Adidas that’s been a hit the past few months. The thick sole provides the traction and grip you need, while the high-top offers extra protection agains the elements. However, on the flip side, the lightweight upper and ample mesh on the toebox make the shoe breezy enough for warmer days as well. Versatility on ten. read more

You can sum up how 2016 is going in sneakers with one word: Yeezy.

We’re two months and change into the year, and from the first of January to the middle of March, all anyone has wanted to talk about is Yeezys. Hypebeasts thirst over them. High schoolers wonder why they can’t get them, and scour the internet for believable fake pairs. Haters scoff and turn their noses up at them (they’re probably just salty they can’t get a pair). The hype train has been incredibly real, and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down any time soon. read more

You made it through the workweek. It’s Saturday. You’re chilling. You’ve got a good two days of relaxation ahead of you. We’re keeping it simple for you today. Here’s a classic Dave Chappelle skit for you so you can get some laughs to start your weekend off. What is it? The “Turn My Headphones Up” skit, one of our favorites. Enjoy.

What’s your favorite Dave Chappelle skit? Is it this, or another one (DJ Khaled voice)? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter, check out our Facebook for daily updates, and, as always, be sure to follow us on Instagram for all the fire sneaker pictures you can handle. read more

Here at KicksOneTwo, YouTube is our Netflix. We love any quality original series about street culture you can find on their vast expanse of content, from Detroit Rubber to SVDDNXLY, and we always like to recommend our favorites to everyone we know.

Well, we’ve got a new favorite. “The Show” by Round 2 is all we’ve been watching these past few weeks, and we’re borderline-obsessed with it.

Here’s the quick backstory. Round 2 is a great vintage/consignment shop based in Richmond, VA. They’ve also got a location in LA, and they specialize in rare vintage gear from brands like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, while also offering practically every shoe you can think of, from Nike to Saucony. They buy and sell shoes and gear at a blistering pace, so there’s always something new and fresh to be found on their shelves. Even the internet gawd Ian Connor is a fan read more