For this deluxe edition of the 997, New Balance combined premium leather with metal accents and branding to elevate the classic USA-Made runner. A gray midsole, black outsole, & black laces complete the understated style.
With the release of the React Havoc, the Jordan brand integrates Nike’s React midsole/outsole and a fore-foot Zoom Air insert into its all-new long distance runner. Design-wise, the heel counter really stands out adding crucial support to every heel strike while the mesh & welded upper breathes easy. The Havoc drops July 1 in two color ways: Volt Green & Gentleman Gray.
This exclusive color is called Nike Phantom Glow. And it’s integrated into all 4 styles in the brand’s new Zoom Series. Choose from the Air Zoom Pegasus 36, the Zoom Pegasus Turbo, the Zoom Fly 3, & specifically for men, the ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%. Each of these Zoom-powered runners offers its own performance profile but all feature the latest in cutting edge & race-proven technologies.
La Sportiva’s Bushido II Trail Runner has all the features & durable vegan construction that have made the Italian mountain brand a favorite of serious trail & ultra runners. A FriXion XT V-Groove2 outsole delivers traction on wet & dry terrain. The upper is a rugged combination of mesh, microfiber, high-frequency welded ripstop & it features a TPU toe cap. The EVA midsole provides a cushioned ride with a 6mm heel-to-toe drop.
Adidas has been working for more than 6 years on developing a fully recyclable shoe; that project comes to fruition in the Futurecraft.Loop, the first sustainable performance runner. The shoe is made entirely of recyclable TPU from the outsole to the laces; and when you’ve logged all your miles, return them to Adidas to be shredded and upcycled into a new pair. They’ll be coming to the masses in 2021.
If you ever forget that technically, Converse is now Nike, the new All Star BB makes it clear. Designed in collaboration with Nike innovator Eric Avar, the shoe combines heritage Converse style with the latest in Nike performance, like a Quadfit mesh upper & drop-in React Core midsole. Available in May.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Jordan 04, Nike is bringing back the iconic, Tinker Hatfieldd-designed shoe in its original black & red “bred” colorway. To amp up the nostalgia a bit more, the re-release will come in original packaging with a retro hangtag and “NIKE AIR” branding. Available May 4.
What dads have known & loved forever is all still here in the iconic 990 from New Balance. The 990 V.5 is just the latest variation of the tried-and-true dad classic, featuring the same gray and white colorway with low-key reflective hits. For a “nice Sunday morning jog”, “a quick trip to the hardware store” or “throwing the ol’ pigskin around in the backyard,” no other shoe quite compares.
Meticulously handcrafted in Los Angeles by bespoke footwear brand No.One, the Delta Elk sneaker features an upper made of wild Scandinavian elk hide from U.K. tannery C.F. Stead & utilizes both the rough & soft side of the hide for texture. The shoe also features hand whip stitching, UV printed branding, and waxed laces in white or grey cotton.
Jordan, the Jumpman brand has three new styles dropping: the Proto-Max 720, Proto-React, and Apex React. All feature innovative Nike footwear technologies—like FlyKnit as well as AirMax and React cushioning plus the brand’s unmistakable urban style. The whole trio goes on sale April 1.
Touted as the “most comfortable shoe ever made,” the Plasma S from Italian footwear innovators Tecnica, is a rugged, all-terrain hiker featuring adaptive fit technologies. The C.A.S. upper & footbed make it the first heat-customizable low-cut shoe on the market. Built around the anatomical Forge last, the shoe offers unrivaled out-of-the-box fit. The GTX model is also available, featuring weather-resistant Gore-Tex construction.
Blending retro styling and classic materials with their modern Boost technology midsole, Adidas Originals now has two new colorways of its Nite Jogger shoe up for grabs. The mixed material upper features suede and mesh while the Boost midsole is mated with a multicolored rubber outsole. Available in white/gray & core black/carbon.
Real Game Of Thrones fans will know exactly which pair they want. Adidas has created 6 unique GoT-themed colorways of its popular Ultra Boost runner. The Adidas x Game Of Thrones collection is comprised of 6 variants of the shoe, one for each of the show’s factions: Lannister, House Stark, House Targaryen, the Targaryen’s Dragons, White Walkers and Night’s Watch. Each model features a unique color combo but all feature GoT branding on the outsole and unique branding on the heel-tab and tongue-back. Due out this spring.
Nike just introduced the world’s first self-lacing basketball shoe. Seems like a critical feature, right? Totally. The Nike Adapt BB uses a technology the brand calls FitAdapt, which secures the shoe to your foot with an app. You can still lace the shoe manually but according to Nike this technology is just the first step in turning your shoes into a “mobile sports research lab” as new features & interactivity is developed.
Nike’s latest iteration of the classic Cortez runner is another Cortez Premium but unlike the iconic original & the logo-laden variant that dropped last fall, this one has no swoosh on the visible side, making it a bit more low-key, especially in its understated black leather color way. Available now at Nike.com.
The forthcoming Ultraboost 19 from Adidas is a totally new & updated variant of the brand’s flagship runner. What’s new: a Primeknit 360 upper and 20% more magical Boost foam in the midsole, plus a Torsion Spring and 3D heel frame for enhanced support. Limited release on Dec. 15 & the full release in Feb. of the new year.
In a blustery, wet northern city like Vancouver, waterproof shoes make a lot of sense. Especially if they’re more wearable & workout-worthy than rubber galoshes. So that’s what upstart brand Vessi has created. Their slim, waterproof sneakers with all-knit uppers look like a hit, and considering that they crowd-funded their latest shoe in just 14 minutes proves the demand is certainly there.
The End. x Vans Vertigo Pack puts a psychedelic twist on Vans’ classic black & white checkerboard design. Choose from the lace-up Old Skool or Slip-On, both featuring a warped checkerboard pattern and premium finish details. Releasing on December 8 at END. Launches.
The Nike LeBron 16 “I’m King” edition pays homage to “King James’” royal dominance on the court. The all-black mesh upper features subtle hits of metallic gold on the tongue and footbed with another hit on the midsole. De-Bossed tonal “I’m King” lettering is featured on the heel counter. Available December 15.
With the Cotton + Corn collection, Reebok is making shoes from things that grow. For the first drop, they’ve taken a classic silhouette and constructed it with a 100% cotton upper and a bio-based sole derived from corn. The shoe is comfortable and durable and happens to be the first-ever 75% USDA bio-based shoe.
