Vans is the #1 skateboarding shoe brand in California catering primarily to the youth market. The brand had also been manufacturing BMX shoes and snowboarding shoes. Over the years, it has been one of the most popular sneakers brand worldwide. The designs are always classic and simple yet very much challenging in a lot of aspects. The sticky sole and “off the wall” would always and forever be Vans’ trademark. So here we have the latest news, new releases, reviews and pictures of the sneakers brand…Vans.
This Spring 2010, another spectacular line of collection would be released by Vans. After the Era 45-fixie give way to the new set of sneakers from the Vans California series named the Binded Pack. A mini-series consisting of Sk8-Hi and Slip-On, it will be available in two colorways namely Black Espresso and Purple version. These sneakers feature an upper part in canvas with binding contrast and can be purchased soon at your favorite Vans retailers.
Man alive, Vans are just great shoes. The can’t fail lineup for 2010 is set to include some very cool kicks including new takes on the Authentic, the Sk8-hi and a 106 Vulcanized to name a few. As with every drop from the company the model stays the same but the details are ever changing and this time around a few choice updates were made to make some of our favorites fresher.
Vans’ 2010 spring roster looks to feature a new series of bangers with this look here. With the likes of the Era and SK8-HI being flipped so many times, materials come into the equation more than ever with some quality suedes. Going down the line we’re also met with some multi-material uppers in tonal colors. Rounding things out are a collaboration with Acapulco Gold as well as Crooks & Castles.
Brands have been using holidays (large and small) as inspiration for certain sneaker colorways and models. adidas, for example, recently prepared a Superstar II in which to celebrate Christmas. But the shoes pictured here are perhaps a part of a holiday still far away. We bring you shots of a Nike Court Force and Vandal that are rumored as being part of 2010’s Valentine’s Day collection. Both shoes come in a high-top model, with the Court Force upper consisting of both patent leather and plaid. Moreover, the Court Force has a heart sketched onto the tongue- a good indication of the holiday it might be released during. The Vandal also consists of a plaid patterning on both the mid panels and the toe box, with a touch of patent leather lining. If these are in fact part of Nike’s Valentine’s Day collection next year, they definitely stray from the conventional pink/red/white colorways, but is that necessarily a bad thing? How do you sneakerheads feel with respect to these two pairs of Nike sneakers?
Yesterday we reported on two pairs of the Supra Skytop 2 gearing up for what is a rumored mid-January release. Now, the Supra brand is joining in the Valentine’s Day celebration plans, preparing the Supra Skytop pictured here for the lovers’ day. This Supra Skytop comes in a completely red canvas upper, with an all-white sole and a keychain where two pieces of a broken heart hang from. This pair of the Supra Skytop is schedule to hit Factory 413 accounts just before the Valentine’s Day date of February 14, 2010. So far, would you say this is the best sneaker out of the ones we have seen designed for Valentine’s Day 2010?
We all know that for certain Holidays we can always expect a themed sneaker to drop. As far as Valentines day goes, sneaker designs are a dime a dozen and the red and pink designs with a heart slapped somewhere seem to be a bit too cliché. These women’s Nike Court Forces included in the Valentines Day Pack take a different approach and use small details to execute the Holidsay’s theme. These Court Forces feature a plaid heel panel and patent leather side panels with a heart perforation detail. The upper consists of leather and patent leather with some purple accents, and sit on top of a white midsole and red outsole. Via guillotine
It’s got to be the shoes! Ever since Michael Jordan arrived in the NBA and Nike launched its first pair of Air Jordans, the shoe scene has never been the same. Expensive sneakers became the norm, collectors began to exist, and kids were even stealing each other’s shoes.
Now I’ll grant you that ranking shoes is often a generation dependent concept and the criteria is entirely subjective, but we at Gunaxin wish to present to you the Top 10 Basketball sneakers of all time. And if you’re really into shoes, I’d suggest checking out the Sole Collector for more info.
10. Reebok Pump
The Reebok Pump was very popular popular in the early 1990s, featuring an internal inflation mechanism that regulated a unique fitting cushion in the upper tongue. Users could literally “pump it up”. Released in 1989 as basketball high-top, the success of the pump led to models for football, tennis, and track. The Human Highlight Reel Dominique Wilkins wore the Reebok Pump original from 1989 on, and Dee Brown made them memorable in the 1991 All Star weekend dunk competition. Here’s a sample ad:
9. Nike Air Foamposite One
Foamposite One was the first shoe model to use Foamposite technology, a synthetic foam that molds to one’s foot giving the wearer a truly custom fit. The shoe also featured synthetic leather and a clear gum sole. Worn by Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway back in 1997, Nike reworked the original Foamposite One into the Nike Foamposite Lite worn by 2009 NBA Slam Dunk Champion Nate Robinson. They also released retro versions of the original.
8. Puma Clyde
Released in 1973 the “Clyde” was a custom version of the popular Puma Suede, tailor made for basketball legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier. Frazier asked for a wider-fitting version of their suede basketball shoe and Puma ended up signing him to an endorsement deal, becoming the one of the first NBA players to have his own signature shoe model. Because Frazier encapsulated the very essence of being cool (he would arrive at games in a Rolls Royce, dressed in designer suits, broad-brimmed Borsalino hats, and full-length mink coats), the shoe caught on in all walks of life. Traditionally seen in suede, Puma recently released a few models which appear in all leather.
7. Nike Air Jordan III
You could fill an entire top ten with versions of the Air Jordans. Some like the Vs, others the IVs, others the Space Jam XIs, the VIIIs, the newer XXIIIs, or even the XIVs. Here we’re going with the Air Jordan IIIs. Released during the 1987-88 season, they debuted in the season when Jordan would receive his first MVP award and win the Slam Dunk contest. It was also the first Air Jordan to feature the Jumpman logotype instead of the Wings-logo that was on the I’s and II’s. And it gets a bonus for launching the Spike Lee personality Mars Blackmon and the ad campaign that followed:
6. Adidas Superstar
The Superstar has been manufactured since 1969, and was the first low-top basketball shoe to feature an all-leather upper with the now famous rubber shelltoe. The shoe caught the attention of some of the best players from the NCAA and NBA, most notably Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Within the first few years of its introduction, it was being worn by over 75% of all NBA players, proof of its revolutionary technology which remains relevant today. The shoe became so popular, rap trio Run-D.M.C. became noted for wearing the Adidas shoe, even releasing the song “My adidas” in 1986.
5. Nike Air Penny II
How do you not love a shoe that helped bring us the creation that is Lil’ Penny, the the half-pint, trash-talking sidekick of Penny Hardaway? Even though Hardaway faded away fairly quickly, his shoe line lives on as Nike recently brought back the Air Penny II with a re-release. You know, in case you missed them the first time around. Originally released back when Penny Hardaway was tearing up the NBA, his second signature sneaker gathered mass attention when he wore them in the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. They featured an Orlando Magic color scheme, “Air” technology in the heel and forefoot, “Penny” logo on the side panel, and the always recognizable carbon fiber shank at midfoot for added arch support. The shoes might even get you a date with you a date with Tyra Banks. Although in 2009, that’s not as alluring as it was a decade ago.
and I’ll toss in on more Lil’ Penny ad just for fun…
4. Nike Air Force 1
Released in 1982, the Air Force 1 featured a then revolutionary technological innovation, a pocket of air in the heel for cushioning and support. Players like Moses Malone and Michael Cooper endorsed them, and twenty seven years later Rasheed Wallace still wears the shoe. Dubbed the # 1 seller in the history of athletic footwear, it has been available in a wide range of color combinations, although white-on-white is the most popular model.
3. Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars
A true classic. The Chuck Taylor All-Stars, or simply “Chuck’s” have been around in some form since 1917. They were not particularly popular, however, until basketball player Chuck Taylor adopted them as his preferred shoe. That led to the shoe’s current name and signature ankle patch. Although classic black is the most popular, they come in a variety of colors and print styles, which has led to their popularity in many subcultures beyond the intended basketball audience.
2. Converse Weapon®
Back in the day everybody who was anybody was hocking the Weapon, including Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Just look at the commercial featured below. And remember, this was in the days before every rookie got a shoe contract. The brand was so popular, Converse recently brought back the classic sneaker. The Bird Shoe. The Magic Shoe. Choose your Weapon!
1. Nike Air Jordan I
Jordan started the shoe era and made it what it is today. For that reason it gets to be number one on this ranking. I’ll grant you that later versions of the Air Jordans were more popular, but there’s always something going for the original. This shoe was so revolutionary that it was outlawed by the NBA. Released during Jordan’s rookie season, the typical shoe was white with very little color. The league deemed the Air Jordans “too colorful” and banned them, leading to the infamous Banned commercials:
