Kawhi Leonard & New Balance's "Inspire the Dream” Pack Leads This Week's Best Footwear Drops
Alongside UNDERCOVER’s Nike React Prestos, YEEZY’s 350 V2 “Marsh,’ the adidas Superstan, and so much more.
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As the first month of a fresh decade draws to a close, the world of footwear is already running full speed with news and drops popping up or touching down on a daily basis. This final week of January is a decidedly busy one when it comes to releases, so HYPEBEAST has hand-picked the very best from an extensive slate of drops. However, before we take a deep dive into this week’s best offerings, we’ve got to be sure that we’re up to speed — so let’s recap last week first.
Everything pales in comparison to the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant. The beloved Los Angeles Lakers legend, surefire first-ballot Basketball Hall of Famer and father of four daughters made an immeasurable impact on the game of basketball and the world of sport. His signature footwear from adidas and Nike constantly pushed the envelope. Kobe’s kicks will always be known for their never-ending search for innovation and improvement — much like the Black Mamba himself.
With Paris Fashion Week in the books and a swath of new styles sent down the runway, we rounded up 10 of the most interesting footwear options we saw over the course of PFW. Although these divergent styles ranged from in-line Raf Simons footwear to new sacai x Nike and Kiko Kostadinov x ASICS collaborations, each is sure to swing the trend pendulum in 2020 and beyond.
NBA All-Star Weekend is right around the corner as well, so Nike, Jordan and Converse blew hoop fans and sneaker aficionados out of the water by officially unveiling an extensive All-Star collection. Consisting of 20 styles, it encompasses everything from a Michael Jordan-centric “New Beginnings” pack to cutting-edge performance styles rich with ASG inspiration for LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and more. That wasn’t all: Jordan Brand’s “8×8” collection tapped eight Chicago creatives for a slate of collaborative apparel and sneakers inspired by the Windy City itself, including Virgil Abloh’s highly anticipated Off-White™ x Air Jordan 5.
Zion Williamson made his long-awaited NBA debut last week, and what was on the talented rookie’s feet was almost as enthralling as his 21-point performance. Jordan Brand cooked up a “Bayou Boys” Air Jordan 34 PE for the beefy big man, nodding to New Orleans culture. CLOT also raffled off a 1-of-1 Air Jordan 1 Mid “Red Silk” at Juice Store LA. Nike Sportswear’s week was all about Air Max, with the premiere of new styles like the Air Max 90 Flyease and Air Max 2090.
Finally, high-fashion brands put their best foot forward by re-working classic silhouettes. Reebok and Maison Margiela mashed the Instapump Fury and Tabi boot, the ever-irreverent Vetements released Timberland-style workboots for $1,200 USD, and Burberry spruced up the classic Chelsea boot by adding its signature check pattern.
Feeling informed? Good. Let’s go ahead and get into what this week has in store for us.
Parley x adidas UltraBOOST 20 SB
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Release Date: January 26
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: Parley for the Oceans and adidas boast a truly expansive partnership, but this marks the pair’s first go-around with the UltraBOOST 20. With an elegant navy upper constructed of Parley’s signature recycled ocean plastics, this UB’s design is both sustainable and stylish — all while providing signature comfort by way of a full-foot BOOST midsole.
Nike Air Max 97 Golf “Grass”
Nike
Release Date: January 27
Release Price: $190 USD
Where to Buy: Nike
Why You Should Cop: Golf can be a cruel game, one in which you’ll sometimes struggle to find the green. Thankfully, Nike’s Air Max 97 Golf “Grass” lets you walk on the good stuff, even when you’re trying to duff your way out of a sand trap.
Jordan Aerospace 720 “PSG”
Nike
Release Date: January 27
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: Nike
Why You Should Cop: A perfect match for PSG‘s new kits, this team-specific Aerospace 720 alternates between blue accents on the left foot and red on the right for a dual-pronged homage to club and country. Down below, a full-foot Air Max cushioning unit ensures superior feel, no matter if you’re on the pitch or the block.
UNDERCOVER x Nike React Presto Collection
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: January 28
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Arriving in “Mahogany,” “Black” and “White” colorways, UNDERCOVER‘s trio of takes on the Nike React Presto are lavishly layered, devilishly detailed, resoundingly rugged and sublimely speckled, continuing the stylings from the brand’s recent React Boot. UNDERCOVER leader Jun Takahashi always strives to achieve a mixture of chaos and balance in his products, and these sporty-yet sturdy React Prestos do that perfectly.
Nike Air VaporMax 360 “History of Air”
Noir Fonce
Noir Fonce
Noir Fonce
Release Date: January 30
Release Price: $225 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Combining the upper of 2006’s revolutionary Air Max 360 with 2017’s next-gen VaporMax cushioning unit, Nike’s Air VaporMax 360 is a masterful mixture of two generations. This “History of Air” style takes its inspiration even further, equipping the Max 360’s original launch colorway to further its storytelling.
HUMAN MADE x adidas Stan Smith
Human Made
Human Made
Release Date: January 30
Release Price: $140 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: After an ultra-limited release at the brand’s flagship store and online shop, HUMAN MADE is ready for a full release of its adidas Stan Smith. By adding simple-yet-effective signature heart graphics to both the lateral and medial quarters, HUMAN MADE has managed to customize the classic tennis shoe just enough without detracting from its signature ethos.
Nike Air Max 90 “City Pack”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: January 30
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: Nike
Why You Should Cop: Consisting of five different styles that nod to five of the world’s biggest metropolises — Tokyo, New York City, London, Shanghai and Paris — Nike’s Air Max 90 “City Pack” is full of regional pride. Each city’s style is presented in an authentic fashion as well: it’s inspired by the hard-working folks that keep things humming, from Big Apple firefighters to Parisian bakers.
Kawhi Leonard x New Balance “Inspire the Dream” Collection
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
Release Date: January 30
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: New Balance
Why You Should Cop: Paying homage to Kawhi Leonard‘s path from high school star to leader of the LA Clippers, the New Balance “Inspire the Dream” offers four styles: Kawhi’s OMN1S, the 997S, the 850 and the 574. Each is dressed in a regal blue, red and grey color scheme, nodding to Kawhi’s days at Martin Luther King High School and reminding the wearer that they can (and should) chase their dreams as well.
Nike Air Max 90 “Hyper Royal” & “Rose”
Bstn
Bstn
Bstn
Bstn
Bstn
Bstn
Release Date: January 30
Release Price: $120 USD
Where to Buy: BSTN
Why You Should Cop: We’re barely a month into the year-long celebration of the Air Max 90’s 30th birthday, and Nike Sportswear has already dressed the Tinker Hatfield-designed classic in a multitude of appealing hues — two of which are “Hyper Royal” and “Rose.” With an original shape, sporty detailing and signature Air Max cushioning, both are desirable offerings for Air Max fans young and old alike.
KITH x New Balance 1700 “The Colorist” Collection
Kith
Kith
Release Date: January 31
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: KITH
Why You Should Cop: KITH head Ronnie Fieg considers himself a “colorist,” and his masterful use of multiple hues on his collaborative footwear certainly lends weight to that statement. Now, Fieg and KITH are bringing a whopping 10 different suedes to two colorways of the New Balance 1700 marking only the second time that the 1999 silhouette has received a co-created makeover.
Nike Air Force 1 “Black Pack” & “White/Vachetta Tan”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: January 31
Release Price: $140 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Nike’s Air Force 1 “Black Pack” and “White/Vachetta Tan” each take a classic Air Force 1 color scheme and elevate it with premium materials plus standout detailing. The “Black Pack” features rub-away detailing on its heel tab and Swoosh, both of which fade to tan with wear. The “White/Vachetta Tan” offers tan in both of those spots with no wear necessary, leaving the choice of light or dark hues up to you.
adidas YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 “Marsh”
Yeezy Supply
Release Date: January 31
Release Price: $130-$180 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: Aiming to redefine the sometimes stuffy dress codes at golf courses with its irreverent styles, adidas Golf’s CODECHAOS collection is made up of three silhouettes: CODECHAOS Boa, CODECHAOS and CODECHAOS Sport. Each presents a bold, vivid look, plenty of powerful tech and is available in several colors. A select few pairs will be made available to adidas members on January 27, but the collection’s full rollout occurs on January 31 — leaving you more than enough time to get ready to tear up the course this summer.
Nike SB Dunk High & Low Pro “Truck It”
43einhalb/Nike
43einhalb/Nike
43einhalb/Nike
43einhalb/Nike
43einhalb/Nike
43einhalb/Nike
Release Date: February 1
Release Price: $220 USD
Where to Buy: YEEZY Supply
Why You Should Cop: Kanye West‘s adidas YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 is starting 2020 off on the right foot. After a “Yeshaya” colorway released last week, the popular knit sneaker is discarding both its heavenly colorway and religious-themed name in favor of a bold “Marsh” style that mixes a mustard yellow with a crisp white for a unique style, dropping exclusively on YEEZY Supply.
adidas Golf “CODECHAOS” Collection
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Release Date: February 1
Release Price: $100-$110 USD
Where to Buy: 43einhalb
Why You Should Cop: Offering a fresh style by taking to the great open road, Nike SB‘s Dunk High & Low Pro “Truck It” pack features plenty of ’70s RV-inspired details. Combined with a sturdy construction and Zoom Air cushioning, both styles are equally at home on a long drive as they are during an extensive skate session.
Parley x adidas 4D Run 1.0 LTD
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Release Date: February 1
Release Price: $220 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: adidas’s 4D midsoles are nothing short of amazing, a masterpiece of modern footwear tech. However, they’re prohibitively expensive for some consumers — a problem that’s been remedied by the 4D Run 1.0 silhouette. With a price point that’s $130 USD less than other 4D-equipped footwear options, it’s a futuristic shoe that you don’t have to dig too deep in your pockets to cop, equipped with a clean white/aero green colorway to boot. Best of all, it features recycled ocean plastic thanks to the hard-work of the good people at Parley.
BBC Ice Cream x Reebok Answer V
Bstn
Bstn
Release Date: February 1
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: BSTN
Why You Should Cop: Allen Iverson may not have been one to play around on the basketball court, but his Answer V is taking a more light-hearted tone with a new collaborative BBC Ice Cream edition. Dressed in rich shades of purple, blue and yellow, these colorful kicks harken back to the glory days of early-mid ’00s streetwear, when Iverson was lighting up the court and BBC/Ice Cream were on fire in the streets. It’s also rife with unique details, like a “Cones & Bones” graphic on the midfoot and a special hangtag.
Nike ACG Zoom Terra Antarktik
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: February 1
Release Price: $220 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: After originally being slated to launch last week, Nike ACG‘s Zoom Terra Antarktik is now set to kick off February in style. Although the release may have been delayed, the tech and look are still wildly futuristic, making for the rare winter boot that performs just as well as it looks.
adidas Originals Superstan
Adidas Originals
Adidas Originals
Adidas Originals
Release Date: February 1
Release Price: $120 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: adidas Originals has given both the Superstar and Stan Smith practically every makeover you could imagine. However, they’ve never been brought together — until now. The adidas Superstan mixes the most recognizable details from the classic hoops shoe and tennis sneaker, making for a strikingly seamless fusion of heritage styles that proves great footwear design is truly timeless.
Reebok Answer V
Atmos
Atmos
Atmos
Release Date: February 1
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: Reebok
Why You Should Cop: This star-spangled style of Allen Iverson Reebok‘s Answer V appeared in Japan at the tail end of 2019, but now it’s set for a Stateside release in all its patriotic glory. Combining a white upper doused in blue stars with red and gold accents, it’s certainly not for the faint of heart, but then again, neither was Allen Iverson’s style of play.
END. x Converse “Blueprint” Pack
End.
End.
End.
Release Date: February 1
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: END.
Why You Should Cop: Inspired by the plans for its impending London flagship, END. has turned both the Converse Chuck 70 and Jack Purcell into a blueprint in footwear form. Simple colorways, graphical sketches and special co-branded details on the tongue are sure to raise anticipation for the store’s opening and make sure your sneaker rotation is right in the meantime as well.
