The Air Jordan 11 Adapt Delivers High-Tech Energy to This Week's Best Footwear Drops
The self-lacing Air Jordan 11 Adapt is joined by the UNDEFEATED x Nike Air Max 97s, LeBron 8 “Lakers”, the Bodega x Nike Dunk Hi “Legend” and more.
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It’s been one hell of a roller coaster year HYPEBEAST footwear family, but we made it through and thankfully 2021 is right around the corner. And to bid farewell to 2020 and ring in a new 365 days, sportswear brands such as Nike, Jordan Brand, Reebok and more have prepared a handsome batch of new releases. This week we’re seeing the Air Jordan 11 debut with self-lacing Adapt technology, a Reebok Question Mid inspired by one of Kobe Bryant‘s early ’00s PEs and much more. However, before we bring you the 10 best drops from this end-of-the-year round up, let’s dive into all of the footwear action that occurred last week.
Last week, we had the pleasure of chatting with Bronx-based designer Loso to speak on the importance of the Air Force 1 in New York, learning more about “sneaker culture” from ‘The Tyra Banks Show’ and more for the continuation of HYPEBEAST’s Sole Mates series.
Day-to-day news had somewhat slowed down as we inched closer to the Christmas festivities, but a few interesting news items were unpacked. Jerry Lorenzo announced his newest long-term partnership with the adidas family that would give him creative direction over the German brand’s basketball division and allow him to introduce the all-new Fear of God Athletics sub-label. Moreover, Tom Sachs announced his IG submission system for consumers to wear test the next Mars Yard 2.5 and record their firsthand feedback.
Additionally, we also saw further looks at forthcoming drops such as the Nike SB Dunk Low “Street Hawker”, a Nike Dunk Low made exclusively for EKIN employees, a “Magma Orange” sacai x Nike Blazer Low, a friends and family Bodega x Nike Dunk Hi “Legend” and more.
Are we all up to speed? Sounds good. Let’s get into this week’s 10 best releases. As always, please make a mental note that any pairs listed below may be postponed due to the continued effects of COVID-19 and check out HBX find even more new footwear styles.
TITAN x Air Jordan 23/35
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 29 (Global)
Release Price: $180 USD (AJ 23)/$200 USD (AJ 35)
Where to Buy: Livestock and Shinzo
Why You Should Cop: Manila-based entity TITAN of all retailers understands that the people of the Philippines pride themselves on their love for the game of basketball. So to honor that, they’ve teamed up with Jordan Brand on two new footwear collaborations involving the Air Jordan 23 and the Air Jordan 35. Each is styled with similar black, white, gold and orange palettes, and come adorned with Titan’s signature lightning bolt logos that are infused into patterns across the black paneling of its base layers. Both pairs will be releasing in EMEA locations on December 29th, followed by a North America release next month.
UNDEFEATED x Nike Air Max 97
Undefeated
Undefeated
Undefeated
Release Date: December 29
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: Undefeated
Why You Should Cop: UNDEFEATED is back at it again with Nike to close out the year, this time for a two-pronged sneaker capsule that entails the beloved Air Max 97. The “Militia Green” pair is here is a bring-back from 2017, while the other is an updated installment that sports a contrasting “Black/Volt” color story. Both pairs will be dropping exclusively on UNDEFEATED’s web store and will likely sell out within minutes.
Bodega x Nike Dunk High “Legend”
Bodega
Bodega
Bodega
Release Date: December 30 (SNKRS)
Release Price: $120 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: After launching via Bodega earlier this week, the Bodega x Nike Dunk High “Legend” collaboration is receiving a wider release via SNKRS. The Boston retailer really pushed the envelope here in terms of the shoe’s design and backstory. The basketball-turned-lifestyle model comes remixed with baseball glove-inspired stitchings, loosely extra laces that weave throughout the upper, tortoise jeweled Swooshes and more which easily makes this one of the most innovative and unorthodox Dunk partnerships in the Swoosh’s history.
Nike LeBron 18 “X-Mas in LA”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 30
Release Price: $225 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Christmas may be over, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t be indulge in the spirit of the holidays. So to continue tradition, Nike Basketball has decorated the LeBron 18 with a Santa-inspired makeover that features bright red uppers, snowy speckled accents, and Christmas tree green Swooshes to keep you looking seasonally-fresh on the hardwood. The pair will be dropping on SNKRS come December 30 which also happens to be LeBron’s 36th birthday.
Nike LeBron 8 “Lakers”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 30
Release Price: $200 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: To celebrate the glorious return of the LeBron 8 Retro — arguably one of the King’s best silhouettes in his sneaker lineage — Nike has crafted the court-ready model in a fitting Lakers-inspired PE makeover. This particular colorway saw a sporadic global launch earlier this month, but now it will be gearing up for a release in the US via Nike SNKRS. Uppers match that of the NBA franchise’s away uniforms and come presented with purple uppers and tongues that are neighbored by golden yellow Swooshes and throat overlays.
Air Jordan 11 Adapt
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 30
Release Price: $500 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Self-lacing technology is nothing new to the sneaker community, but the question still lingered as to whether or not it would apply to other Beaverton imprints such as Jordan Brand. And thankfully this month that moment is finally here as the Jumpman team has decided to conclude 2020 with a banger by loaded up the ever-classic Air Jordan 11 with the high-powered laceless technology. The modernized variation comes packaged with snowy white patent leather mudguards and uppers, and its coupled with striking “Infrared” accents and black trim across the throat. Pull out your Christmas money because the pair does retail for $500 USD.
Nike Air Max 95 NDSTRKT “Neon Yellow”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: December 30
Release Price: $200 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Not only did Nike decide to bring back the OG Air Max 95 “Neon” this year, but it decided to also modernize it via a completely new silhouette: the Air Max 95 NDSTRKT (short for ‘indestructible’). This latest model carries much of the same DNA as the retro Sportswear offering such as the low profile, semi-chunky sole unit, Air cushioning and more, but features updated durable webbing and a TPU cage that wraps around the upper for an aggressive new aesthetic.
Reebok Question Mid “Yellow Toe”
Reebok
Reebok
Reebok
Release Date: December 31
Release Price: $140 USD (Men)/$100 USD (Grade School)
Where to Buy: Reebok
Why You Should Cop: The Reebok Question Mid “Yellow Toe” is arguably one of the vector brand’s biggest launches of the year given its close ties to the late Kobe Bryant. Before the “Black Mamba” was a Nike signee, he rocked various PEs during his 2002-2003 sneaker free agency year, one being very similar to this offering. Additionally, given that Allen Iverson and Bryant entertained hoops fans with countless battles on the hardwood during their prime, this pair simply means that much more.
Nike Space Hippie 03 “Healing Jade”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: January 1
Release Price: $180 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS KR
Why You Should Cop: Nike made measurable efforts to manufacture sustainably-made footwear throughout 2020, and one of the collections that lead the charge was the Space Hippie lineage. Of all its members, the 03 was considered to be one of the most forward-looking designs, and now it’s back in a brand new “Healing Jade” installment. Grey uppers are paired up next to “Volt” mid-foot straps and heel cables, and seated next to titular accents painted over the “trashy” sole units to make for a sleek and vibrant colorway.
adidas Harden Vol. 5 Futurenatural
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Release Date: January 4
Release Price: $130 USD
Where to Buy: adidas
Why You Should Cop: Despite some controversy over his commitment to staying with the Houston Rockets, James Harden has proven that he is still a bonafide scoring machine on the basketball court. To kick off the new year, the shifty guard is providing his fans with a brand new signature hoops model to lace up: the adidas Harden Vol. 5 Futurenatural. This release marks the introduction of the Three Stripes’ new “Futurenatural” technology, all of which is paired up with a seamless 360-degree fit system and lightweight design.
