The Sublime Off-White™ x Air Jordan 4 Spearheads This Week's Best Footwear Drops
Alongside the adidas YEEZY BOOST 380 “Blue Oat,” Grateful Dead x Nike SB Dunk Lows and Jaden Smith’s New Balance.
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Outside of NBA All-Star Weekend, you could very well make a case for this forthcoming seven-day stretch as the most eventful release week of the year so far. There’s desirable collabs aplenty from the old guard and fresh faces alike, the debut of a new signature basketball shoe, and plenty of revitalized classics as well. We’ll get to all of them in due time, but before we do let’s take a primer on last week’s happenings.
Leading things off, HYPEBEAST spoke to Nyjah Huston — a man widely regarded as the finest competitive skateboarder in the world — about his new Nike SB Nyjah Free 2, a Spiridon-inspired signature silhouette that blends potent performance and a lifestyle look. Moving from the skate greats to the hoops G.O.A.T, two of Michael Jordan’s game-worn kicks were put up for auction: one a rare Air Ship PE from 1984, the other a signed 1986 Air Jordan 1 injury PE with a strap-and-buckle support system. Each could fetch upwards of $500,000 USD, potentially shattering the record set by the game-worn and signed Air Jordan 1 “Chicago” that sold for $560,000 USD at Sotheby’s in May.
The assemblage of collaborative kicks was quite diverse, spanning a wide scope of styles and partners. UNDERCOVER offered a first glimpse at four rose-laden Nike ISPA OverReacts. We received our best looks yet at G-Dragon’s silver PEACEMINUSONE x Nike Air Force 1 and sacai’s double-stacked Vaporwaffle in both “Tour Yellow” and “Black/White.” Ronnie Fieg teased a new ASICS collaboration, NBA players were spotted in J. Cole and PUMA’s new basketball shoe and John Mayer rocked Salehe Bembury’s brightly-colored New Balance 2002. Even K-Swiss got in on the action with a Harry Potter-themed Hypercourt Express 2 tennis shoe, inspired by the Boy Who Lived’s famed Quidditch broom. An old favorite had a moment in the sun too, with rumors beginning to surface that the adidas YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 “Bred” would re-release later this year.
Sustainability was a major theme, with Jordan Brand revealing a Crater collection that uses many of the same materials as Nike’s popular Space Hippie line. Nike Basketball officially announced Giannis Antetokounmpo’s new Zoom Freak 2, Balenciaga released its Speed Trainer 2.0 — the “ones that look like socks,” as Cardi B would say — and Reebok brought its cozy, conceptual Beatnik sandal to US stockists for the first time in years.
Now that you’re all caught up, let’s dive into this week’s best drops. See a hand-picked dozen of the best releases from now to Saturday below, check our Drops page to get a grip on the entire slate of arrivals and please note that releases may be delayed due to COVID-19 coronavirus complications.
Nike VaporMax 2020 “Multi-Color”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 23
Release Price: $220 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Made of at least 50% recycled content by weight, Nike’s Air VaporMax 2020 is both sustainable and stylish — and may very well be the most interesting VaporMax silhouette since 2017’s OG model thanks to its unique build and FlyEase fit system. This inaugural “Multi-Color” makeup ramps up the vibrance with rainbow-colored thread on top of a stark grey base, leading things off in style for one of Nike’s newest high-tech lifestyle kicks.
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Crater Collection
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 23
Release Price: $95 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Essentially Converse’s “Space Hippie” line, the Chuck Taylor All-Star Crater is a ecologically conscious Chuck, built of Nike, Inc’s Crater foam and a new Morphlon material. Modernizing a timeless style like the Chuck Taylor is no small task, so over 100 Converse employees worked on the design — which will be debuting in three colorways.
Jaden Smith x New Balance Vision Racer
New Balance
New Balance
New Balance
Release Date: July 24
Release Price: $150 USD
Where to Buy: New Balance
Why You Should Cop: Jaden Smith and New Balance have been in an “entanglement” since 2017, and now Jaden is set to release his first signature model, the chunky Vision Racer. Arriving in a signature “Wavy Baby Blue” hue, the Vision Racer boasts a vegan-friendly construction and a bold, versatile build that’s just as unique as the polymath who helped design them.
Grateful Dead x Nike SB Dunk Low “Opti Yellow/Blue Fury” and “Green Spark/Soar”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 24
Release Price: $110 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: After an “Opti Orange” pair debuted exclusively at San Fransisco’s FTC earlier this month, the Grateful Dead x Nike SB Dunk Low pack’s “Opti Yellow/Blue Fury” and “Green Spark/Soar” colorways are set for a full release. A must have for any Deadhead, each style features a furry upper and textured Swoosh plus the Dead’s signature Dancing Bear and Steal your Face skull graphics. There’s even a hidden stash pocket so wearers can conceal their “valuables.”
Eric Emanuel x Reebok Question Mid
Reebok
Reebok
Reebok
Release Date: July 24
Release Price: $150 USD
Where to Buy: Eric Emanuel
Why You Should Cop: Sportswear designer Eric Emanuel has long been effusive in his praise of NBA legend Allen Iverson, so his new Reebok Question collaboration is a love letter to the pugnacious Philadelphia 76ers point guard. The shoe serves up undeniably appealing summertime style with its potent pink and blue accents, and Emanuel adds just enough alternate branded flair with small EE heel badges. It’s debuting at the Eric Emanuel webstore this week and will hit Reebok next week, so you’ll likely see it on this list once again then.
Air Jordan 12 “University Gold”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 24
Release Price: $190 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS and Foot Locker
Why You Should Cop: With a bold new mix of black and gold on a long-beloved Jordan Brand silhouette, the Air Jordan 12 “University Gold” serves up modern flair and Jumpman heritage in equal measures. The hues gives off slight Oak Hill Academy vibes, and matte black top eyestays add just enough deluxe flair.
Nike Air Presto “AUS”
Supply Store
Supply Store
Supply Store
Release Date: July 24
Release Price: €130 EUR (approximately $149 USD)
Where to Buy: Sneakersnstuff
Why You Should Cop: Following an exclusive drop at Australia’s SUPPLY Store, the Nike Air Presto AUS is set to arrive at European doors this week. Originally a rare PE that was only given out to Nike friends and family/Australian athletes at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, it’s a colorful, meaningful homage to the Land Down Under that’s sure to delight Aussie natives and Nike Sportswear buffs alike.
adidas YEEZY BOOST 380 “Blue Oat Reflective” & “Blue Oat”
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Release Date: July 24 (Reflective)/July 25 (Non-Reflective)
Release Price: $250 USD (Reflective)/$230 USD (Non-Reflective)
Where to Buy: YEEZY Supply and END.
Why You Should Cop: With a bold sport-meets-street color scheme that’s vastly divergent from much of 2020’s other adidas YEEZY footwear, the YEEZY BOOST 380 “Blue Oat” is a step in a bold new direction for Kanye West’s ever-expanding line. Originally introduced with an unflattering “Bloat” moniker, the “Blue Oat” will arrive in both reflective and non-reflective color schemes.
Nike Zoom Freak 2 “Naija”
Nike
Release Date: July 24
Release Price: €130 EUR (approximately $149 USD)
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS and Foot Locker
Why You Should Cop: Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to get back to business on the hardwood, and his signature Nike line is too with the new Zoom Freak 2. Featuring a new cushioning setup and versatile build, Giannis’s do-anything second signature shoe is launching in a printed “Naija” colorway that draws its inspiration from his Nigerian heritage. It’s also loaded with Zoom Air in the forefoot for a responsive feel, and boasts a split midsole for ultimate on-court flexibility.
Air Jordan 1 CO.JP “Metallic Silver”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 25
Release Price: ￥26,400 (approximately $246 USD)
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS Japan
Why You Should Cop: When it debuted in 2001, the Air Jordan 1 Co.JP “Metallic Silver” was a piece of history as one of the first four non-OG Air Jordan 1 makeups to be brought to market. Now, 19 years later, it’s back in almost all of its original glory. This week’s Japan-exclusive release comes in an individually numbered briefcase just like the first iteration, while later releases will be delivered in a standard cardboard box.
New Balance 327 July Collection
Mita
Mita
Mita
Mita
Release Date: July 25
Release Price: $100 USD
Where to Buy: New Balance and mita
Why You Should Cop: Finally set to release after being pushed back two weeks from its original launch date, New Balance’s trifecta of in-line 327s for July offers looks both vivid and toned down. With the heritage-inspired construction and bold branding that have made it one of the most popular new silhouettes of 2020, these new makeups are sure to be staples in many a summertime sneaker rotation.
Off-White™ x Air Jordan 4 “Sail”
Nike
Nike
Nike
Release Date: July 25
Release Price: $200 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: 2020 is a year of firsts for Virgil Abloh and Nike/Jordan Brand’s culture-shifting partnership, and the Off-White™ x Air Jordan 4 “Sail” marks Abloh’s debut AJ4 collaboration. With an ultra-refined color scheme, familiar pieces like Helvetica text, new embellishments like a sail zip tie and a technical “Revealing”-style build, the “Sail” has garnered near-universal acclaim. It’s one of the most hyped releases of the year, and is in fact a women’s release — but comes in a unisex size run that goes all the way up to a women’s 16.5, or a men’s 15.
