KSM: DJCK's 112 Pack

Welcome back to this week's installment of Kick Start Mondays. This week we decided to feature one of the greatest collabo packs Nike has released, DJCK's 112 pack.

If you don't already know who DJCK (aka DJ Clark Kent) is you've probably been living under a rock for quite some time. DJ Clark Kent is a pioneer in the hip hop game whose accomplished a ton of great things. There have been so many it's difficult to cite them all here (google this man and you'll see!).  Besides DJCK's accomplishments in hip hop, he's also known to many in the sneaker world as an OG. DJCK has been featured in a number of articles and documentaries documenting his affinity for sneakers (more specifically Nike AF1s). Not only is he known as a member of the infamous ATF sneaker crew, his personal collection of kicks is second to none.

In 2008, Nike commissioned DJCK to help design a limited quickstrike pack entitled the "112" pack. The retail "112" pack focused on a number of Nike's "One" models such as the Air Max 1, Air Trainer 1 and of course the Air Force 1. The pack featured a predominantly 3M and black nubuck upper with neon and elephant print accents. All three pairs also featured a neon outsole with matching laces.

Everyone already knew DJCK was crazy in the sneakergame but I don't think everyone knew how crazy his designs would be. Due to the crazy success of the pack, DJCK has continued to design a number of other Nike models under this makeup (i.e. AF25 lows, Lebron VII, Air Trainer SC 2010). Unfortunately many of these pairs have never seen the light of day in stores and are normally reserved to a select few within his inner circle.

I've been very fortunate to be able to get my hands on a pair of the Air Max 1 from this pack and I must say they do not disappoint. The 112's never released in Toronto so I had to grab my pair from the 'bay and paid a pretty penny.

Will we ever see another release from the 112 family in stores? Let's hope so!

Image via: TheShoeGame

Don't Sleep: Air Jordan III "White Cements"

I don't think I should need to remind anyone about the drop that's occurring this weekend courtesy of Jordan Brand. This Saturday (01/22/2011), we see the official re-release of the Air Jordan III (White/Fire Red-Cement Grey).

Considered to be the holy grail to many Jordanheads (including myself), this sneaker will be a general release w/limited quantity. Imagine the same pandemonium multiplied by 2! If you're in the GTA, be sure to stop by C-apsule and Livestock to grab your pair(s).

I got my pair in October and already re-upd on a next pair. Will YOU be grabbing a pair this Saturday?

KSM: Nike Air Barrage

This week we're featuring a pair of sneakers from Nike's vault that most of the younger sneakerheads probably don't remember.  We're featuring a Nike Turf classic, the Nike Air Barrage.

The Nike Air Barrage was the signature shoe for Marshall Faulk back in 1995 while playing for the Colts.  The Nike Air Barrage featured a predominately nubuck upper with a forefoot strap seen on many of Nike's turf shoes during that time.  The shoe itself did not boast many additional features but did stick in most peoples minds for the "Air" featured along the midsole and swoosh found directly on on the forefoot strap.

My mom got me a pair from the local Sports Authority store and these were my shoes for the good part of Grade 7 & 8.  I can remember my mom opted to purchase these shoes for me over other models cause they were on sale (a blessing in disguise).  Like many, I really liked Nike's runners that had their air units on full display.  At the time, I didn't appreciate these sneakers but I do now.  The Barrages were slightly heavier than your average runner due to their large midsole but I can remember that they had really good support around the ankle area and often felt like they molded to my foot.

Unfortunately, there are no future plans to have these bad boys retroed anytime soon.  For those who remember these bad boys, we can all dream and hope Nike will bring them back form the vault one day.

Image via: The Krusader

Year of the III

Is 2011 the year of the Air Jordan III? Looks like JB is making a serious campaign at making 2011 the year of the Air Jordan III.

During the tail end of 2010 we saw the release of the Doernbecher IIIs and received confirmation on the True Blue, White amd Black Cements for 2011. On top of the already crazy fire set to drop, new news surrounding a special Black History Month version of the IIIs are hitting the interwebs hard!

Will JB decide to release more retros of the IIIs throughout the year as they've demonstrated with the XIIIs? Or will we be seeing new colourways of the 3s like they demonstrated with the VIs?

Could we finally see a re-release of the beloved Mochas again this year? I wouldn't put it past JB but only time will tell...

UPDATE: Sneakernews also feels it may be the year of the III

NSW Sleepers...

2011 is going to be a big year for NSW, one that you won't want to sleep on...

In my opinion, there are two breakthrough shoes you'll need to keep an eye out for in the Nike Lunar Orbit and Nike Air Footscape Woven FreeMotion.  For many traditional North American sneakerheads, these shoes will probably not appeal to you very much but our friends overseas will be all over these releases.  The Footscape Woven series has been ridiculously successful in Asia and this upcoming release will be no different.

I'm gonna go out there and say that these two pairs are crazy and will be highly sought after in the years to come.  

Grab your pairs now on pre-order at Kicks-Crew.

AF1 Supreme "Year of the Rabbit"

All I have to say is WOW...

Nike recently released some teaser images regarding an upcoming limited release to help commemorate Chinese New Year and the year of the rabbit.  Nike has opted to use some premium materials on this release and although some ppl will be critics on the make up of this shoe, it's undeniable that Nike China has really come out with a winner in this release.  Every year on top of the special make up of the shoe, Nike also ups the ante with special packaging.  This year is no different as they've decided to incorporate a classic Chinese candy into their design for the special limited release version.

If you're like me and grew up eating these candies, you'll surely appreciate the detail put into this design.

Images via: FreshnessMag

The Challenge 2011

With the new year comes a new quota.  

As you may recall, last year I started a quota system to help me curb my sneaker expenditures that I deemed The Challenge.  Here's a preview for 2011.  Same quota, same penalties...

1. Air Jordan III Retro ('11 Release) - Black/Fire Red-Cement Grey (Jordan Brand)
2. Air Jordan XI Retro - "Concords" (Jordan Brand)
3. Nike Air Penny I (HOH Exclusive) - "Highlighter Pack" (Nike Basketball)
4. Nike Lebron IX - White/Black-Varsity Red (Nike Basketball)
5. Nike Lunar Orbit+ - Black/Black-Summit White (NSW)
6. Air Jordan V Retro Pack - "Laneys" & "Grapes" (Jordan Brand)

Stay tuned as this list continues to grow and is updated as more releases are announced...

food4thought - Kicks & Cigarettes...

I had a very interesting conversation recently with a friend about sneaker collecting. He referred to sneaker collecting as an addiction and related it to smoking. Although I adamantly disagreed with this comparison at the time, it made me rethink whether or not sneaker collecting could be as bad as smoking.

Right off the bat, many of you will say that this question is stupid considering smoking can actually physically kill you. However, if you look deeper, when collecting becomes an addiction it can possess just as radical physical effects.

The first thing someone needs to consider is that we're talking about collecting as an addiction NOT collecting as leisurely activity. One can generally determine if they're addicted to sneaker collecting when they exhibit one or more of the following:

• You spend more than 50% of your income on sneakers (for personal consumption not for resale)
• You've opted to purchase a pair of sneakers over food/rent (i.e. necessities)
• You spend more time sneaker hunting than you do with loved ones

The argument is that if you do in fact exhibit the above (a) you're a sneaker addict and (b) you exhibit tendencies that can be harmful to your health. Here's why...

If you're spending more than 50% of your income on consumer goods like sneakers, you're not spending enough on other necessities (i.e. food, shelter and clothing) that should be taking a larger percentage of your income. To give you some context, one should realistically spend 36% of their (take home) income on housing.

Also, if you're opting to spend money on sneakers rather than food/rent, I would seriously question how healthy you are both mentally and physically.  Missing one meal may not seem like a big deal but if you're doing it so you can purchase a pair of sneakers (no matter how coveted they may be) your health/nutrition most likely isn't a priority of yours.  Food produces much needed energy to help sustain our bodies.  This will also apply to rent/shelter as well, doesn't matter how nice your sneakers are, if you're not protected from the elements you probably won't have many opportunities to wear those sneakers you opted to purchase.

Although the effects from addictive collecting behaviour do not have direct effects on your health, the indirect effects cannot be ignored.  We all know cigarettes have been scientifically proven to be deadly but if you take a look deeper into the effects from addictive collecting behaviour, they may not be as far off as you once thought.

Leave a comment here or on twitter and let us know YOUR thoughts.

Year End Recap - The Challenge

2010 is finally over!  

If you recall, I started this year off with a personal goal to curb my sneaker addiction by issuing myself a personal challenge.  The Challenge consisted of an annual quota for the total number of sneakers I could purchase.  Any sneakers I purchased over the quota would result in a monetary penalty.  Here's a recap of how I did in 2010:

1. Adidas ZX Boat - "Yoda" (Adidas)
2. Air Jordan I Retro (AJKO) - White/Black-Varsity Red (Jordan Brand
3. Nike Air Foamposite One - "Eggplants" (Nike Basketball)
4. Air Jordan VII Retro (FTLOTG) - White/Midnight Navy/True Red (Jordan Brand)
5. Jordan CMFT VIZ Air 11 - White/Black-Varsity Royal (Jordan Brand)
6. Nike Air Max Lebron VIII - White/Black-Varsity Red (Nike Basketball)

Penalty Purchases
1. Air Jordan XIII Retro - French Blue/University Blue–Flint Grey (Jordan Brand)
2. Air Jordan III Retro ('11 Release) - White/Fire Red-Cement Grey (Jordan Brand) [x2]
3. Air Jordan XI Retro (Silver Anniversary)

Till next year!

Black Cement IIIs for 2011

WOW 2011 is already starting to look like another crazy year for JB. Already announced is the BRED Is, Bourdeaux VIIs, Concord XIs, Laney Vs, Grape Vs, True Blue IIIs, White Cement IIIs and now Black Cement IIIs.

If you recall, the Black Cement IIIs were recently retroed back in 2008 as part of JB's 20/3 Collezione pack. More recently, JB has been known to retro the same shoe within a three year timeframe (i.e. AJ IX White/Black-Red, Bred Is and TB III). Rumoured to be released in the same special packaging as the 2011 White Cement release, will this be a big enough impact for consumers to get another pair?

With so much HEAT dropping in 2011 (don't forget the rumoured White Cement IVs too), will YOU be copping?

Nike Dunk High X Fragment Design Available

Considered to be one of the "Godfathers" of Japanese streetwear, Hiroshi Fujiwara and his design firm Fragment have collaborated with Nike again.

Fragment Design and Nike have collaborated this time around on the Nike Dunk High. Fujiwara has helped design two new Dunks which feature a reverse two colour schematic. Although the concept is simple, the execution is on point.

Slated to be an Asia only exclusive, you can grab your pair of the Black and Purple version NOW over @ Kicks-Crew (for a premium of course).

Don't Sleep: AJ XI "Cool Greys"

As the holiday's quickly approach us, many of us jordanheads patiently await the release of the Air Jordan XI "Cool Grey" this weekend.

Unlike most JB releases, the Cool Greys will be available for sale on the 23rd (Thursday) and NOT the 25th (Saturday). Be sure to be on the look out at your local spots to snag your pair. Livestock and C-apsule will be carrying these this week but expect some serious line ups as these sneakers are going to sell out quick.

Will YOU be copping these bad boys?

Concords for 2011...

It's been announced that the AJ XI "Concords" will be set to release in 2011. There doesn't seem to be many details available as of yet but here are a few things I'm sure we'll see with the release:

1. They'll be released in December (probably the 24th)
2. They'll be released in the same packaging as the SJ and Cool Greys with a Concord makeup.

There shouldn't be much surprise that the Air Jordan XI "Concords" were going to be re-released in 2011 as we saw the success of the Space Jams and can ALREADY feel the success of the Cool Greys.

NSW Lunar Orbit+

The NSW guys have been killing it recently with their innovative designs on some of their runners. Their "Lunar" series, which features their patented lunar foam sole, have been turning some serious heads. With the popularity of the Lunar Rejuven8 and the Lunar Woven Chukka, it was no surprise that a new model would be added to the line up.

Coming 2011, NSW is set to release the Lunar Orbit+. The Lunar Orbit+ features an asymmetrical zip enclosure and 3 layer mesh upper. Subtle hints can be seen throughout the shoe which give it an added flair.

Be sure to grab these shoes when they drop cause not only will they be super comfy and serve as an awesome summer shoe, I'm confident these will become highly coveted years after their drop!

Source via: FreshnessMag

The Gift & The Curse - JB Style...

When one gets their hands on a pair of pre-drop sneakers before retail a lot can go their way. You may be one of the fortunate few who is able to get their hands on a pair of rare samples or even a pre-production pair that sports subtle differences from the version that is due to hit retail. Case in point the rare samples of the Air Jordan VI "Infrareds" from 2000 that had the infrared accents reversed on the midsole or even the 2010 AJ XIII "Altitudes" release less the frabic upper.

In some cases like the AJ III (White/Cement Grey-Fire Red) 2011 release, we aren't actually better off. For those individuals who were fortunate enough to get a pair pre-release months in advance of the 01/22/2011 release date, we received these sneakers in a standard JB box. It's been rumoured (and somewhat confirmed via ebay) that these sneakers will be released in a throwback to the OG packaging (complete w/ the OG information pamphlet).

For many, the nostalgia factor plays a big part in our sneaker purchases. For some, the packaging doesn't matter and will not dictate a purchase. To a certain extent, I do agree with this rationale but as a collector when the entire package is executed so well, it's very difficult to deny it's appeal.

Retailing for 150USD (and most likely 189.99 - 199.99CAD), will YOU be copping an extra pair as a result of the packaging?

Share your thoughts...

KSM: Air Jordan V

If you were to conduct a survey with a five Jordanheads on which Air Jordan silhouette is their favourite, I'm positive at least one would say the Air Jordan V. Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics stated in an issue of Sole Collector that the AJ V was his favourite pair of Jordans growing up. Many will argue that this sneaker is one of the best in the line and also has arguably one of the best colourways in the "Grapes".

Designed by the guru himself, Tinker Hatfield, the AJ V was inspired by the Tomahawk Fighter Jet. Visible in its subtle accents, one can see the inspiration via the shark tooth design found on the mid sole and 3M reflective tongue. The AJ V featured a slightly higher upper section made up of leather/suede. Taking cues from its predecessor, the AJ V also housed mesh like side panels and plastic accents along the lacing. The most notable items on this silhouette however were the molded ankle area, lace locking system and clear/translucent out sole accents. The AJ V was the first in the series to have the now commonly used clear/translucent sole and lace lock.

Coupled with the Mars campaign and MJ's dominance on the hardwood, its no surprise that this sneaker was a success.

The Challenge - Update (12/02/2010)...

If you remember correctly, I started this year off with a goal to curb my spending and appetite for sneakers. As the year comes to a close in a few short weeks, here's an update on "The Challenge" and how I've done.

1. Adidas ZX Boat - "Yoda" (Adidas)
2. Air Jordan I Retro (AJKO) - White/Black-Varsity Red (Jordan Brand)
3. Nike Air Foamposite One - "Eggplants" (Nike Basketball)
4. Air Jordan VII Retro (FTLOTG) - White/Midnight Navy/True Red (Jordan Brand)
5. Jordan CMFT VIZ Air 11 - White/Black-Varsity Royal (Jordan Brand)
6. Air Jordan III Retro ('11 Release) - White/Fire Red-Cement Grey (Jordan Brand)

Penalty Purchases
1. Air Jordan XIII Retro - French Blue/University Blue–Flint Grey (Jordan Brand)
2. Nike Air Max Lebron VIII - White/Black-Varsity Red (Nike Basketball)

Upcoming Purchases
1. Nike Air More Uptempo (Release Date = 12/01/2010)
2. Air Jordan XIII Retro - White/Black–True Red–Pearl Grey (Release Date = 12/18/2010)

AJ3 "Doernbecher" Release (12/04/2010)...

So this past weekend saw the release of the much anticipated Air Jordan 3 "Doernbecher" at select Nike retailers.

Unfortunately due to the nature of this sneaker many of us were left out in the cold northside of the border. All proceeds from the sale of any sneaker from the Doernbecher Freestyle line goes directly to the Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland.

Were you able to snag one from your connects Stateside? If not expect to pay an average of 350USD for a pair of these off the 'bay.

food4thought - Nash & The Sneakergame

With the sneakergame becoming ever so popular these last couple of years, we've seen a large surge in the number of resellers. Though resellers have always been in the game, we've seen a larger number of these individuals spring up who aren't necessarily sneakerheads. In most cases these individuals serve as sneaker brokers, picking up their stock at cost and quickly turning them for a profit.

It is human nature to try to maximize our personal gain/benefit when the opportunity presents itself. Thus we experience Nash's Equilibrium in the sneakergame. Nash's Equilibrium is defined as, "Nash equilibria are sets of strategies for players in a noncooperative game such that no single one of them would be better off switching strategies unless others did."

Let me explain this theory with a practical example:

When Nike announced that the Air Yeezy was slated to release in limited quantities over the world a large buzz/hype was created. Sneakerbrokers instead of purchasing with the intent to own the sneaker, purchased them with the intent to sell. Once the sneaker was sold out, all brokers increased the price of the sneaker with the intent of making a large substantial profit. Now you may ask how Nash's theory applies to this phenomenon. In a perfect world, "Broker A" and "Broker B" would acquire the Yeezy and sell it at face value. However, "Broker A" understands there is demand for the Yeezy and assumes that "Broker B" will sell the sneaker at face value and will charge a higher value to increase his overall benefit. "Broker B" also assumes the same thing and increases his price for the sneaker. Thus increasing the overall price of the sneaker for the end customer.

When there is a large presence of brokers in the game, the end customer always loses. One would assume that with more brokers the consumer would be better of butthis is not the case when brokers/resellers are only acting in their personal best interests.

Don't be surprised when you notice this phenomenon with the Cool Grey XI and Doernbecher III drops later this year. Atleast now you can put a name to it...

KSM: Nike Air Zoom Turf Jet

It's been a while since our last KSM but for this week's feature we're going back to another classic Nike shoe. Today we're gonna be talking about the Nike Air Zoom Turf Jet which was first released back in 1996.

The Nike Air Zoom Turf Jet features a predominately leather/suede upper with a clear outsole. The clear outsole features rubber nubs and can be seen throughout the outsole. The upper also features a velcro band that serves to stabilize the mid foot area. The most iconic aspect of this sneaker however is found on the mid sole of the shoe where a large piece of plastic is seen advertising the "Zoom Air" technology. Many of the OG sneakerheads will remember these as the signature shoe Brett Favre use to rock while on the Packers. Back in the mid to late 90's, Nike started releasing Turf shoes in the market due to the popularity of the NFL and their flagship stars like Deion "Primetime" Sanders. Although not originally designed for street wear, many sneakerheads opted to rock these on the regular.

I remember seeing these at Sports Authority when I was growing up and thinking they were pretty cool. I remember they were expensive and that my parents told me that they wouldn't be very comfortable since they weren't meant to be worn as everyday shoes.

Did you own a pair of these? Would you cop a pair if they were retroed again?

Image via: NikeTalk