Ian Stonebrook // Associate Editor
10. Reebok Shroud
photo via End
I’ve gotta start with these just to get them out of the way because I’m still mad I didn’t get them. Sure, judging by my wear of late ’90s silos like The Glove or the EQT Elevation, these weren’t gonna get much burn but these were definitely everything to me the first time they came out. The ad in Eastbay with The Reignman ripping the skin off his chest while endorsing these shoes? It sounds weird on paper, but it was dope then and still hits. These are a challenging wear now, but they definitely speak to a time when shoes were more important than the outfit and innovation was more important than nostalgia. Oddly enough, I want them for exactly the opposite reasons. Better find a pair and props to Reebok for bringing back the Flintstone Questions, too.
9. Nike Air Force 1 High Remastered
Biggest regret 2015: Not seeing Future, Drake, A$AP Rocky and Billy Idol when they were all in town for ACL. Second biggest regret 2015: Not wearing the White/Silver AF1 Highs with my Victor Page jersey to see it. *sigh
8. Supreme x Air Jordan 5 “Desert Storm”
When it comes to not wanting to dress like the cool norm, Supreme, retro Jordans and camo all rank at the top of the list of things I’d rather not wear and certainly not spend money on or lose sleep over. Still, I think the “Desert Camo” 5s are one of the best releases of the year and one of my personal favorites. Nevertheless, I remain too frugal to shell out the honestly underwhelming resale prices, but will definitely flash a thumbs up the next time I see somebody wearing a pair.
7. Extra Butter x adidas ZX Flux Vanguard Pack
I get sent a lot of stuff, and it’s awesome — thank God for it, but the packages I definitely value the most are the unique stuff I can use. In years passed it’s been shoes like the Nike TW 13 that I still golf in and the adidas trail shoes with the berry scented heel which I still hike in. I’ve only worn the leopard Fluxs from this Extra Butter pack maybe once and still haven’t given the Mids a spin, but I use that canvas backpack they came in everyday. What’s even better is that the bag also came with a bunch of trail gear that’s actually useful (honest note: I haven’t used many of those yet). Either way, I think it’s ill that they made a pack that’s actually about getting out there and doing stuff and functional just the same. The guys at Extra Butter walk to the beat of their own drum and I really dig that.
6. Taka Hayashi x Pendleton x Vans Slip-On
I don’t think people are sleeping on Taka because I think that everybody that’s been into shoes for the last five years knows who Taka is. Still, I’m not sure he gets his props. I think that’ll change. As the guys that grew up collecting retro Jordans before they were cool have now moved on to vintage Raf Simons pieces and rarer rarities, I’d like to think Taka will get his due from the steeze crowd just the same. But yeah, the Slip Ons are the clear favorite from the latest launch, would’ve been ill as an Old School too. Great guy and great designer.
5. Nike LeBron 12 EXT “Wheat”
My sister Devon put me on the all-tan head-to-toe look at the top of the year and it hasn’t quite grown tired on me (all-brown next, btw.) The Nike LeBron 12 EXT “Wheat” does an amazing job of packing all the performance tooling of the LeBron line on an adult colorway that’s still fun. While eBay prices versus sales rack status would definitely deem the OG AZG in said scheme a better wear, I argue: is it really? These are dope and look that good in real life. Regret passing but will Diddy Bop if I find a size 11 in outlets.
4. Pusha T x adidas EQT Running Support 93
Got the off-white pair the top of 2015 (thanks RaEsa!) and made a lot of memories in them. As a Pusha T/Clipse fan, definitely remember riding my bike in snow across campus to buy Hell Hath No Fury the day it came out back in college and still wear The Black Card Era t-shirt inspired by the We Got it For Cheap mixtape skits we made for our high school IM hoops team. So, getting both of the Push shoes in 2015 was definitely #cool. They got burn all year, too. Trecked through the New York winter in them for many a moment and sported them sockless all summer in the Austin heat. These go super hard on any and all occasions and excited to make memories in the black joints into 2016.
3. adidas Ultra Boost
These are the type of shoe that every time you put them on you feel like a jabroni for not previously having them on. I remember how geeked the adidas team was at the launch event (“Join the revolution!), but they were very right. Great event, even better trip. The Ultra Boost is the rare shoe that elevates all its marquee technology and is actually super good at its intended function (shoutout Darren’s performance review). Hypebeast killed it on their collab, too. While we’re on the Boost tip, the all-white Crazylight Boost 2015 is right there, too. I actually play basketball in these like I’m too cool for school, but in all honestly I cringe/cry a little bit every time somebody steps on them. Big ups to Maddy, P-Jac and J-Til for those.
2. Under Armour Curry 2
Playing basketball is my favorite thing to do, and in 2015 there’s not a better way to enjoy said sport than pretending you’re Steph Curry while doing it. At 27 years of age, the ‘signature effect’ holds true for this shoe — I’ve found it does for the D Rose 6, too — and wow, what a feeling. When the Curry 2 was first unveiled, it felt like a bit of a dud after the success of the 1 and the crazy season he had in it. Combine a ridiculous winning streak, insane highlights and some two-tone colorways and suddenly the Curry 2 is looking pretty good. Looks aside though, these are awesome to play in a great example of Under Armour winning on the hardwood focusing only on performance and not trying to elevate any technologies for marketing sake. As said before, these are great to play and UA has been putting out awesome hoop shoes for a while now. Thanks to Sarah at Foot Locker for helping me fulfill my hoop dreams.
1. Air Jordan 4 “Oreo”
I wear these every day, every occasion. Going to the coffee shop to type posts, going to church on Sunday morning, raging at Barbarella on Saturday night, it really doesn’t matter, I wear the “Oreo” 4s and they look good with every outfit. Also, these are my first pair of retro Jordans in about four years, thank you very much to Damian, Patrick and the good people at VILLA for these. I’ve long loved the 4 and these hold up way better than the ’04 and ’06 releases and in the scheme of things they’ve probably got more burn already. All in all, the retro remaster initiative was definitely a good thing and the White/Cement 4s (next to maybe the Lavender Yeezys) are the only must-buys for me in 2016.
