March 30, 2009 by hunter.

Ahh…sunny LA. How I’ve missed you so. It’s been far too long since I’ve been back home to the SoCal coast. So many people to see, so much to do … so many sneakers to buy. No sneakerhead’s trip to LA would be complete without a visit to SportieLA. Digging through the ‘displays’ is always a treat for a hunter like myself. So why not commemorate that trip with a suitable Sneak of the Month? March 2009’s Sneak of the Month is the Reebok Ventilator “Sportie LA” edition.

This is a gorgeous ‘tech’ shoe. I’ve had my eye on this shoe for a long time, but it wasn’t until I saw it in person that I truly became enamored. It has a simple yet eye-grabbing colourway, and numerous different textures. Of course it has the ventilation section of pure mesh along the sides, so don’t wear your holey socks.

My only gripe is that the stitching on the back isn’t as ‘full’ as it could be, but most people won’t look at the shoe closely enough to notice. All in all this is a great shoe if you want to wear something with colors and design guaranteed to snap necks. Be careful out there, and rock your sneaks with pride. And to SportieLA- great job putting this Reebok Ventilator together.

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February 20, 2009 by hunter.

February’s Sneak of the Month needs to be something different. Something that stands out. Something that fits with Valentine’s Day. Aha! How about these Nike Track Racers?! Welcome to February’s Sneak of the Month.

I’ve been kinda bummed lately because I’m no longer in one of the world’s great sneaker cities. This makes it hard to find fresh pairs, so I’ve had to branch out a bit and get creative with sourcing. But every now and then I stumble across a nice pair on the local market. This is one of those sneakers. The Nike Track Racer is a terrific shoe, blending the sleek silhouette of the Puma II’s with a simple colourway. Lately I’ve been enjoying sneakers that are more plain than a typical ’sneakerhead’ shoe, and the Track Racers are no exception.

Don’t forget, they go great with Valentine’s Day. (Nike Swooshes make decent hearts) So if you are looking for a present for your sneaker-collecting valentine next year, add the Nike Track Racers to your list. Much love, and stay fresh.

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January 23, 2009 by hunter.

Reebok announced job cuts of 300 workers. An odd part of the article highlights Adidas-owned Reebok’s difficulties increasing market share for US athletic footwear. From 2005-2008, Adidas and Reebok fell from a combined 18 percent to 9 percent market share! I blame their Kool Aid collection. Actually, Adidas/Reebok might fare better when you consider market share of ‘lifestyle’ footwear instead.

Brace yourselves for a bumpy 2009- a shrinking market means less revenue which means companies will take fewer risks on new sneaker designs. To paraphrase (now former) Pres. GWB- ‘Do your patriotic duty and get shopping!’

Posted in Reebok, Business, Pics, Nike, Adidas | No Comments »

January 3, 2009 by hunter.

FIGHT ON!!! This is January 2009’s Sneak of the Month- Rose Bowl edition! This month we bring you sneakers fit for a Trojan- the Puma Speeder Cup (Team Regal Red/Dandelion).

Start off the New Year right by showing your Cardinal & Gold in celebration of the 2009 Rose Bowl champion USC Trojans! These sneakers are the latest additions to an important subset of my collection- sneakers I can wear to the Coliseum on game day. They get extra points for being Pumas. The Speeder Cups were originally designed for the Spanish soccer team, but they fit in with USC football just fine. Just don’t kick the flagpole on the way to the stadium in these sneakers! As always, Stay Fresh and Fight On!!!

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December 30, 2008 by hunter.

Time to wake up from your food coma, take out the Christmas tree, and look ahead to the new year. You might not have gotten exactly what you wanted this year (still no two front teeth), but there is another, brand-spanking new year right around the corner. So what is on my wish list for 2009, you ask? Well…

Nike Marty McFly’s
And not the weak, close-but-no-cigar Nike Hyperdunks. I’m talking the real-deal, straight outta Back to the Future 2 McFly’s. Hell, even a fan was able to make a McFly better than Nike’s release. Now I was gonna tell you to log onto McFly2015 and sign their petition, but their site seems to have gone kaput. Well, while we wait for a true McFly release you can always pick up an authentic Delorean. Can you imagine stepping out of your shining Delorean with a fresh pair of McFly’s on your feet? Jumping Gigawatts!!!

New Balance Pigeons (pic courtesy of hypebeast)
So the legendary Nike Pigeon SB Dunks live on with the release of the New Balance Pigeons. And this time the release seems to have been riot-free! Awesome, but where’s my pair? It must’ve gotten lost in the mail (I forgive you this time, New Balance). If you missed out on the release (like me) you still have some hope in getting a pair…Hope that your several-hundred-dollar pair from eBay isn’t a total fake. That’s ok- I’ll just have to wait for the Puma Pigeons to release. That’s right, I am starting that rumor right now. Get on it, Puma! Your sneaker lineup is sorely lacking in the pigeon department!

World Peace
Ok, so technically it’s not a sneaker, but a little world peace would go a long way right now. Who knows- it might even inspire some awesome sneaker designs? And if world peace is too much to ask, then just send us some awesome 2009 sneaker releases.

Well, that’s what’s on my wishlist for 2009. Let me know what you’re wishing for- drop me an email. Have a terrific New Year’s Eve and stay safe- no spilling champagne on your sneakers!

Posted in Sneaker Love, Gear, Odd, Commentary, Pics, Nike, Art, Puma | No Comments »

December 12, 2008 by hunter.

Ho Ho Ho. Sneaker Claus here spreading holiday cheer and bringing you December’s Sneak of the Month- the Puma Jetter. This one is destined to become a classic. My elves worked hard to put this sneaker together. Combining copious amounts of mesh and a masterful colourway, the Jetter (Black/White/Spectra Yellow) is sure to be on the wish list of good little boys and girls.

You know my favorite part of the Puma Jetter? The little speckles along the sides. If you are on my Nice list this year, you might find yourself with a pair of these sneaks under your tree. If you’ve been naughty, you’ll have to wait until 2009 for the next Sneak of the Month. Until then, have a merry Christmas/Hanukkah/Eid al-Adha/Kwanzaa/Festivus.

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November 4, 2008 by hunter.

On the tail of Halloween comes the November Sneak of the Month. Congratulations to Major DC and Adidas for the Adidas x Major ZX 600.

Major DC has been representing the District’s sneakerheads since opening in 2006. Major was a favorite stop when I visited Georgetown, but they saved their best release until I left Washington.

The Adidas x Major ZX 600 is a solid sneaker rivaling the best collabs on the market right now. We’ve seen some sneaker shops release sneakers that are uninspired, but Major makes a name for itself with their ZX 600. As you may know, I love orange in sneakers, and the colors in this shoe are sharp. The digital camo across the back of the sneaker is a nice touch also. In fact, there are tons of nice touches on this sneaker. From the branded lace eyelets to the premium packaging, the ZX 600 has been very well-planned.

Congrats to Major, and I hope to see more excellent releases in the future!

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October 2, 2008 by hunter.

Here we go once again- October 2008’s Sneak of the Month is the Onitsuka Fencing LA (green/yellow).

Once again, Onitsuka Tiger impresses with the release of the Fencing LA. Worn by the Japanese fencing team in the 1984 Olympics (hosted in LA), this shoe is designed to move. With eye-catching colourways, it is also designed to be seen. Fans of more conservative shoes might like the white/silver or gold/black versions, but the green/yellow is a true Sneak Outta Left Field.

I particularly like the little touches with this shoe. The neon orange/red highlights woven into the shoe’s sides and label draw the eye, and the shape of the sole (with its cutouts) is certainly unique. The Fencing LA is a welcome addition to the usual Onitsuka lineup of Mexico 66 sneakers, and it has earned its spot as October’s Sneak of the Month.

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September 1, 2008 by hunter.

We’re back with the newest installment of sneaker goodness- its the September Sneak of the Month! Meet the Nike Cortez Nylon reissue.

If you browse through the Sneaks Outta Left Field archives, you won’t find many Nike sneakers. This is partly from my personal taste and the feeling that Nikes have already completely saturated the sneakerfan and sneakersite worlds. That being said, I couldn’t pass up the Cortez nylon. From the yellowing of the sneaker to the distressed leather, Nike really sold the vintage aspect of this shoe. And how many sneakers do you see with nylon uppers? While I’m not a huge Nike fan, I have to hand it to them. Their Cortez Nylon is a sneaker that should be part of your collection.

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August 1, 2008 by hunter.

August is a hot month, so it deserves a hot sneaker. Thankfully Onitsuka and Tokidoki agreed and brought us the Onitsuka Tiger Tokidoki Mex Lo.

This sneaker is busy in the best sense of the word. Every detail is carefully thought-out and presented. The basic color palette of white, black, and yellow is a perfect fit with the tiger theme. But don’t worry, the basic color palette doesn’t restrict Tokidoki’s colorful world. Tokidoki’s vibrant characters pop from all over the shoe. There are even faves like Adios on the shoe’s soles.

Grab this terrific collab before they are gone- they’ve been flying off the shelves.

Posted in Asics, Tokidoki, Sneak of the Month, Commentary, Pics, Art | No Comments »