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Everyone that collects sneakers were at one point beginner sneakerheads. Building a collection of dope sneakers can take time!
What “Sneakerhead” Means
Technically, a sneakerhead is someone who collects sneakers as a hobby. Usually, sneakerheads are knowledgeable about sneaker history to varying degrees.
My first “collectible” sneaker and
the start of my sneakerhead journey!
It helps to know what you are shooting for in becoming a sneakerhead. Some sneaker collectors don’t like the term, but when we talk about sneakerheads, most at least know what the term implies.
Generally, the activities of a sneakerhead include staying on top of drops, looking for the best prices on kicks, researching why certain shoes are important and discussing the hobby with others. Just like any collecting-based niche hobby, knowledge is your ally to growing a sneaker collection.
Why Are There Sneakerheads?
Sneakers became attractive to collect thanks to sports icons popularizing athletic shoes beginning in the late 1970s. Additionally, musicians became known for their sneaker style starting in the 1980s.
The Air Jordan 1 is one of the most
collectible sneakers out there!
While people began buying these pairs throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, sneakerheads really began to emerge in the 2000s with the advent of the retro.
Once rare sneakers began being remade, it gave actual fans of sneakers a chance to own their favorite pairs in wearable condition. As the values of certain sneakers increased, a niche segment of collectors emerged.
Attention Beginner Sneakerheads: Buy What You Like!
People’s reasons for wanting to enter the hobby and start a sneaker collection are often based on what’s popular at the time. While this is as good an entry point as any for beginner sneakerheads, buying only hyped-up sneakers will only make your collection similar to every other collector.
While not everyone’s cup of tea, the Forum does
have a niche group that loves the model!
It’s good to pick up some high profile shoes at times, if you actually like that shoe. When first starting, you might not be sure exactly what you are going to want to actually wear and collect, so going with what’s popular is an easy way to “buy in” to the hobby.
As your tastes develop however, you should look at branching out to sneakers that satisfy your own tastes. Having sneakers is somewhat of a requirement for being a sneakerhead, but knowledge and taste help build truly unique and exciting collections.
Different Sneakers Serve Different Purposes
Of course, a modern basketball shoe is for basketball and a modern runner is for running. One should purchase the correct shoe for the correct purpose when the goal is for a specific activity. This applies to the sneakers in a sneakerhead’s collection as well.
I copped this black colorway specifically
to be used as a “beater”
I’d say the four main categories of sneaker for a sneakerhead are: functional, collectible and casual and beater. These can definitely overlap.
Functional kicks are purchased for their intended function. If you run, look into the most modern running sneaker that compliments your running style. The same goes for other sports and activities where a specific shoe helps increase performance. This category works for everyone and not just collectors.
Collectible sneakers on the other hand are pairs that you probably won’t be playing sports in any time soon. These include rare pairs, limited releases and collaborations. These are sneakers that are sought after and make your collection more exciting. Some choose to not wear the rare collectible sneakers that they buy, although personally I wear all of mine!
Casual sneakers can fall under the collectible category and are pairs that you may wear often but aren’t specific to a sport. Many retros fall under this category. For example, while a Nike Dunk was originally made for basketball, these days there are functional basketball kicks for actually playing in. A pair of Dunks is much more suited towards casual wear.
Beaters are an important element of any sneakerhead’s collection. These are kicks you don’t mind getting totally destroyed from rough use. A lot of time is spent keeping one’s casual and collectible kicks as clean and presentation-worthy as possible. Still, you will inevitably find yourself in situations where your shoes are going to take a beating. Wearing dedicated beaters helps alleviate the damage this would otherwise cause to your collectible pairs.
Find Your Niche Sneaker Style
Many begin by collecting hyped-up sneakers. After all, these types of kicks are what “everyone” seems to be wearing. Marketing, hype among sneakerheads and celebrity endorsements push these sneakers onto everyone’s social media feeds. Whether or not this is how you start out, eventually you should form your own preferences.
Asics aren’t everyone’s cup of tea
but certain models are definitely
collectible. The Gel Lyte 3 is my fave!
Generally, sneakerheads tend to develop a focus on one or several models and/or categories. While some stay with the hype, many go down specific rabbit holes. This leads to an interesting and highly individualized collection.
The more interest you have in a specific shoe, the more you should seek out the history of that sneaker. Storylines add flavor to a collection and give sneakerheads something to talk about! If you only stick with hyped up pairs, you wind up with very similar collections to other collectors. There’s nothing wrong with this, however variety is the spice of life!
For example, while I started out buying the latest and most hype SB Dunk releases initially, I eventually branched out. As I learned more about sneakers, I added Air Jordans, Air Maxes and eventually other Nike runners and basketball shoes to the mix. I then went even more niche with retro runners from other brands like New Balance, Saucony and Asics.
What you will seek out with sneakers will be highly individualized based on your lifestyle and what looks good to you. While I have a varied collection and some knowledge on various models, over time I’ve developed certain preferences as a sneakerhead.
For example, while Dunks and Jordans were my first shoes (and I will always have a soft spot for them), I tend to prefer retro runners. Nice materials, collectability and getting a good deal on those runners are nice bonuses. This suits both my lifestyle of walking a lot and my sensibilities as a sneakerhead.
Stay On Top of Sneaker Drops
An issue with beginner sneakerheads is finding release dates and knowing where to cop the kicks. This is easily solvable by visiting sneaker news type websites and checking through articles for what catches your eye.
Additionally, you can seek out groups on Facebook or accounts on other social media that post sneaker drop info. Following the stores you like to buy from also helps as they often post when they have new drops in or upcoming. The longer you collect, the more “go to” spots you will develop online for finding out information on releases.
Talking to other collectors helps to get info as well. There are even Discord groups out there entirely dedicated to kicks!
Don’t Buy Sneakers From Randoms
Bootleggers, replica-makers and rip-off artists are rampant in any collectable niche and sneakers is no different. Be aware what sites and/or sellers you are buying from to ensure you actually get the sneakers you are trying to buy.
Personally, I avoid individual sellers on social media sites like Instagram, or websites where the prices are too good to be true. The odds are too high that the sneakers are fake or the seller is a scammer who is going to take my money!
Your best bet is to buy from reputable sources like retail locations, directly from the brand (i.e. Nike) or from aftermarket sites that offer third party authentication such as eBay. If you are considering buying from a new source, ask around and search extensively to determine if the source is reputable or shady. If something feels off or the price is too good to be true, avoid sending your money!
Take Advantage Of Sales on Kicks
Shopping outlets or clearance sections at retail stores and websites can be a great way to save money and afford more kicks for the collection.
I definitely waited for a sweet deal on these
and managed to save almost 50% off retail!
Paying full retail for sneakers is better than paying high resale prices. However, what’s even better is getting a sweet deal on a pair for the collection!
I frequently hit up the sales sections on different footsites (i.e. Finishline, Footlocker), sneaker boutique (i.e. Sneakersnstuff) and sneaker brand (i.e. adidas.com) websites to try and get a deal.
While you are not likely to find the most hyped-up kicks on sale, you can find pairs that people slept on. Often times these pairs wind up just as sought after as more popular pairs once enough time has passed.
You can also look for preowned kicks from other sneakerheads or on eBay to try and get a deal. This can be helpful for getting more popular pairs for less money. There are pros and cons of this as outlined in this other article I wrote.
Learn the Lingo
You will eventually notice sneakerheads throwing around a lot of terms. Midsole, Deadstock, Brick, etc are all terms that can seem mystifying to new sneakerheads.
The best suggestion here is to research and engage other sneaker collectors online. The more sneaker related discussions you have, and the more you learn about sneaker history, the easier it is to tell what the different terms mean through context. This knowledge is something that grows with experience
Just Have Fun!
Super corny advice, but true! When buying and wearing sneakers becomes a hobby, it should be exciting and entertaining. Hobbies are meant to be fun. If you’re not having fun, reassess your moves as a sneakerhead and try and change whatever isn’t working.