Sneaker Freaker Staff Reveal Their Go-To Sneakers at Different Price Points
For many sneakerheads, choosing a favourite pair is akin to picking their favourite child – it’s so tough to pick just one. If you’ve been in the game a while, you’ve probably built yourself a solid collection, with different silhouettes for difference occasions. Sneakers aren’t a case of one size fits all, and the same can be said of their price tags.
With that in mind, we gave members of the Sneaker Freaker crew the task of picking their go-to sneakers under $100, $300 and $1000. The findings? Well, it’s not about how much you got, it’s about how you spend it!
Cesca
$100 – Converse Chuck 70 Low
‘When you’re looking for a sub-100 daily driver, you can’t go past the Chuck 70. It has a definite cool-guy advantage over other classic canvas creps and, for the dress shoe-averse, it can sub into more formal outfits without turning too many heads.’
$300 – New Balance 990v2
‘If anyone could find a men’s 6 in these, give me a holler. Ya girl’s trying to complete the 990 set here.’
$1000 – Afew x ASICS GEL-Lyte III ‘Koi’
‘IYKYK, there’s no justification necessary here… Just look at them!’
Gabe
$100 – adidas Samba
‘It’s hard to go past the adidas Samba at the $100 checkpoint. An icon of England’s terrace-wear culture, the Samba is still kicking goals all these years later, the silhouette recently remixed by the likes of Jonah Hill and Japanese soothsayers NEIGHBORHOOD.’
$300-ish – Aleali May x Air Jordan 14 Low
‘Michael Jordan’s Ferrari-inspired Air Jordan 14 has been a hot commodity in 2021. CLOT’s terracotta warrior AJ14 has shown plenty of spirit, and the upcoming ‘Red Lipstick’ rendition is cranking necks at radical angles. But it’s Jumpman Queen Aleali May that I’m putting my money on, the superfly colourway inspired by Jade jewellery and motorbike culture.’
$1,000 – Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low
‘Yes, I’m susceptible to hype. Sue me.’
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Jacob
$100 – adidas Skateboarding Tyshawn Low
‘Since interviewing Tyshawn, this Low has been getting three to four wears per week. It is easily my favourite shoe at the moment. Can’t wait for my local skate shop to get a restock!’
$300 – Nike SB Dunk High ‘Kevin Bradley’
‘As the Nike SB Dunk hype started to intensify at the end of the Striped Box era, I remember passing on a pair of the Kevin Bradley SB Dunk Highs for retail. Dang... another one that got away.’
$1000 – Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 Low ‘Midnight Navy’
‘When Eric Koston revealed these, most sneakerheads weren’t into AJ1 Lows, but it meant this pair was easy to pick up at retail. In hindsight, I should have doubled up – yes, it was 100 per cent possible! What’s gut-wrenching about this pair is that I wore them to absolute death. They matched all my clothes which, in turn, meant I had no regard for their lifespan. Then I checked resale prices…’
Minh
$100 – adidas Campus 80s
‘Sitting at precisely $100 on the adidas webstore, the Campus 80s is the perfect choice – I explain at length why here. Versatile, stylish and durable – the key tenets of a good sneaker at any price point.’
$300 – New Balance 996 (Made in USA)
‘I’m not gonna spend 300 bucks to have the same sneakers as the next person. The Made in USA version of the New Balance 996 is a bit more obscure, and is worth the extra cost getting them from Japan.’
$1000 – Hender Scheme MIP-10
‘Spending $1000 on sneakers is somehow not as unthinkable as it used to be. TBH, the Hender Scheme MIP-10 and its cobbler-quality construction are worth every dollar, and they’ll develop wonderful patina too!’
Boon
$100 – Nike SB GTS
‘It’s definitely a no-frills package, but this shoe provided me plenty of thrills on the board over the years. Stoked to see it back in skate shops again!’
$300 – Air Jordan 4 G ‘White Cement’
‘I’m looking forward to un-DSing my pair on the course once the weather heats up. There’s too much potential for grass stains and mud when you’re looking for your ball in the trees...’
$1000 – Air Jordan 1 ‘Royal’
‘For me, this colourway is the 1 to rule them all. I love how easily paired they are with most outfits. The only problem is how beat-up they’re getting, though!’
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Ged
$100 – Vans Slip-On ‘Checkerboard’
‘I’m not even going to reach all the way up to the $100 mark. This understated classic has all you need: style, comfort, backstory and affordability. Arguably an essential model in any respected and well-rounded sneaker rotation, the Vans Slip-On is the ultimate all-rounder. And you’ll even have enough cash left over afterwards for snacks and a drink.’
$300 – Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% Flyknit
‘I’ve recently started running again. And while I’m definitely not covering the kind of distances that Eliud Kipchoge does – and certainly not at the same pace – I’m looking for any performance advantages I can find. Featuring all the latest in Nike running tech, the Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT% Flyknit gets a big tick from those in the know.’
$1000 – Nike SB Dunk High ‘Unlucky’
‘Not only does the Nike SB Dunk High ‘Unlucky’ rock that unbeatable sneaker colour combo of red and black, it also features gold embroidery to really highlight the shape and design of the legendary silhouette. Apart from being a valuable on-foot commodity, it’s also a really good-looking shoe. Released way back in 2004 during the silver box era, the red ‘13’ on the forefoot drives home the theme of superstition. This Dunk certainly proved lucky for some – namely those that picked it up for retail all those years ago.’
Anthony
$100 – Converse Chuck 70 Low
‘The Chuck 70 low is a classic silhouette that can be dressed for any occasion. There aren’t many shoes that can give you this much value. Dress them down and you can wear them to the cinemas. Dress them up and be the cool guy at your sister’s wedding.’
$300 – New Balance 993
‘I have to thank my friend and co-worker Minh for hooking me up with a pair of the New Balance 993 in classic grey, because I don’t believe a more comfortable sneaker exists – period.’
$1000 – StrangeLove x Nike SB Dunk Low
‘These were the shoes that got away. Last Valentine’s Day, I ripped into my partner’s gift expecting them to be inside, and was disappointingly met with chocolates.’
