Brooks was and still is a top tier running shoe company and one with some dope shoes in the vault including the Cheetah. If you’ve been looking to build up your non Nike vintage running shoe collection then the Cheetah is one you’ll want to start digging for now as prices should be moderate and hey, they may still be wearable (have some gorilla glue close by just incase).
Saucony’s grid line was always dope and the 8000 was no different. While the 9000 has seen the most love in the retro department I think its about that time for some 8000 retro’s. The design, pattern and colors set them apart from other shoes and gave models from other companies a run for their money. At 90.00 USD you got features like a curved shape, slip lasted construction, single density compression molded EVA with GRID tech in the rear foot and solid rubber outsole. If you happen to find a set of these they may not be wearable so be cautious and don’t expect to pay more than 150.00 USD.
Turntecs were hit or miss and these weren’t all to bad. With a retail price of an odd 63.00 USD, they featured their controversial ART system which Runners World felt was pretty gimmicky. What really stands out from a design point is how it appears they borrowed some design cues from the Nike Trainer SC III, go figure. Take a trip back below!
Yesterday’s runner is today’s casual shoe. The Saucony Matador looks a lot like other basic Saucony running shoes. They retailed at 50.00 USD and didn’t feature much in the cushioning department. Still, if you’re a Saucony enthusiast then this is one you’ll want to add to the collection, check them out below!
Danny Manning is no stranger to Reebok. The 1988 first overall pick in the NBA draft was known for sporting the Reebok Commitment Mid so it comes as no surprise that he would get a special make up of the legendary Omni Zone Pump. This rarity recently popped up on eBay, and while its currently a little overpriced they would be a nice addition to anyone’s Reebok collection. Via eBay.
If you’re a fan of early 90’s basketball shoes from brands other than Nike (preferably wearable) then you’re in luck. A rare pair of Puma Raiders has hit eBay in a US size 8. Fluorescent colors and 3-d design elements make these boss. Available now via EBAY
Avia was a full fledge competitor in the 90’s, and while they weren’t EXACTLY in the mix with Nike it didn’t mean they weren’t pumping out some meaningful releases. The Avia basketball shoe wasn’t a Jordan 7 or a Shaq Attaq but for an early 90’s shoe they certainly looked modern. Take a trip back below! Pics via eBay.
If you needed proof of Avia’s capabilities of pumping out quality good looking footwear then look no further. The 1320 featured modern Nike-esq looks coupled with their popular FOM cushioning and Shox like tech in the heel. If you wanted to add them to your collection, then act now. Via eBay
Another otherwise regular shoe that looks great compared to a lot of shoes these days due in part to materials and of course a great shape. Complete in bright late 80’s early 90’s colors these rarities are available now via eBay.
Ok, so if you’re familiar with the Nike Air Trainer SC III’s original ad campaign then you knew this already
but how often have you seen this cross training shoe actually show up on a professional basketball court? Not much? Look no further. Stanley Roberts (who played with Real Madrid) was spotted with the legendary cross trainer during two games back in the earliest part of the 90’s (but with all the branding covered up). But wait, is that really the Nike Air Trainer SC III?
Hmmmmmmmmm. You see, Stanley Roberts had an endorsement deal with a brand called John Smith and John Smith was notorious for knocking off popular models of the time (look to this John Smith Reebok Twilight Zone Pump Knockoff for an example of that) and so you really have to wonder if either A. Stanley Roberts did the unthinkable and risked his endorsement deal by wearing a competitors shoe while still under contract (with the branding covered up of course). B. This was a knock off shoe from John Smith (doesn’t appear it is) and Stanley Roberts was in a possible contract dispute with the company (similar to the situation between Patrick Ewing and Adidas where Patrick wore non branded Adidas Conductor’s after a falling out between the two) so he covered up the branding. or C. John Smith allowed him to wear the Trainer SC III but with the Nike branding covered up. Or D. Stanley Roberts wasn’t under contract from John Smith but didn’t want to give Nike free promotion so he covered the branding up. Check out the fliks and vote on your thoughts below!
Miami Bass legend Luke was known for reppin’ the Ewing Athletics brand in the earliest part of the 90’s
but his allegiance was further solidified when he sported a pair of Ewing sneakers in this ad for his fan club gear (which just so happened to include a pair of Luke Records sneakers). Check out this 90’s ad below as well as his video where Luke is decked out in Ewing gear.
Spend enough time searching out sneakers and you are bound to find shoes that really get you scratching your head. Enter these 90’s cross training sneakers from SEGA. Its one thing when a brand makes a generic looking casual shoe, maybe a kids shoe for your little one or better yet, a collab shoe with your favorite brand. With this release it almost appears that Sega actually designed a cross training shoe, the likes of which could pass for something from Reebok’s beloved pre-season line. Even better it says Sega SPORTS. Check out these rarities below or add them to your obscure collection today via eBay
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One of the more obscure color ways of the Tech III, the vivid grapes rarely show up at all but almost never in brand new condition. That, however, is exactly what has happened. A low top version of this legendary 3/4 tennis shoe can be picked up now but keep in mind that they are likely unwearable, unless of course you sole swap them (which is thankfully an option). Available now on eBay.
Companies have done many dumb things over the years both in advertisements and commercials but as far as sneaker ad’s go this might be one of the craziest. Throwing up what appears to be gang signs in an ad for “Sasson” sneakers, this early 90’s ad featuring Neil Patrick Harris might just be one of the strangest. While Neils sneaker game was no joke and we all love Neil it appears that Neil in addition to Sasson is inadvertently throwing up gang signs both in the ad and on the shirt he’s wearing (in case you needed a quick education on hand signs rapper The Game has a brief tutorial for you).
Check out the advertisement below and vote on whether you think Neil Patrick Harris and Sasson inadvertently threw up gang signs in this 1991 ad.
A lot of people (including myself) remember MVP Footwear’s Magic Johnson Sig shoe from 1996 and when we think of an “X” sneaker Xanthus’s X-PRO (endorsed by Xavier McDaniel) usually comes to mind. It appears however, that there might have been some beef during this time as to who exactly was first to the jump with an X shoe. Remember, this was around the time of the Malcolm X Movie and X hats, shirts and accessories were really big. Even Nike got in on the X movement with the Nike Air Raid (if you notice the straps across the midfoot are a huge X in grey. Regardless of who was first, one things for certain both brands put out some memorable footwear check out MVP’s below!
The Ewing Rogue was a European release from the early 90’s and with that its been very difficult to find OG pairs (and even photo’s for that matter) of some of the color way’s of various models from the initial release. Which brings us to this rare photo of the original Black Red color way. All the major sneaker blogs have reported these to be an original color way but with no photo’s to prove this some collector’s have begun to speculate it might have been a way to sell sneakers without factual. I can however, put that question to sleep with this photo of an Original Pair of Black/Red/Pewter Grey Ewing Rogues below. You can see there was some alteration between the original and the retro as far as color blocking but overall the look and feel of the OG is a live and well. How do you feel about them? Wish they kept the OG look? Maybe even pre-yellowed them? Check them out below and drop a comment!
Original Ewing Rogue Black/Red/Pewter 1994
Ewing Rogue Black/Red/Pewter 2014 Retro
Ewing Athletics has a rich heritage with a deep back catalog and some models that were exclusive to Europe (such as the Ewing Rogue). Today we take a look back at what appears to be another European exclusive, the Ewing Scorpian (Scorpion). Taking design cues from the Ewing Concept Hi The Scorpian (this is how it was spelled in the catalog, it was probably Scorpion) featured a strap the crossed over the midfoot like the Concept Hi but that ran up the side around the ankle. They also featured a different midsole design among some other slight differences. Colorway’s were fresh and bang up to date. What do you think about this model? Check them out below and drop a comment!
By now, if you’ve been following this site you know there were several other inflatable shoes from brands other than Reebok (Some of which pre-dated the Reebok Pump). Of course there was Fillmoore’s Pneumatic insole -dating back to the 1800’s and then the Aero Shoe Corporations inflatable shoe from 1983 as well as the Nike Air Pressure, Nike Command Force Pump, Nike 180 Pump, adidas XTR Tubular, L.A. Gear Regulator, Spalding Typhoon, USA Olympics Pump and of course the Troop Pump. You can now add Jox to that list. The Jox Pulsator Pump was a shoe that looks like it took designs cues from about 4 or 5 other models from different brands. If you were budget conscious then this was the pump shoe for you. Not all that terrible looking and a great vintage rarity today, you can pick these up now via eBay.
This isn’t the first time Coors Light had teamed up with Vans (see the 1990 Vans x Coors Light shoe) but it was definitely the more toned down version. Check out this rare 1993 ad below!
What do you get when you combine the Reebok Pump and Nike Command Force? You get these early 90’s Voit Pumps. In the 90’s Voit was known for sports equipment like soccer balls and protective gear but they also pumped out (pun intended) some low budget sneakers. As you can see one of these sneakers was a pump shoe that knocked off the Reebok Pump. You can now add this Voit pump to the list of companies not named Reebok that featured Pump shoes. Check out these rarities below and make sure to hit the links below to see all the other Non-Reebok Pump shoes. Images via eBay.
Aero Shoe Corporation Inflatable Shoe
