Do GREAT sneakers create Hype....Or does Hype create GREAT sneakers????

Thanks guys for sharing your opinion but Im not sure if we are really there yet....I guess the only way to truly answer the question would be to springboard off where Wally was going with it.....Take a pair of kicks....forget about the price, what kind of release it is, how many quantites there are, put them on a wall....and ask yourself are these fresh enough to cop....
 
First, I think we should ask ourselves, "What makes a GREAT SNEAKER? Is it the materials used, functionality, aesthetics, comfort, price, performance, history, etc?". 

In my opinion, I think the statement is reciprocal. I agree on both terms of the statement. I've fallen victim into buying HYPED (i.e. limited, special materials, collaborations, quality, etc) shoes numerous times from 03-08. As, I grew older and wiser through the years, my spending habits with sneakers has definitely changed. Back then, if I bought, a so called, "limited", sneaker, I remotely thought it was a GREAT shoe, which was utterly naive. Why? Because of the presumed exclusivity, history, materials used, quality, etc. Now, that I've owned 100+ of sneakers, sold the more than half of them and, currently, own less than 40 pairs, I just buy what looks good to ME and what I TRULY like (I know, I know NT cliché) 
laugh.gif


To put the shoe on the other foot, GREAT sneakers can also create HYPE. Speaking for myself, I think Lunars are GREAT shoes because they can account for most, if not all, the factors I previously mentioned. I've been running in Lunar tech for more than two years now, and I've started running more than four years ago. They've helped me perform, train and race in my first marathon several months ago, when I finished in the Top 8.5%. But I digress. Since I was so amazed by the Lunar series, I posted a thread in the Sneaker Showcase forum. I knew not that many people would post in it since the Lunar tech is considerably new and the majority of NT wear their shoes casually, but that thread has grown pretty quickly. From the "reviews" from that thread, some NTers can attest that Lunars are great shoes. Moreover, the vast majority of Lunars are general releases and are of low cost. The quick growth  of the Lunar thread can confirm that GREAT sneakers can create HYPE as well. All in all, I think the statement is reciprocal, very subjective and depends on the specific consumer.
happy.gif
 
 
First, I think we should ask ourselves, "What makes a GREAT SNEAKER? Is it the materials used, functionality, aesthetics, comfort, price, performance, history, etc?". 

In my opinion, I think the statement is reciprocal. I agree on both terms of the statement. I've fallen victim into buying HYPED (i.e. limited, special materials, collaborations, quality, etc) shoes numerous times from 03-08. As, I grew older and wiser through the years, my spending habits with sneakers has definitely changed. Back then, if I bought, a so called, "limited", sneaker, I remotely thought it was a GREAT shoe, which was utterly naive. Why? Because of the presumed exclusivity, history, materials used, quality, etc. Now, that I've owned 100+ of sneakers, sold the more than half of them and, currently, own less than 40 pairs, I just buy what looks good to ME and what I TRULY like (I know, I know NT cliché) 
laugh.gif


To put the shoe on the other foot, GREAT sneakers can also create HYPE. Speaking for myself, I think Lunars are GREAT shoes because they can account for most, if not all, the factors I previously mentioned. I've been running in Lunar tech for more than two years now, and I've started running more than four years ago. They've helped me perform, train and race in my first marathon several months ago, when I finished in the Top 8.5%. But I digress. Since I was so amazed by the Lunar series, I posted a thread in the Sneaker Showcase forum. I knew not that many people would post in it since the Lunar tech is considerably new and the majority of NT wear their shoes casually, but that thread has grown pretty quickly. From the "reviews" from that thread, some NTers can attest that Lunars are great shoes. Moreover, the vast majority of Lunars are general releases and are of low cost. The quick growth  of the Lunar thread can confirm that GREAT sneakers can create HYPE as well. All in all, I think the statement is reciprocal, very subjective and depends on the specific consumer.
happy.gif
 
 
It depends on the shoe whether which theory applies, some shoes that fly under the radar due to lack of initial visual appeal but their functionality more than makes up for it. Those great shoes create hype and not the other way around.
 
It depends on the shoe whether which theory applies, some shoes that fly under the radar due to lack of initial visual appeal but their functionality more than makes up for it. Those great shoes create hype and not the other way around.
 
Originally Posted by ILLustRAYt

First, I think we should ask ourselves, "What makes a GREAT SNEAKER? Is it the materials used, functionality, aesthetics, comfort, price, performance, history, etc?". 

In my opinion, I think the statement is reciprocal. I agree on both terms of the statement. I've fallen victim into buying HYPED (i.e. limited, special materials, collaborations, quality, etc) shoes numerous times from 03-08. As, I grew older and wiser through the years, my spending habits with sneakers has definitely changed. Back then, if I bought, a so called, "limited", sneaker, I remotely thought it was a GREAT shoe, which was utterly naive. Why? Because of the presumed exclusivity, history, materials used, quality, etc. Now, that I've owned 100+ of sneakers, sold the more than half of them and, currently, own less than 40 pairs, I just buy what looks good to ME and what I TRULY like (I know, I know NT cliché) 
laugh.gif


To put the shoe on the other foot, GREAT sneakers can also create HYPE. Speaking for myself, I think Lunars are GREAT shoes because they can account for most, if not all, the factors I previously mentioned. I've been running in Lunar tech for more than two years now, and I've started running more than four years ago. They've helped me perform, train and race in my first marathon several months ago, when I finished in the Top 8.5%. But I digress. Since I was so amazed by the Lunar series, I posted a thread in the Sneaker Showcase forum. I knew not that many people would post in it since the Lunar tech is considerably new and the majority of NT wear their shoes casually, but that thread has grown pretty quickly. From the "reviews" from that thread, some NTers can attest that Lunars are great shoes. Moreover, the vast majority of Lunars are general releases and are of low cost. The quick growth  of the Lunar thread can confirm that GREAT sneakers can create HYPE as well. All in all, I think the statement is reciprocal, very subjective and depends on the specific consumer.
happy.gif
 
Click to expand...
I think to really answer that question, understanding or eliminating those elements in that first paragraph really determines what can be classified as great. But, like with most things it is very subjective.

I think for me, the former, that GREAT kicks create the hype, is really what it is, but again that depends on what your concept of "great" is, what combination of those elements tickle your fancy and what purpose you use the kicks for. Most would say that the AJ XI was/is possibly the most iconic out of the Jordan line. Was that due to the hype surrounding who wore it, the new flashy materials used, justifications over quality and comfort etc? Most people would have different opinions on that...but what cannot be denied is that, as a product it was widely successful as people who aren't necessarily basketballers either bought them cuz they liked them visually, or for comfort (at that time) or to be part of buying into the history of the man behind the kicks- that to me is what made it great cuz it hit the mixture of all those elements very well, for many people, thus allowing it to be a very much fancied shoe by not only ballers but everyone around the world.

The point of hype creating GREAT kicks bit also holds true but that really depends on how much you allow yourself to be sucked into the hype versus what you actually look for when buying and your actual taste in selecting kicks. I wasn't and am still not particularly a fan of the AZK IV or V or let's use the more spoken about option now, the Lebron 8's (I respect Kobe and his skills/achievements but not a fan of him, which has blurred my decision on wanting his kicks and I prefer the AML 7 to the 8, and being a "boycott" kinda decision after The Decision),  but the hype surrounding them and especially in this generation that really "hypes" potential value, you can't help but be curious about them and possibly wanting in...just for the sake of hype. Hype does crazy things as well, as it makes products, sometimes, "grow on you" and makes some go out and buy a shoe that wasn't originally liked (the AJ XX and XX3 come to mind- when those initial pics dropped people were like
sick.gif
 wahhhh? but being the versions that had so much "numerical importance" to the AJ line, the return of Tinker Hatfield, excellent marketing, the exclusive colourway phenomenon--QS XX and Titanium XX3's for example--and ofcourse, just being Jordan, at that time, caused it to "grow" on people ridiculously fast, not to mention the perceived value as well)- I did like both those kicks from day 1 however, so for me, this is a GREAT=Hype argument, for others it might be otherwise...

So really it depends on how you view the concept. Some hyped sneakers go on to do very well, just like we've seen with the Yeezy's...but are they GREAT for everyone...nahhh. It all depends. Someone made the argument that some kicks that aren't hyped go on to do very well also...that again is very true, cuz it depends on how people view the shoes and what they want them for...and that only depends on you. All leads back to a phrase we've seen here many a time on NT- Buy what you like, not just for the sake of it...or something of the sort
laugh.gif
.
 
Originally Posted by ILLustRAYt

First, I think we should ask ourselves, "What makes a GREAT SNEAKER? Is it the materials used, functionality, aesthetics, comfort, price, performance, history, etc?". 

In my opinion, I think the statement is reciprocal. I agree on both terms of the statement. I've fallen victim into buying HYPED (i.e. limited, special materials, collaborations, quality, etc) shoes numerous times from 03-08. As, I grew older and wiser through the years, my spending habits with sneakers has definitely changed. Back then, if I bought, a so called, "limited", sneaker, I remotely thought it was a GREAT shoe, which was utterly naive. Why? Because of the presumed exclusivity, history, materials used, quality, etc. Now, that I've owned 100+ of sneakers, sold the more than half of them and, currently, own less than 40 pairs, I just buy what looks good to ME and what I TRULY like (I know, I know NT cliché) 
laugh.gif


To put the shoe on the other foot, GREAT sneakers can also create HYPE. Speaking for myself, I think Lunars are GREAT shoes because they can account for most, if not all, the factors I previously mentioned. I've been running in Lunar tech for more than two years now, and I've started running more than four years ago. They've helped me perform, train and race in my first marathon several months ago, when I finished in the Top 8.5%. But I digress. Since I was so amazed by the Lunar series, I posted a thread in the Sneaker Showcase forum. I knew not that many people would post in it since the Lunar tech is considerably new and the majority of NT wear their shoes casually, but that thread has grown pretty quickly. From the "reviews" from that thread, some NTers can attest that Lunars are great shoes. Moreover, the vast majority of Lunars are general releases and are of low cost. The quick growth  of the Lunar thread can confirm that GREAT sneakers can create HYPE as well. All in all, I think the statement is reciprocal, very subjective and depends on the specific consumer.
happy.gif
 
Click to expand...
I think to really answer that question, understanding or eliminating those elements in that first paragraph really determines what can be classified as great. But, like with most things it is very subjective.

I think for me, the former, that GREAT kicks create the hype, is really what it is, but again that depends on what your concept of "great" is, what combination of those elements tickle your fancy and what purpose you use the kicks for. Most would say that the AJ XI was/is possibly the most iconic out of the Jordan line. Was that due to the hype surrounding who wore it, the new flashy materials used, justifications over quality and comfort etc? Most people would have different opinions on that...but what cannot be denied is that, as a product it was widely successful as people who aren't necessarily basketballers either bought them cuz they liked them visually, or for comfort (at that time) or to be part of buying into the history of the man behind the kicks- that to me is what made it great cuz it hit the mixture of all those elements very well, for many people, thus allowing it to be a very much fancied shoe by not only ballers but everyone around the world.

The point of hype creating GREAT kicks bit also holds true but that really depends on how much you allow yourself to be sucked into the hype versus what you actually look for when buying and your actual taste in selecting kicks. I wasn't and am still not particularly a fan of the AZK IV or V or let's use the more spoken about option now, the Lebron 8's (I respect Kobe and his skills/achievements but not a fan of him, which has blurred my decision on wanting his kicks and I prefer the AML 7 to the 8, and being a "boycott" kinda decision after The Decision),  but the hype surrounding them and especially in this generation that really "hypes" potential value, you can't help but be curious about them and possibly wanting in...just for the sake of hype. Hype does crazy things as well, as it makes products, sometimes, "grow on you" and makes some go out and buy a shoe that wasn't originally liked (the AJ XX and XX3 come to mind- when those initial pics dropped people were like
sick.gif
 wahhhh? but being the versions that had so much "numerical importance" to the AJ line, the return of Tinker Hatfield, excellent marketing, the exclusive colourway phenomenon--QS XX and Titanium XX3's for example--and ofcourse, just being Jordan, at that time, caused it to "grow" on people ridiculously fast, not to mention the perceived value as well)- I did like both those kicks from day 1 however, so for me, this is a GREAT=Hype argument, for others it might be otherwise...

So really it depends on how you view the concept. Some hyped sneakers go on to do very well, just like we've seen with the Yeezy's...but are they GREAT for everyone...nahhh. It all depends. Someone made the argument that some kicks that aren't hyped go on to do very well also...that again is very true, cuz it depends on how people view the shoes and what they want them for...and that only depends on you. All leads back to a phrase we've seen here many a time on NT- Buy what you like, not just for the sake of it...or something of the sort
laugh.gif
.
 
this is all subjective and will vary from person to person. One man's great/classic sneaker is another hypebeast/lates trend. The only sneakers I buy that aren't retro's are nike basketball sneakers, sorry Nat. Everything else I buy is based on the history of the shoe and the colorwaty. If something is being re-released that I had to pass on in the past, i'll cop.
 
this is all subjective and will vary from person to person. One man's great/classic sneaker is another hypebeast/lates trend. The only sneakers I buy that aren't retro's are nike basketball sneakers, sorry Nat. Everything else I buy is based on the history of the shoe and the colorwaty. If something is being re-released that I had to pass on in the past, i'll cop.
 
I can say this about the Hype - Nike has been the masters of Hype since '85 when the Air Jordans first started making it into commercials and ads. Don't get me wrong, I have spent more on the hype created than the GNP of some small countries since then, but it still is true. Were the Jordan I's a great shoe by performance standards? Not really. They were the same set-up as most Nike shoes at the time (AF1, Air Ship). They benefitted from hype, as did the whole line. Admittedly they created some innovative, high-perfomring shoes, but without the Jordan hype they would have been ugly black and red kicks. And I can not complain, and I am not, because I bought every pair from the I's to the XIV's. Most of them I thought from the pictures were ugly, never wear them, can not believe they put those out, then a week after watching them on his feet and seeing my friends playing in them, yes sir, I had to get them.

Recently, the hype came from the Kobe IV. WOW!!! A LOWTOP for the best player in the game. How revolutionary. But Nash had been doing it for years. Going further, Kareem, Walt, even some of the '60's players in lowtop chucks. But because of the hype of Kobe, lowtops are now the new thing. It was a very good, if not great, shoe, in both performance (IMO) and colorways, but none of us knew that until we had them on. I would say hype created the greatness on that one.

And sometimes I get a laugh out of our opinions on here. Not to pick on any one post, because we all do it, but the comment of the Yeezy being worth $200 is funny. Really, what shoe is worth $200, regardless of material? It was top notch in materials and production, but a shoe costs $200? I remember when Jordan crossed the $100 barrier and everyone freaked. Now that is considered cheap. A shoe costs about $12 to produce and we are paying out the ***. Again, I am not immune and have probably spent enough to retire over the years, but sometimes on the outside looking in I see how crazy we all are.
 
I can say this about the Hype - Nike has been the masters of Hype since '85 when the Air Jordans first started making it into commercials and ads. Don't get me wrong, I have spent more on the hype created than the GNP of some small countries since then, but it still is true. Were the Jordan I's a great shoe by performance standards? Not really. They were the same set-up as most Nike shoes at the time (AF1, Air Ship). They benefitted from hype, as did the whole line. Admittedly they created some innovative, high-perfomring shoes, but without the Jordan hype they would have been ugly black and red kicks. And I can not complain, and I am not, because I bought every pair from the I's to the XIV's. Most of them I thought from the pictures were ugly, never wear them, can not believe they put those out, then a week after watching them on his feet and seeing my friends playing in them, yes sir, I had to get them.

Recently, the hype came from the Kobe IV. WOW!!! A LOWTOP for the best player in the game. How revolutionary. But Nash had been doing it for years. Going further, Kareem, Walt, even some of the '60's players in lowtop chucks. But because of the hype of Kobe, lowtops are now the new thing. It was a very good, if not great, shoe, in both performance (IMO) and colorways, but none of us knew that until we had them on. I would say hype created the greatness on that one.

And sometimes I get a laugh out of our opinions on here. Not to pick on any one post, because we all do it, but the comment of the Yeezy being worth $200 is funny. Really, what shoe is worth $200, regardless of material? It was top notch in materials and production, but a shoe costs $200? I remember when Jordan crossed the $100 barrier and everyone freaked. Now that is considered cheap. A shoe costs about $12 to produce and we are paying out the ***. Again, I am not immune and have probably spent enough to retire over the years, but sometimes on the outside looking in I see how crazy we all are.
 
Hype nowadays. Me personally, if the shoe is designed nice and comfy, I'm sold.
 
Hype nowadays. Me personally, if the shoe is designed nice and comfy, I'm sold.
 
Hype create GREAT sneakers for majority
this.


you created this thread/question based on ONE colorway of a the Lebron 8...you bought into the hype

certain colorways coupled with "limited availability" create hype

you can't consider a shoe great if you're only checking for one colorway.



Foamposites for example... (a generic example now days) Foams have been around since release date.... They did well but poorly in some places. But keep in mind... They released and released in a diff form to decrease the price but then retro'd in 02.... Foams are dope....

Which leads to my "conclusion".... When the youngins see the old heads wanting and proclaiming that foams are dope/ill/tight/etc... They follow. Theyre being led to believe these are dope and great.... So it's gonna grasp more attention to the rest.... So it gets the true fans more interested and worried so they "hype" it up and that leads to more hypebeasts.....

for the most part this is true. But from my experience until 2009 Foams weren't available in my area even then one store got 10 pairs of the Eggplants. Same still goes for a lot of non JB shoes.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hype create GREAT sneakers for majority
this.


you created this thread/question based on ONE colorway of a the Lebron 8...you bought into the hype

certain colorways coupled with "limited availability" create hype

you can't consider a shoe great if you're only checking for one colorway.



Foamposites for example... (a generic example now days) Foams have been around since release date.... They did well but poorly in some places. But keep in mind... They released and released in a diff form to decrease the price but then retro'd in 02.... Foams are dope....

Which leads to my "conclusion".... When the youngins see the old heads wanting and proclaiming that foams are dope/ill/tight/etc... They follow. Theyre being led to believe these are dope and great.... So it's gonna grasp more attention to the rest.... So it gets the true fans more interested and worried so they "hype" it up and that leads to more hypebeasts.....

for the most part this is true. But from my experience until 2009 Foams weren't available in my area even then one store got 10 pairs of the Eggplants. Same still goes for a lot of non JB shoes.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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