Officially Retired from sneakers

I’m sitting on about 4 pairs of DS Jordan’s and I’m facing the tough realization that while I love them I don’t know if I’ll ever wear them.

A part of me wants to sell but a part of me wants to hold onto them for.. idk, sentimental value / my love of the shoes?

I was always a believer of “wear your shoes”, and still am, so this is a tough spot for me.
 
IMG_2337.gif


IMG_2338.gif
 
Like most of us, I never was into this because of popularity or fads or hype etc. Got into it as a kid who played a lot of basketball and loved the culture of it in the late 80s and even more so into the 90s. I'm old now and don't really play anymore, but I'm still a huge lover of the game and it's just something I've done and been interested in for so long that it's part of me, so I've never had the thought that I might one day "retire." If anything, I feel like it keeps me connected even if my playing days are mostly behind me. I don't even get the concept, honestly. It would be no different, for me, to saying I'm going to retire from wearing hoodies or hats or whatever.

It only is a "problem" for me when--and I'm near to being back in this boat--my space is running low or I find I've got DS shoes that are more than four years old that I'm never going to wear. But then I just unload older pairs to make room for new ones. I do think about the financial cost of it at times and what else I could do with the money, but I'm also not spending $5K a year. Where I've found at least a "decent" balance is, I mostly only buy stuff I REALLY feel a need to have. I've never been someone who chases every release like I'm collecting Pokemon cards or whatever.
 
Like most of us, I never was into this because of popularity or fads or hype etc. Got into it as a kid who played a lot of basketball and loved the culture of it in the late 80s and even more so into the 90s. I'm old now and don't really play anymore, but I'm still a huge lover of the game and it's just something I've done and been interested in for so long that it's part of me, so I've never had the thought that I might one day "retire." If anything, I feel like it keeps me connected even if my playing days are mostly behind me. I don't even get the concept, honestly. It would be no different, for me, to saying I'm going to retire from wearing hoodies or hats or whatever.

It only is a "problem" for me when--and I'm near to being back in this boat--my space is running low or I find I've got DS shoes that are more than four years old that I'm never going to wear. But then I just unload older pairs to make room for new ones. I do think about the financial cost of it at times and what else I could do with the money, but I'm also not spending $5K a year. Where I've found at least a "decent" balance is, I mostly only buy stuff I REALLY feel a need to have. I've never been someone who chases every release like I'm collecting Pokemon cards or whatever.
This is me in a lot of ways. In the past 3 years, I have bought a lot of pairs, but a lot of those have been older releases or vintage pairs I've wanted for a while. I've also sold off a lot of other pairs, bought pairs to flip like Orange Lobsters, TS x AM 1s, TS x J1 lows, etc that netted me nice $$ that I used to buy much cheaper stuff. I don't go after every release either as I'm very selective. I thought about the $$ aspect too. For being my only real hobby, it's not too expensive of one when you think of guys that are into cars, guitars, watches, etc. I'll never be done or "retired" from kicks as I've always loved em. Never been a "fad" for me.
 
Last edited:
This is me in a lot of ways. In the past 3 years, I have bought a lot of pairs, but a lot of those have been older releases or vintage pairs I've wanted for a while. I've also sold off a lot of other pairs, bought pairs to flip like Orange Lobsters, TS x AM 1s, TS x J1 lows, etc that netted me nice $$ that I used to buy much cheaper stuff. I don't go after every release either as I'm very selective. I thought about the $$ aspect too. For being my only real hobby, it's not too expensive of one when you think of guys that are into cars, guitars, watches, etc. I'll never be done or "retired" from kicks as I've always loved em. Never been a "fad" for me.
🎯 Watched my Dad restore a ‘72 Mustang Mach 1. Bought my daughter 4 guitars and a drum set so far for her musical hobby. Wife has a side business she created out of her hobby now. The amount I spend on sneakers is far less than any of these. The problem with some folks isn’t money for one hobby, it’s having money for multiple hobbies. I buy sneakers, sit my old *** down and enjoy life lol.
 
Welp, bought the Upthere x Kookaburras on a 20% off sale, and crazily enough, found a pair of 2013 Shaqnosis. The Shaqs are a 10.5 so I hope to God they fit. They also need a cleaning and come with no OG box, but for $90 AUD shipped (~$60 USD), im not complaining. Just bought a vintage mid 90s Reebok Shaq tee too that will perfectly go with these. Will be nice to add these to my Damenosis.

Now, if I can just get my 2013 Nike Gloves sold....😂😂😭😭🙏🙏
 
Imma make my post before reading through the thread but I can’t see myself giving it up…at least not yet but I feel for you a bit OP.

My issue with the industry at the moment is a lot more robust and I have ambitions on fixing it if God gives me the grace on doing so.

My love of sneakers stems from my love of the sport of basketball/NBA…amongst other reasons.

I also understand that loving something as an adult can be very different than when it was as a child. The love and passion can change over time. Especially when money is involved.
 
I've been purging lots of pairs to Flight Club and listing used stuff on Ebay/Goat.

It's funny how certain pairs lose thier allure over time while others are forever keepers. I've been gutting a lot of my Lebron collection. I'll prob move some more as well in the next 12 months.

I also got some more valuable dunks that I'm not wearing that I'm gonna sell too. I was looking at all my kicks the other day and thought wow, I have way too many. Gotta keep moving pairs out the door.
 
Imma make my post before reading through the thread but I can’t see myself giving it up…at least not yet but I feel for you a bit OP.

My issue with the industry at the moment is a lot more robust and I have ambitions on fixing it if God gives me the grace on doing so.

My love of sneakers stems from my love of the sport of basketball/NBA…amongst other reasons.

I also understand that loving something as an adult can be very different than when it was as a child. The love and passion can change over time. Especially when money is involved.
What would be your plan on fixing it brother? If you don't mind me asking
 
As my interests shift I find myself selling off DS pairs to fund my new interests. I’ve sold a few now and tbh I don’t regret it.

I had my Bred 11’s listed and had a lot of interest but I backed outta that one :lol:
 
What would be your recommended release strategy?
I thought about selling pairs at interval timing. Most stores kind of either have raffles or just release them all at once, and that usually gets eaten up by resellers.

It might not officially remediate the situation, but it can improve it a bit in my opinion.
 
I'm just going to be picky and space my purchases way out
This is exactly what I do now. I even stopped buying retroes when they started retailing at $175+. I'made an exception with the all black CB2 94 and will be doing it for the black toe XIV & metallic V. Also, I never pay more than retail on anything.
 
I can always say that I am tired of the sneaker game

But reasons why I don’t is cause you really can’t hate on the sneaker culture… ever

The game changes all the time and it’s only going to keep getting better and better it’s up to you if you will like to follow or fall off like many people do otherwise you think positive and appreciate everything this culture can offer

You either respect the game or you learn to hate it

Ps. I have been on and off sneakers since I was 10 I’m 31 now, I always come back for retros etc like it never changed
 
I can always say that I am tired of the sneaker game

But reasons why I don’t is cause you really can’t hate on the sneaker culture… ever

The game changes all the time and it’s only going to keep getting better and better it’s up to you if you will like to follow or fall off like many people do otherwise you think positive and appreciate everything this culture can offer

You either respect the game or you learn to hate it

Ps. I have been on and off sneakers since I was 10 I’m 31 now, I always come back for retros etc like it never changed

I always feel like there is no such thing as sneaker culture. More like sneaker commerce. The commerce is the only thing that changes: How popular with the masses are shoes like the ones made by Nike and other athletic-wear companies, how much do shoes cost, how many are made, and how many people try to buy each release? These are literally the only things that have any impact on me. I like sneakers because I like basketball and sports, played loads of basketball, and always wished I could have more cool shoes than I could afford. When I finally grew up and began working, I could buy a lot of shoes I always wanted, and new ones I like that come along. Literally the only thing that has ever changed is the effort and dollar amount I have to invest to acquire any given pair, and that's driven directly by the factors I mentioned above. I'm not going to sneaker conventions or throwing sneaker parties or hanging out with people based on sneakers. I buy shoes, I wear them, or I pile them in my closet. That's not a culture. People talk about sneaker culture but in my world, it doesn't exist :lol:
 
That’s exactly right there isn’t a culture in your point of view

I also believe that the future releases coming from Nike and Jordan is a big impact in the way people buy their sneakers it’s a tough game of catch and release with remodels and color ways it isn’t so easy which is why every sneaker is hyped to its extent
 
Of course, I suppose I have to consider being on NT something at least sort of akin to a culture, but I look at "culture" as something more significant than liking to buy a type of material object. This website is literally the only place I really ever discuss any of this stuff with anyone. Away from my screen and living my life, I don't even know what "sneaker culture" is, other than when I'm trying to buy a pair or if someone randomly says "nice shoes" to me or I to them when I'm out somewhere. But that's the full extent of any culture I experience around this stuff :lol:
 
There’s definitely a sneaker culture.
I believe that. But to me its within . Nobody really around me talks shoes unless they are jabbing me for having so many. Shoes have been a love of mine for 33 years now. Its not dwindled at all. The culture comes from the understanding of it more than numbers of pairs or value of them. Most people dont get it. But thats fine by me.
 
There’s definitely a sneaker culture.

I believe that. But to me its within . Nobody really around me talks shoes unless they are jabbing me for having so many. Shoes have been a love of mine for 33 years now. Its not dwindled at all. The culture comes from the understanding of it more than numbers of pairs or value of them. Most people dont get it. But thats fine by me.

That's what I'm saying. What exactly is the culture outside of people flexing on social media and buying and reselling? And the latter is more commerce than culture. Call it the crappy culture of sneaker commerce.
But sure, for people going to sneaker shows, conventions, whatever else there is, that's a culture, I guess. If you're actually having real interactions based around shoes. I'm not, so there's no culture for me outside of this site. For me, buying shoes alone and wearing what I want for my own reasons unrelated to hype and Instagram, and not attending any of these conventions or whatever, the only difference between now and 1992 is it's more difficult to get a lot of what I want when I want at msrp.
 
Back
Top Bottom