PHOTO COURTESY | Pashminu
7 TIPS WHEN CHOOSING THE BEST TYPE OF BASKETBALL SHOES
When it comes to athletic shoes, it’s not enough to focus on the latest, trendiest shoes on the market, but to pick a pair of shoes that will be useful and prevent you from getting injured while working out. There are vital factors that you need to look into in order to get the right pair that can optimize your athletic performance.
Here are 7 tips to help you choose the best athletic shoes:
Comfort
It doesn’t matter if a pair of kicks are being marketed as the most comfortable shoes on the planet, it only matters how you find them as a user. Based on the athletic experience of Jesse Parker, comfort is subjective to each player’s preference and taste. That’s why it is essential to try them on first and make sure they don’t feel like a brick on your foot, limiting your mobility. Comfort is a combination of a good fit, good balance, enough cushioning and support, as well as high-quality materials. That’s why it is important to make sure the shoes are a good fit for your feet shape and type and that they accommodate to your needs.
Support
One of the most essential tips when buying a pair of shoes is making sure that it gives you enough support to perform your exercises, without putting a strain on the ankles, knees or joints. If a pair of shoes don’t have a strong lockdown from the toe to the heel, you could easily find yourself getting injured, making support vital criteria when picking a pair of athletic shoes.
Functionality
There’s a reason there’s a pair of shoes for walking, running, training, basketball, boxing, and many others. The reason is that each pair is designed taking into consideration the functionality of the shoes, as well as the ergonomics of the foot according to the movement in that sport. Accordingly, the shoe is designed with enough characteristics to fit that function, making it an important aspect to consider when buying a pair of athletic shoes.
Weight
Depending on the type of sport you’ll be playing, the weight of the shoes can affect your performance. You could find that the lighter the shoes, the faster you become, making it essential for running shoes, or that the heavier shoes provide more support, making it a great form of protection in other sports.
Cushioning
PHOTO COURTESY | Wokandapix
One of the most important aspects to consider when picking the right athletic shoes is the amount of cushioning the pair of shoes has, according to the user in question. The cushioning is the part of the shoe that protects your feet from direct impact with the ground, reducing the amount of damage your feet have to endure when in contact with hard surfaces, especially during jumping and landing. There are many different types of cushioning available and most brands focus on cushioning, to ensure that your feet are safe. However, it is necessary to read reviews and make sure that the pair of shoes have enough cushioning to keep your feet out of danger.
Wear the right socks
Socks can make all of the difference in defining not only the comfort of the shoes but also the fit. Athletic socks are usually a lot thicker and give your feet a bit more support, making it more realistic to decide whether or not the fit is good when wearing the right pair of socks. You could also find that the right socks that provide extra comfort with the friction they offer allowing you to get a real feel of the shoe’s fit and comfort so you can make a better decision.
Try the shoes on, at the end of the day
After walking a lot, you could find that your feet size has changed due to swelling. When shopping at the end of the day, you’ve given yourself enough time to ensure that the shoes you buy will be a good fit for your swollen feet and not end up having tight athletic shoes that won’t be able to serve their purpose.
It’s easy to get distracted by the latest release of well-known brands, funky colors, materials and designs that make athletic shoes seem really appealing. However, it is essential to make sure that the pair of athletic shoes you decide to buy isn’t just a pair that will grab people’s attention, but will also serve their purpose well in terms of comfort, fit, and functionality. With the above tips, you’ll ensure that you’ve picked the most suitable pair of athletic shoes for your feet.
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
Featured Style
WHY MORE AND MORE KIDS ARE USING BOT TO COP YEEZY'S
Back in 2017, Kanye West made a promise saying that everyone who wanted to buy Yeezys would be able so do so in the near future. Fast-forward to the present, and that now appears to be true, sort of.
Over the last couple of years adidas and Kanye West have released a whole lot more Yeezys (in terms of models and units) when compared to the early Yeezy years. From saturating the market with a plethora of new adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 colorways, to introducing new models such as the adidas Yeezy 500, 700 and even the upcoming 500 High, they’ve released a lot. To put it short, if anyone wanted to buy a pair of Yeezys they were able to do so as long as they put a little bit of groundwork.
That said, not all Yeezys are created equal. Although adidas and Kanye West are now releasing certain Yeezys in larger quantities, they also continue to release exclusive and limited Yeezys that are still hard to get. Here’s a general rule of thumb when it comes to sneakers: limited quantities + exclusivity = instant hype and a high resale value. Human instinct is to what what you can’t have, or at least what very few people have. Most of us try to find ways to stand out from the crowd, to many this means rocking the most exclusive and limited sneakers out there.
Not all Yeezy’s are created equal
Take for example the recently released adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in colorways such as Cloud White, Citrin, Lundmark and Antlia just to name a few. What do all these releases have in common? They all released alongside their respective “Reflective” counterpart. For those who may now know, the “Reflective” iteration of each of the aforementioned colorways listed above look almost identical to the non-reflective.
The major difference are the reflective hits noted throughout the Primeknit upper. That’s it. Oh yeah, there’s also one more major difference between the two.. The reflective pair is far more exclusive and limited than the non-reflective pair. So although both pairs retail for the same price, the resale value is between the two is like night and day. Put it this way: you can find certain non-reflective colorways of the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 for close to retail in the aftermarket, you can’t do that when it comes to the reflective pairs.
For instances like these, this is where it appears as if more and more kids are now using bots to get these hard-to-get releases. Whether you like to admit it or not, Kanye West continues to be a major influencer in the sneaker industry. Sure, he’s lost some support over the past couple of years thanks in large part to his outspoken support of the POTUS, but a big chunk of the younger generation continue to see Kanye as their Yeezus. He can basically do no wrong in their eyes. When your fandom is as strong as Kanye’s, whatever you release essentially sells itself (see Kanye’s overpriced Pablo merch printed on Gildan apparel). Kids using bots to get these exclusive Yeezys may seem like a task that they’re not qualified to do since it seems to involve a lot of “tech savvy stuff”, but using bots to cop the latest limited drops is not as difficult or complicated as it sound. It’s just like riding a bike, once you get the hang of it, you’ll never forget how to do it.
The reasons behind using bots to cop Yeezys
So why are more and more kids using bots to cop Yeezys? It could be for several reasons. For many, these new Yeezys could be the very first pair that they’ve ever owned. Perhaps they were too young to buy pairs from the past and they can now finally afford to cop a pair. Maybe some of these kids are using bots to cop Yeezys to make some extra money on the side.
I mean, who doesn’t like making some extra cash, especially when you are young and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Others maybe use bots (just like this) to get these limited Yeezys to end up using them a trade bait somewhere down the road. Although the overall demand for Yeezys is not as high as it once was, it still has its loyal consumer base that continue to cop. As long as someone is willing to cop, the kids will continue to use the bots.
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
Featured Style
MEN - WHY A NEW PAIR OF DESIGNER SNEAKERS SHOULD BE YOUR NEXT BIG FASHION INVESTMENT!
When it comes to fashion, there are some things where it really pays off to spend a bit more on something that looks really good and which is made with the best quality and design. Shoes are definitely one of these things, as while you can spend less on fast fashion brands for things like jeans and shirts without it being too much of a problem, the wrong shoes can ruin your outfit, and can also be a false economy as they won't last as long while still looking good, and are unlikely to be as well designed and comfortable.
This is why designer sneakers can be a really good addition to your wardrobe. They can give you a great look with minimal effort, and they can also make sure you feel comfortable as well as stylish. Here we look at three more reasons why your next big fashion purchase should be some high-end sneakers:
The Perfect Smart Casual Shoe Solution
These days, a lot of offices and other workplaces opt for a dressed down dress code, especially if you work in an industry like tech or media. Of course, while it kind of sounds like you can wear anything when your workplace has a dress code like this, you do generally still want to make a good impression, as your co-workers are probably the people that you see the most throughout the week and you may also have to meet with people from outside the business such as clients.
Designer sneakers can add smartness and sense of expensive luxury to a casual outfit, and make sure that you look like you have good taste! Choose from one of the designer men's sneaker brands at SSENSE, for instance, from their stunning range of Givenchy sneakers, and you can add some high fashion detail to even your most low key everyday looks. SSENSE has all of the latest ranges by all of the most coveted high-end fashion labels.
Great for Dates
If you're dating, then you may be surprised to know that one of the first things women judge men on is their shoes. This is often done subconsciously before you say that you wouldn't want to date someone who was picky over such an unimportant sounding thing! For casual dinner dates, going to a bar, a concert, the movies, or even just coffee, designer sneakers fit the occasion while giving that good impression you're looking for.
Sporty Style
While you wouldn't actually train in designer sneakers (it is always best to go for athletic shoes made for the sport you do to get the right foot and joint support), they still pair well with more sporty fashion, allowing you to adopt the current athleisure trend for streetwear. Athleisure is comfortable and practical but has a trendy, stylish edge, and is a great way to dress if you want to look effortlessly cool.
There you have it, all the reasons you need to start shopping for a new pair of great looking designer sneakers this fall!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
Featured Style
GETTING TO KNOW 5 OF THE MOST ICONIC BASKETBALL SHOES OF ALL TIME
Basketball sneakers have a very storied history that spans decades upon decades. Did you know the first basketball sneaker made strictly for performance was made almost 100 years ago? Today, with the help of Sports Domain Lab we’re taking a look at the history of basketball shoes and five of the most iconic basketball models of all-time.
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star
What many consider the first “official” basketball sneaker, the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star made its debut way back in 1917 when it was released by the Converse Rubber Shoe Company. The Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star got its name in 1921 when it was named after Chuck Taylor. Taylor was a salesman for the brand who also happened to be playing for Converse’s semi-pro All-Star basketball team. Chuck Taylor needed a durable shoe and gave Converse some suggestions on how they can make that possible. Thankful for Taylor’s input, Converse agreed to the enhancements, made the shoe and named them after him. What makes this model even more iconic is the fact that it became the first basketball shoe casually worn off the court.
Pro Keds Royal
The Pro Keds Royal made its debut in 1949. Like the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star, this model was also constructed using a canvas upper and gum sole. The shoe was worn by notable players such as George Mikan and Willis Reed throughout the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Known for being an affordable sneaker that was also durable, the sneaker may look simple in appearance, but it had all the qualities and traits to support your game on the court. Unlike the Converse brand, Pro Keds did not manage to remain relevant after all these decades. That being the case, you can still find the brand at select retailers throughout the globe. Down, but not out. W could not have expected anything less from Pro Keds.
adidas Superstar
The adidas Superstar made its debut in 1969. By the 1970s, the Three Stripes model was being worn on the court by superstar players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Superstar stood out thanks in large part to its leather upper and distinct rubber shelltoe. The shoes were so highly coveted that the biggest hip hop artists in the world began wearing them casually during the 80s, shout out Run-DMC. As you can imagine, soon thereafter the adidas Superstar became a fashion staple in the urban community. It’s safe to say that the adidas Superstar has had a bigger impact off the court than on.
Puma Clyde
The year was 1973. Walt “Clyde” Frazier and the Knicks had just defeated the Lakers to win their second championship. That very same year, Frazier had signed with Puma for $25,000 a year. His on-court shoe of choice, the Puma Clyde. According to Frazier, the Puma Clyde was based on the Puma Basket and borrowed details from the Puma Suede. Just like Clyde Frazier, the Puma Clyde redefined street style with it’s smooth aesthetic. It was the perfect mix of style and substance. It was also the first sneaker that was designed to make a fashion statement, hence the suede upper, a trait rarely seen on basketball models back in the day. Even after all these years, Puma continues to release new iterations of the Puma Clyde. Talk about withstanding the test of time, eh?
Nike Air Force 1
Is there a more iconic basketball silhouette than the Nike Air Force 1!? At the very least, it has to be a top 3 candidate, right? It’s hard to argue that any other sneaker has had as much of a crossover into street culture than the Nike Air Force 1.
The Bruce Kilgore-designed model is said to have been released in at least 2,000 colorways since the shoe made its debut back in 1982. When the shoe was made, it was considered a peak-performance basketball shoe. The original Air Force 1 was a high-top that came with an ankle strap, a full grain leather upper and of course, for the first time ever in a basketball shoe, Nike Air technology. Soon after debuting on the court, the AF1 growth spread throughout the globe like wildfire. We’re now in 2019, and sneakerheads are STILL feening over certain Air Force 1 releases. That’s wild.
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
Featured Sports
