Tag: Special Delivery

Hal Studios and ASICS’ Gel-1130 is one of the most detailed sneaker collaborations of 2023

You absolutely need to check out this new work from Asics

You don’t see a collaboration from Asics as you would something from, say, Nike or Adidas. But when Asics does work with another brand? The details are always on point.

That’s the vibe that you get with the Hal Studios x Asics Gel-1130.

This sneaker truly has the goods. It comes with a range of different materials on it, from open and breathable mesh to leather and even a bit of hairy suede. But the part of the sneaker that is so incredible is the inspiration behind the color palette.

This shoe’s design honors the Japanese culture in which Asics is rooted in and it makes for a pretty incredible story.

Find out more about it on this week’s episode of Special Delivery. Tap in.

New Balance’s latest 990v6 might be the ugliest, most comfortable shoe ever

Don’t knock these New Balance sneakers until you’ve tried them

Have you ever heard the phrase “it’s so bad, it’s good?” That’s what New Balance’s 990v6 looks like.

It’s the latest version of the signature New Balance running silhouette launched back in the 1980s. This 2023 version of the shoe is supposed to be a more streamlined silhouette that brings a bit more comfort to the wearer.

You can see that in the build. It’s midsole is thick and has much more cushion to it than the 990s we’re used to. It also has a lot more material when it comes to providing cushioning and stability in the shoe.

Most people think the joints are ugly. But for me? They’re absolutely perfect. The Special Delivery crew go over New Balance’s latest model in this week’s episode of SD.

Tap in.

The infamous Air Jordan 2 is finally getting the appreciation it missed when it first arrived

Let’s finally give the Air Jordan 2 its flowers

The Air Jordan 2 had quite the year in 2022. There were so many different collaborations celebrating the OG Jordan Brand silhouette.

There was the A Ma Maniére 2, the J Balvin 2, the Nina Chanel 2s, even the Union LA Jordan 2. There were even more beyond that — especially if you stretch back to the end of 2021 when the Off-White Air Jordan 2 first released.

The love the silhouette is receiving today is long overdue. That’s mostly because it didn’t receive any of that same love when it first released in 1986.

Michael Jordan didn’t like the Jordan 2. In fact, the shoe almost caused him to leave Nike despite him having one of his best seasons in it.

We talk about that story on this weekend’s episode of Special Delivery. It’s time to celebrate the AJ2 the way it deserves. Tap in.

Special Delivery: Is The Jordan 2 the best Jordan model of all time?

Special Delivery has a hot take.

In this video, FTW’s Mike Sykes argues that the Jordan 2 is the greatest model of Jordan sneakers of all time. He fully admits this might an unpopular opinion, which, well, that’s up for you to tell us.

Below check out our Special Delivery video on Versus, and vote on whether or not you agree the Jordan 2 is the G.O.A.T. of all Jordans. And check out more sneaker content on Special Delivery’s YouTube channel, where we weekly break down the best new sneakers being released in the world, every Friday.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: The DJ Khaled Air Jordan 5 might be Nike’s biggest disappointment of the year

These Air Jordan 5’s should’ve done so much better.

The DJ Khaled Air Jordan 5 was one of the more hyped shoes of 2022. Or, at least it felt like it, anyway.

Nike threw plenty of promotion behind the sneakers. And it’s a DJ Khaled collaboration, so it automatically came with the sort of fanfare and excitement you’d see around one of the hottest sneakers of the year.

But when release day came, nobody seemed to show up. The shoes sat on virtual shelves. There were plenty of pairs available for consumers to buy.

A couple of weeks after that, the shoes started popping up in Nike outlets across the country. That doesn’t happen often — especially not with collaborations.

So why did it happen here? We try to figure it out on today’s episode of Special Delivery. Tap in.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: The A Ma Maniére Air Jordan 4 is solid, but it’s also very boring

A Ma Maniére could’ve done so much better with their new Air Jordan 4

Nike and Tom Sachs marketed the General Purpose shoe as a “boring” sneaker this year, meaning that it wasn’t supposed to be very interesting. It was plain. Not a lot of color to it. It was just…a sneaker.

That could be the same description used for the A Ma Maniére Air Jordan 4, honestly. But it’s totally not supposed to be.

This is supposed to be one of the more interesting sneakers of the year. And, as far as materials go, it is pretty interesting. It’s a high quality sneaker that continues the luxurious feel A Ma Maniére has given us with all of their Jordan collabs.

It’s just…not a very interesting shoe. We talk about why on today’s episode of Special Delivery. Tap in!

SPECIAL DELIVERY: Authenticating the ‘Silver Bullet’ Nike Air Max 97s was equally terrifying and an absolute blast all in one

Today’s episode of Special Delivery was a WILD ride

Authentication is one of the pillars of the sneaker world today and for good reason.

There are lots of fake sneakers out there and, in many cases, they look like legitimate pairs to the naked eye. The materials won’t be the same, but they’ll be completely passable.

It’s easy for someone who isn’t as invested in the world of sneakers to be fooled by a replica. That’s why the market for fake sneakers is estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

We’d thought we’d gotten got when it came to a pair of Air Max 97’s purchased early on the secondary market for an episode of Special Delivery. So when the crew traveled to San Jose for SneakerCon, one of our main goals was to get the pair authenticated.

We did. The results were interesting. But the process leading up to it — the tense moment of truth — was hilarious while also being terrifying.

Tap in to this week’s episode of Special Delivery to see the results and learn more about authentication.

Neckface slayed some sneaker demons for a great cause at SneakerCon with his new Nike SB Dunks

Special Delivery traveled all the way to San Jose to talk to Neckface!

To have a Nike SB Dunk is the pinnacle for anyone who considers themselves to be a fan of skating culture.

The way people love Air Jordan 1s today is the same way people loved Dunks back in the early 2000s. Neckface — the street artist whose art you’ve probably seen on many skateboard decks — was there for all of it. He lived through that era.

And, now, he has an SB Dunk of his own with Nike. And he’s using them to create a new skatepark with skateable Neckface demon sculptures that sound absolutely insane.

The Special Delivery crew traveled to San Jose to talk to Neck about what his sneakers, the special boxes he created to auction of with eBay and the charity work he’s doing with the Skatepark Project.

Tap in to today’s episode of SD to find out more.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: Nike’s new Social Status ‘Playground’ Penny II deserved so much better

Social Status made a great shoe but it just didn’t have a dedicated home

Outside of Michael Jordan, you won’t find many better signature sneaker lines than Penny Hardaway’s.

From the Foamposite to the Penny V, his shoes are spectacular and the Penny II might be the best out of that crop. That’s why it was so exciting to see Social Status and the Whitaker Group using the shoe for their next collab.

The product is good. The materials are dope. Both colorways are fantastic. The detailing is something we’ve grown accustomed to from Social Status. It has all the bells and whistles an excellent collab should.

But, for whatever reason, there didn’t seem to be much excitement surrounding it. We talked about why on today’s episode of Special Delivery.

Tap in.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: LeBron James’ latest signature sneaker looks like a Kobe shoe

The LeBron 20 looks like a Kobe sneaker and it’s perfect because of it

LeBron James has made a career out of reaching plateaus that nobody else can and very few ever will.

He just did it again off of the court in the sneaker world. James launched his 20th signature sneaker model with Nike, which is something that only Michael Jordan has ever done before in the sneaker world. It’s uncharted territory — especially for an athlete without his own brand.

But the LeBron 20 is certainly here. The only thing about it is that it doesn’t look like a LeBron shoe.

James’ sneakers have traditionally been big and bulky, built for a 6’8 250-pound athlete. They’re also traditionally high-top sneakers, too.

But these new joints? They’re low cut and sleek — very clearly inspired by Kobe Bryant’s line with Nike.

We explored how wild this change is and why it actually makes sense for Nike to have made it on the latest episode of Special Delivery. Tap in.