Pet Peeves That Us Sneakerheads Hate

By Robert Baker

Let’s be real; our shoes will never stay in perfect condition. No matter how many times we try not to scuff and miss puddles, we still put our shoes in a weary condition. But when actions our out of our control, that’s when we get frustrated. Here are some of my pet peeves and how we can avoid them.

“The Shoe Stepper”

Arguably one of the most disrespectful act someone can do to another human being is stepping on someone shoes. Yes, it can be understandable if you are walking in a big crowd and someone accidentally steps on your brand new Bred 11’s, but to be in a light crowd and getting stepped on causes a problem. The pain of getting a dirty shoeprint on all white shoes is a feeling similar too failing a test you studied for. It is really concerning for people who find steeping on someone’s shoes as joy or revenge when they know good and well if that happened to them, they would feel some type of way.

Resolution: Keep away from large crowds; as they are the most likely to have shoe stepping incidents. I would tell you to wear shoe bags, but those are grossly overrated.

Bigger Feet, Bigger Price

When it comes to shoe size, the price has all the leverage. This is why I do not like having big feet. Nike Dunks starting price comes at an average $230 but a size 13 cost around $440 and more depending on the colorway. Now that resellers are quickly taking over the market and raising the price, many shoes for size 11 and up have prices that are worth more than a car payment. It really should be heading the other way as there many people that have smaller feet than people with bigger feet.

Resolution: Go down a size and a half. The shoes will feel different but you pay a different price, which is a bang for your buck.

The Reselling Market

At the beginning of the 2010’s, reselling shoes was thought to be a good side hustle for many millennials that have a passion for shoes. Now, it has become a very popular business that has converted over to mainstream media. Many resellers have ruined the reputation of many shoe brands. Nike, the most popular shoe brand in the world, has seen its stock drop after one of its employees had a son that started a underground reselling market, which led to the employees firing. When Kobe Bryant died in January of 2020, the market skyrocketed with his jerseys and shoes becoming almost impossible to buy, This in my opinion was disrespectful because many resellers were taking advantage of a tragedy that left many bitter. Many apps like GOAT and grailed sell mostly used or new products that have been gradually gained popularity for their presence in the hypebeast world.

Resolution: Start finding shoes on original sites. Nike and Adidas still have shoes that are cheaper then the resell market. On social media sites, they usually have balanced prices and it can work out for the best. Many shoe stores in your area have good prices for shoes.

The “Late to the Party” Sneakerheads

Many beginner sneakerheads have always had this problem. Personally, I do not like seeing people wear shoes or apparel of trends that were valid 5-10 years ago. There was a time and place where some trends were necessary. When Supreme and Bape were popular in the mid 2010’s, there was a buzz like no other as many celebrities like Odell Beckham and Pharrel would wear Supreme on the field and Bape off the field. There are many trends that have lived for a while for example Off-White, which was created by the legendary late Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh, has been designing and sampling shoes for almost a decade, but now can solidify themselves as a fashion staple after Abloh passed away earlier this year.

Resolution: Keep up on the latest trends. If you are going to bring back old trends, wear it with confidence and have some style with it. Bringing back trends can work if you can pull it off with some newer trends as well.

Mr. Try Hard

Word to the wise; never give a rich person streetwear. When it comes to streetwear, you don’t have to have everything expensive. You can wear a Fear Of God shirt or hoodie and buy some shorts at Goodwill. Goodwill and thrift shops have some of the best streetwear available and at a low price. Now that the secret is out of the bag, many resellers go to their local Goodwill and resell their bought products and sell them more. But back to trying hard, many newbies think that wearing streetwear cost much but it is all about researching.

Resolution: Start at Goodwill; it will help. Many people do not have to try hard to dress. You won’t find many popular shoes but it is a start.