THE JOURNAL
Illustrations by Mr Ben Lamb
Whose sneakers are the best? Mr James Harden of the LA Clippers says his are. But then, he would – they are, after all, taken from his signature adidas line. Before the pedants point out that the point guard’s personal pumps might not be on point on a tennis, badminton, crown or any other non-basketball court, he does clarify that the new shoe is “the best hoop shoe two years straight, no debate”. (Which might be accidental shade, since this is the eighth model that adidas has made for him, but hey.) Still, maybe you think that your sneakers are better – whether they’re from your own personal line or not. Or perhaps your footwear war chest is a work in progress? If so, you might just find your perfect pair, below.
01.
Samba OG Made in Italy by adidas Originals
Originally introduced way back in 1949 to aid footballers scampering about on frozen grass pitches, the Samba has gone on to become adidas’ second best-selling sneaker. And, as you might have noticed, 75 years later, it is very much the shoe of the moment. So, how do you make yours stand out? With this tricked-out Italian-made special edition, in premium leather in a stealth black tone with matching suede T-bar overlay on the toe and tan leather sock liner. Think of it as low-key one-upmanship of the everyman shoe.
02.
Dunk Low SE “Dusty Olive” by Nike
Assuming you weren’t quick enough to get your hands on a pair of Ugly Duckling Dunks, the recent trio of reissues based on the 2000s JP.CO originals, this might be the closest that you’re going to get. Nike’s signature basketball-turned-skate shoe here gets another shot at suede in triple tones, this time green, brown and a cartoonish orangey yellow that’s somewhere between The Simpsons and Gudetama. It’s not The Powerpuff Girls (another recent limited-edition Dunk), but has more mojo than Mojo Jojo.
03.
Dunk Low QS “Reverse Curry” by Nike
Let’s get this out of the way first – the phrase “Reverse Curry” pulls up a questionable mental picture at best. Put that aside and you have a colourway that lines up with the recent “Reverse Panda” and “Reverse Brazil” packages. The name refers to the vibrant orange-brown hue, flipped and pitched against pristine white overlays. The titular tone returns on the tongue, laces and heel logo. You’d be advised to keep your mango chutney well away from these.
04.
Dunk Low Retro “Black White Panda” by Nike
As classic as Casablanca – also in black and white. This month’s third Dunk is something of a paragon colourway, an iteration that should appear in every sneaker rotation. A timeless shoe, updated with a modern foam midsole under the hood. Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, make sure this pair steps into yours.
05.
991 v1 Made in UK by New Balance
Flimby is a tiny, industrious village just above England’s fabled Lake District. As the birthplace of several noted Rugby League players, you could probably guess where its sporting loyalties lie. Loyalty, however, is what brought New Balance to this corner of the world. The company’s founder, Mr William J Riley, was an English immigrant – the Boston sportswear brand’s Cumbrian outpost, then, was set up 40 years ago as a nod to this heritage. Likewise, this British-made version of the 991 running shoe builds on its history with premium pigskin suede uppers and an ABZORB cushioning system in the midsole.