New Balance 574 Fresh Foam

When it comes to updating certain sneaker silhouettes, the results tend to be pretty hit or miss. This one's a resounding hit. Though it dropped a few months ago, I've taken a liking to the way the classic New Balance 574 gets updated with the brand's Fresh Foam technology. The result isn't a cushy, springy ride like what you'd get from a shoe like the Adidas Pure Boost, but the update gives the 574 a slimmer, more lightweight and significantly ups the comfort level of an already comfy shoe. Check out a New Balance store near you and give these a try.

NB Football is in the Philippines

Just N time.

A while back, it was announced that New Balance would be entering the football shoe market, aiming to challenge established names like Adidas and Nike. It took a while, but New Balance Football is finally in the country. The brand's initial offering comes in the form of two shoes - the Visaro and the Furon. The former is ideal for players who like to make chances, while the latter is for those who like taking them. Make of that what you will. If you want to give New Balance Football a try, check out a New Balance store near you.

SneakPeek is dropping some NB heat this Saturday.

If you haven't been following developments in the Philippine sneaker scene over the past couple of years, a number of stores have mushroomed to supply heads with everything from runners to Jordans to limited edition stuff. The Sneak Peek is one of those stores. Since the opening of the first branch in the East Wing of the Shangri-La Mall, the brand prides itself on dropping exciting stuff for casual fans and serious sneakerheads alike.

This weekend, The Sneak Peek is exclusively releasing a couple of New Balance silhouettes - The 580XX and New Balance Studio Pack. And to celebrate the occasion, Joyce Pring will be hosting the drop alongside beats coming from Travis Monsod. If you're in the Eastwood area on Saturday, swing by!

New Balance Enters The Football Shoe Market

After months of speculation, New Balance is officially entering the football shoe market to. This means that the iconic running shoe brand will be relieving Warrior of the label's football shoe and apparel duties. New Balance Football will soon be getting some visibility on the pitches of some of Europe's best clubs as the brand will be producing the kits of Liverpool, Sevilla, Porto and other clubs. In addition, the brand will also be releasing a new line of footwear which will be seen on the feet of former Warrior-contracted players like Vincent Kompany and Marouanne Fellaini, as well as a host of new signees as well. Only time will tell if the New Balance brand will come to rival established brands like Nike, Adidas, and Puma for pitch dominance. But in the meantime, expect the kits to debut come the 2015/16 season, while the first salvo of New Balance Football boots is expected to release sometime in Spring.

New Balance 740 "Worthy Express"

Longtime Laker fans know all about the "Showtime" Era of the eighties. The easy generalization is to say that Magic and Kareem dominated, but anyone who's well-versed in basketball history knew just how vital James Worthy was to the Purple and Gold.

Big Game James signed on with New Balance in 1985, and in return, they gave him a shoe primed for the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood hardcourt. It marked the first time New Balance made a signature shoe for an athlete, and after almost thirty years, the "Worthy Express" 740 makes its way back to retail.

Coming back with as close to original build quality as possible, these 740s will certainly be a hit among Laker fans. Two colorways comprise the initial release, a simple black and white, as well as a white and purple look. Anyone interested should move fast though, as limited supply is only available at New Balance Glorietta and Alabang Town Center.

New Balance MRT580 Revlite Japan Pack

New Balance decks out the 580 silhouette in a number of fresh colorways just in time for the fall season. Taking inspiration from Japanese art, the MRT580 "Japan Pack" adds vibrant punches of color across a mix of suedes, mesh, and reflective materials. Each release sports the updated Revlite sole, which lightens the shoe's weight and adds a plush ride that works for all day wear.

Anyone interested in picking up a pair can score them at New Balance stores such as Alabang, Glorietta, and TriNoma. Colorways may be subject to availability.

Check out more looks after the jump.

Nice Kicks x New Balance "Grand Anse"

In true #TeaserTuesdays fashion, Sole Academy updated their Facebook page with a picture of a New Balance 1600 done in collaboration with sneaker store and blog Nice Kicks. The "Grand Anse" 1600 is the third collaboration between NB and Nice Kicks, and takes its cool colorway from the namesake beach on the island of Grenada.

Awesome Philippine Sneaker Groups to Join on Facebook.

A big part of my daily Facebook routine involves checking out what's new on a number of sneaker groups, both local and international. Though the main point of most groups is the whole buying and selling aspect of the game, I try to keep a look out for interesting discussions, insider info, and the occasional good deal.

Below are a handful of Philippine sneaker groups that I think are definitely worth joining in. Check them out for yourself, but always remember that the internet is public domain. Act like you would if you were encountering the people you interact with in a real world setting. Don't be the asshole that hides behind fake names just to troll people. Be nice, do your research, and if you're looking to buy stuff, be wary of scammers.

Awesome cover design by Ira Cordero

1. Sole Slam Manila 
Member Count - 21,529 as of 2/16/2014

If you're in the know when it comes to Philippine sneaker culture, Sole Slam Manila should be a familiar name. Antonio Aguirre Jr. founded what I think has become an institution in world sneaker culture. It's not just me who thinks so. Check out what The Shoe Game had to say. In fact, the group's just the tip of a pretty big-ass iceberg. Aside from a strong social media presence, Sole Slam Manila also has a legit brick-and-mortar store and a yearly event that's at par with many sneaker conventions around the world.

Expect lots of buying and selling, discussions, and pretty much anything about sneakers in general. I also appreciate the fact that the group's admins keep it as well maintained as a 21k strong group can possibly be.

Join HERE 

2. Kobe Section PH 
Member Count - 14,399 as of 2/16/2014

Kobe Bryant is without a doubt of the most recognized figures in basketball the world over. His following here in the Philippines is a pretty devoted lot, so it's no surprise that his sneakers are usually well received over on this side of the world. Save for the occasional errant posts (iPhones for sale in a sneaker group, really?), you'll find a good amount of release info, sneaker hookups, and a good amount of buying and selling of pretty much anything involving The Black Mamba.



Join HERE

3. New Balance PHL
Member Count - 3097 as of 2/16/2014

Retro runners are going to be big this year and New Balance is one of the brands that's been leading the charge. The group may not be huge in number yet, but you'll find a ton of good deals, release info and a whole lot of NBs that weren't released locally.

Join HERE

4. Strictly Off The Wall (Vans Talk Philippines)
Member Count - 3,785 as of 2/16/2014

Lots of deals, discussions, and release info on a load of Vans silhouettes. Arguably the best local Vans group online.

Join HERE

5. Sneaker Beaters Club
Member Count - 22,247 as of 2/16/2014

This group has a pretty interesting set of posting rules. Most of what you'll find here may be secondhand stuff, but there's always a good chance on coming up on a good deal here.

Join HERE 

6. Heat Hub PH
Member Count - 220 as of 2/16/2014

Okay, this one's a pretty shamless plug. I created this group for people to share the sneakers they wear. No selling here, just discussions and lots and lots of shots of really sick kicks. Feel free to join us HERE

There's a lot of other groups out there. Some really broad, and some that cater to niche audiences. If you know a group that should get some promotion, or if you've started a group as well, let me know in the comments section and I'll make sure to check it out!

Mita Sneakers x SBTG x New Balance MRT580SM

Photo from http://bit.ly/1fZC7n2

Almost a month into a year that I've been projecting as a big one for runners and already we've got a pretty sick three-way collab dropping on our shores! Japanese retailer Mita Sneakers teams up with Singaporean artist Mark Ong (aka SBTG) to hash out this awesome looking 580.

Photo from http://bit.ly/1imJN2M

Majority of the shoe is decked out in black nubuck with hits of bright green and SBTG's Vine and Tiger Stripe camo patterns strewn across the tongue and ankle collar. Personally, I really like how downplayed the camo is. In a world where mediocre, lazy design passes off as sneaker dopeness, the use of restraint with the pattern is much appreciated. It doesn't scream at you should you manage to see someone in them on the opposite side of a street, but you'll find yourself taking a closer look when you get nearer.

I also don't think I have to say a lot about how crazy good the insoles look!

Photo from http://bit.ly/KGeUaS

Sole Academy is dropping a limited number of these on Saturday, January 25! To cop them, a raffle system will be in place. The mechanics of which are listed below.

Raffle & Stub Mechanics:
1 raffle stub - OPEN FOR ALL who show up during release day (1 person = 1 stub)
2 raffle stubs - If you are an Academy Member - just present your card on release day 
3 raffle stubs - for any purchase of NB shoes from our stores starting tom (Wed) - Just present your Original Receipt on release day to get your 3 stubs 

***Cut-off for dropping of stubs is at 12nn this Sat / Bring at least one valid ID / You can only participate in the raffle if you are wearing NB on your feet...NO NB, NO CHANCE.

Sizes Available: 

Sizes: 8/2, 8.5/1, 9/2, 9.5/2, 10/1, 11/2, 12/1 (11 pairs total)

Lucky raffle winners will get to cop them at a price of P8095! Good luck!  

Sneaker Trends to Pay Attention to in 2014

We're not even a full month into 2014 yet, but already certain types of sneakers are building huge buzz. Retro models are still going to be strong, but chances are, you're gonna be seeing more than just Nikes and Air Jordans on people's feet this year. So with that in mind, here's a brief look into some types of sneakers you should try looking into in 2014.

Retro Runners

The New Balance "Barber Shop" Pack. Expected to drop in Spring.

Retro running shoes have enjoyed a cult following in recent years, but I'm expecting more widespread attention directed towards this sneaker niche in 2014 thanks to a host of strong releases last year and the consistent heat offered by guys like Ronnie Fieg. As a matter of fact, I know some people who have declared they were swearing off Jordans to really pursue collecting runners instead. I don't know if they're really gonna follow through, but that's a pretty strong testament towards how collection-worthy runners are now. It doesn't hurt that they're much easier to wear in a casual setting than most basketball shoes, especially with pin-rolled denim or "joggers"coming from brands like Publish and Kith.

The "Fiery Red" Asics Gel Lyte V - not an original colorway, but a good look nonetheless.

Expect New Balance and Asics to be leaders of this category with a number of strong releases looking to drop within the year. Adidas releases will also be worth paying attention to, while I hope this growing interest in retro runners spurs brands like Puma and Saucony to dig deeper into their archives and drop some more heat on local shores. I don't really have to say a lot about Nike in this segment, because really, when is Nike never not relevant?

Tennis 

Aside from runners, heritage tennis shoes are going to be big this year too. No other model is going to have a bigger year than the Adidas Stan Smith. The original white and green version has already re-released locally, with a lot of strong colorways poised to follow. Personally, the all-black version is the strongest one so far, even with a slew of more limited releases set to drop this year. Hopefully, the Stan Smith serves as the tipping point for Adidas to re-release some of their other classic tennis shoes this year like the Nastase. Now that was a killer model.

Hot Lava. Hopefully a Sole Academy release? 

Looking to provide some stiff competition is Nike's re-release of the Air Tech Challenge II, an iconic sneaker once worn by the great Andre Agassi. I followed tennis early on just because of Andre Agassi when I was young, and I figured if I couldn't play like him, I could at least grow my hair and wear his shoes. Another blog that expressed excitement over the shoe's re-release called the Air Tech Challenge II the Air Jordans of prep school kids with hyphens in their last names. I couldn't have said it any better myself. Now if brands like Reebok could bring back the Michael Chang Pumps, we'd have a free for all!

There's a lot of other shoes that will be building buzz as the year goes on. Check back soon for more reports!

5 Pairs of Sneakers To Rock Right Now.

When you get older, there are some habits you have to let go of. However, there are always a few that die hard.

I used to be a pretty big sneakerhead when I was younger. Day in and day out back then, that was pretty much all I had on my feet. I'll admit, the feeling of copping a new pair was pretty addicting. In the years that have passed since college, I've since learned to appreciate footwear that isn't a fresh pair of dunks, but I still try to keep myself updated with what's out there.   

If you're big on sneakers, this should pretty much be old news to you. But if you're not, or if you're looking for a cool new pair to show off, try these on for size: 

1.       Nike Roshe Run

I think it's safe to say that Nike's made themselves a modern classic. The Nike Roshe Run is an good example of winning over people not through innovation, but with effectivity. There's no ground-breaking technology in its construction, it's just a product of minimalist design with a clear intent for everyday use. The version I have is the one with the mesh upper, which really allows your feet to breathe. Couple that with a crazy level of comfort and you've got a shoe that makes for a great shoe to wear if ever you'll be walking a lot. 

2. Nike Flyknit One

If the previous shoe was an example of minimalist design, I think the Nike Flyknit One is a good example of the opposite. The revolutionary upper is intended to ensure a fit that really conforms to the wearer's feet, while Nike's Lunarlon technology brings the comfort whether you'll be running in them, or wearing them just to show off. 

3.       Converse All-Star

You can never go wrong with a pair of Chucks. You can wear them to dressier occasions as much as you can wear them into the ground. The pair in the picture has seen a good 2 years of use. They're relatively affordable, and they're one of the few sneakers that just looks better the more beat up they get. 

4.       Vans Authentic

I used to think Chucks and Vans had some sort of East Coast-West Coast thing between them. Regardless of where you're from, the Authentic is a timeless silhouette, one you don't have to be a skater to appreciate. Definitely my favorite style out of the whole Vans range. 

5.       New Balance 574

I'm pretty late to the New Balance party, but this silhouette reminded me so much of a pair of dream sneakers that I just can't seem to find now (Nike Air Stabs, bring them back). Retro styled, yet sleek enough to not look out of place in 2013. 

Do you have any other choice sneakers to wear right now? Don't hesitate to tell me about them! :) I'm always up for hearing your opinions :)