Let’s Not Have To Make Sneakers Great Again Please (With Complex Weekend Release Guide Highlights!)

Over on Instagram, people have been sharing their concerns about being able to get the release they want from Nike. Well of course that’s nothing new to Jordan fans. In some cases, there are software issues. In others there are supply chain issues. And of course due to the popularity of certain releases, there’s the reality of a super fast “sell out.” But also lurking in the background there is a not so obvious issue that occurs when people ignore perfectly good releases and focus almost exclusively on one super hyped release.

Plastered across the headlines are numerous glowing features about luminary Virgil Abloh’s latest Nike collaboration- the Nike Air Jordan [5] V featuring the coveted Off-White style that so many in the sneakerhead community have come to love and admire.

For most people this release would be a perfect 10 out of 10 but I can only give it a 9.9 due to the yellow sole. In fairness, I operate a business that is literally built around protecting soles from the very thing that Virgil seeks to stylize. I am certainly not a fan of yellow soles on shoes that should be “icy.” But beyond that, I can certainly appreciate the talent that has made Mr. Abloh and his brand one of the hottest on the planet.

Without question the offering is praiseworthy and easily the kind of release we fantasized about 10 years ago. However, the hype and drive behind units like this –: Is it really about the history and the genius design? Or is it about the perception of resale value? If it’s about the former, there’s no need to worry about the latter but if it’s about the latter, we the community/customer – are almost certain to lose. Unfortunately, for many owning sneakers has simply become a game of supply and demand.

In the case of the Off-White x Air Jordan [5] V, we find a disproportionately large portion of potential buyers focused almost exclusively on a shoe that is almost certainly unattainable. The collaboration will probably yield a few thousand units. From there, things kick off with friends and family. So that’s Nike and the house of Abloh. That will leave an even smaller allocation from a very limited release to be divided among literally millions of potential buyers. Once the remaining allocation is tossed into the bot wars, there will be zero pairs remaining – leaving behind a horde of frustrated, angry, and foaming at the mouth potential buyers. Angry for what reason? The reality was always near impossible – but it’s supposed to be fun to play the lottery. The difference here is the expectation of winning is significantly higher and when the inevitable occurs, all the fun evaporates in a bitter, hot cloud.

So what should I do? Should I not try at all? Of course not but I’d encourage you to look at the problem logically. If you don’t win the lottery, your ticket is worthless but if you win the lottery, you can buy off-white for life. On the flipside, if you were somehow able to secure a pair of air Jordans five off white sneakers, your old proximately 225- 250 bucks but you have an excellent pair of basketball shoes or an excellent fashion accessory. If you can afford to purchase and you were really into sneakers, they should make you very happy. And if you don’t “get em,” you’ll probably move on pretty quickly.

But if your intention is to resell for a large profit, things can get weird. Here are a few questions to consider: Can you afford to lose 250 bucks? How long can you afford to wait before you make your money back? How many people in your shoe size want a pair of these? What do you expect to make in terms of profit? As you can probably imagine, getting results from these so-called quick flips is not exactly the straightforward thing so many people make it out to be. Even with Stock X making it pretty easy to flip your unwanted luxury items, I’d still encourage you to do some homework on all the steps required to move something on Stock X.

Instead consider this; you could be missing out on other excellent releases and options but you may actually prefer. The 2020 All Star weekend sneaker release line-up is almost guaranteed to have something for everyone. So don’t short yourself and check out the “Complex Weekend Sneaker Guide” highlights below and visit their site here for the full guide to give yourself a chance at something you would enjoy and maybe even resell down the road for a profit. Enjoy your kicks and of course remember to #Keep Your Sole Clean!

#KeepYourSoleClean with Sole Protector

Complex Weekend Release Guide Highlights!

Air Jordan III ‘Unite’

Price: $200

When: Saturday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m.

Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers

What You Need to Know:

Nike SNKRS and other select retailers

What You Need to Know: Another highlight from Jordan Brand’s extensive collection for NBA All-Star Weekend is the “Unite” Air Jordan III. The pair is dressed in red tumbled leather with OG hits like elephant print panels and “Nike Air” branding on the heel tab. As a nod to the host city of this year’s festivities, a limited number of pairs will replace the “AIR” on the “Nike Air” logo with “CHI.”

Off-White x Air Jordan V

Price: $225

When: Saturday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m.

Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers

What You Need to Know: Jordan Brand decided to take a unique approach to All-Star weekend this year by allowing eight local creators from Chicago to design their own sneakers and apparel. The “Chicago Collaborators” collection will include Virgil Abloh’s Air Jordan V, the “Wings” Air Jordan X, and Air Jordan I KO from Chance the Rapper’s SocialWorks, Aerospace 720 from Cole Bennett’s Lyrical Lemonade, and Sheila Rashid’s two-toned take on an Air Jordan I Mid. Apparel offerings from local boutique SucceZZ, Drew the Barber, and Cody Hudson complete the collection.

Nike LeBron VII ‘All Star’

Price: $200

When: Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 10 a.m.

Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers

What You Need to Know: The latest LeBron VII getting the retro treatment is the vibrant colorway worn by LeBron James during the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. The bright blue upper’s major detail is a reflective woodgrain pattern wrapping the mudguard.

Nike Basketball 2020 All Star Collection

Price: $120-$225

When: Thursday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m.

Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers

What You Need to Know: Contrary to past years, Nike Basketball will not be using a central theme across its signature range for the 2020 NBA All-Star pack. Instead, the pack will include a LeBron 17 inspired by the Monstars to promote Space Jam 2, KD 12 designed by Don C mimicking the Chicago flag, tie-dyed PG 4 made to look like it has been doused in various flavors of Gatorade, the red and gold “Trophies” Kyrie 6 inspired by his first NBA title and love for his father, and the “Employee of the Month” Zoom Freak 1 inspired by the uniform worn by Prince Akeem when he works shifts at the fictional fast food restaurant in Coming to America.