Almost Paradise
My eyes did not deceive. That is a Foot Locker right next door to a Starbucks. Right next door!
That’s almost paradise. Almost because I couldn’t go to either since we were in a hurry.
shoes
Sadness Is…
Reaching the NikeLab store at 11:30 when it opens at 12:00, and you’re on a time schedule.
That is sadness.
Roshes Still Rule
I can’t help but look at the shoes of pedestrians. What I see on NYDC16 is lots of Nike Roshes. Lots. Probably the prevalent sneaker that I’ve noticed. There are quite a few Nike TR trainers too.
For all the success of Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, I saw lots of GS hats and jerseys. But I saw only one pair of Curry 2. There were some other UA runners and cross trainers but very few signature Under Armours.
Adidas had a fair showing. Surprised at how UltraBoosts I saw. A handful of NMD and a lot of lifestyle shoes like the Stan Smith. Didn’t come across a CrazyBoost Light 2016 or the AlphaBOUNCE.
I managed to snap a pic of this cool colorway of the Nike Presto, but overall, the Roshes still rule.
Quick Review of the Adidas AlphaBOUNCE
I was somewhat surprised to find the new Adidas AlphaBOUNCE running shoes at Macy’s via Finish Line. But there they were in men’s and kids sizes.
The original zebra-ish colorway is still available in kids sizes.
I tried on my usual size 10 in this core black version, and these felt narrow. Only $100, these runners feature some new Adidas tech, but they can’t compete with the more expensive UltraBoost. 
The ForgedMesh is pliable, but I much rather prefer the give of PrimeKnit. There’s no tongue and is like a one-piece bootie.
The lacing is slightly asymmetric, but I couldn’t tell if that had any effect.
The Bounce is stiffer and heavier than Boost. Not sure if that translates to better or worse cushioning. For me, I’d need a stability version like the Ultra Boost ST. Arch support is essentially nonexistent, and I could feel my arches crashing inwards with every step. The shoe offered nothing in the midfoot to control my pronation.
So a little narrow, no arch support, and slightly heavier, I’m sticking with the $180 Ultra Boost.
Cheap and Accessible Yeezys (Sorta)
Well, not really, but when I first saw Adidas’ new Alphabounce running shoes, I saw semblences of Kanye West’s Yeezy kicks.
And maybe for the uninitiated, they may mistake the Alphabounce for something Yeezy-ish.
There’s no Boost instead featuring Bounce, an EVA foam. Not PrimeKnit but ForgedMesh. Though the basic silhouette and print pays homage to the Yeezys. But at $100 and probably available at your local shoe store – cheap and accessible.
Here’s more insight about the AlphaBounce.
Kicks for the Older Generation
Call it what you want, a blunder or pure genius, but the latest low cut, white colorway of Under Armour’s signature for Steph Curry is in the spotlight. Although truly a performance basketball shoe, the white colors of the “Chef” impart an older feel for these kicks. Check out this fictitous commercial made by Jimmy Kimmel.
Online, this makeup is being killed for its “old man” looks, but then again, with this much coverage, I think this shoe has more public awareness than many other.
Not alone in this “shoe for dads” category, Nike, Adidas, and New Balance has their contributions as well. The aggressive styling of the upcoming Adidas Crazylight Boost 2016 screams for the young, but the white out look appeals to the aged.
New Balance may use premium materials for the 30th anniversay of the 999 model. But that colorway looks plainly familiar.
But Nike still owns this space with its top-selling Air Monarch line. The Air Monarch IV is the quintessential shoe for the older generation.
No Go for These #RossFinds
Had to say no to both of these shoes found at Ross aka #rossfinds. While each had its merits, they didn’t win me over in the end.
LeBron 11 Low
I’ve been looking for shoes featuring the full length Air Max 360 for a long time. Finally, I came across these LeBron 11 Lows in the lava colorway in my size. While I could have definitely rocked the lava colors, King James and me don’t share the same foot shape. Even with the solid Air Max foundation underfoot, the arch support wasn’t enough. I could feel the inner, medial sides of the shoe flexing with the smallest of steps. I was targeting the 11 Lows as a lifestyle shoe, but if they can’t provide the support while walking around, what’s the point? Sadly, I put these and their paint-speckled Air Max bubble back on the shelf.
Jordan Flight Time 14.5
For the longest time, I never knew what these Jordan-branded kicks were. For the record, they are the Jordan Flight Time 14.5. I always thought the 14.5 looked distinctive for a Team Jordan shoe. Each colorway works, especially these Chicago Bulls-inspired red, black, and white version.
The look is clean. The padded collar is a nice touch, and the fit was great for my feet. Although narrow mid-foot, these provided better arch support than the LeBron 11 Low. There’s decent tech in the shoe and best of all, they’re only $40. But look at them. They’re made to see court action, and that’s no longer me. I held on to these for some time before also putting them back on the shelf.
Instead, I’m actually looking forward to the upcoming Adidas Crazylight Boost 2016. Even at full price, this shoe looks uniquely different from other shoes on the market and features full length Boost. But I won’t find these at Ross for some time if ever.
A Chaotic Feeling at the New Nordstrom
I can’t quite place my finger on it, but personally, I felt a sense of chaos while touring the new Nordstrom in the Ewa Wing of Ala Moana. It was just weird and different from the vibe of the original Nordstrom.
While the store is nice and new, the layout just felt chaotic for me. Like the recently-added Bloomingdale’s, distinguishing each department means decorating it differently. There are no walls or exceptionally tall partitions to separate floor space and departments. Multi-storied, the new location is essentially different floors of empty, flat space, not rooms or sections. I guess the original location was similary built, so maybe it’s the high ceilings with all that extra space that exacerbates that bad vibe.
Then I hit the men’s shoe department. Usually, I enjoy the great finds here, enjoying some unique kicks. But I could hardly make my way through this “department.” It just felt so confusing like I was going the wrong way, and it was like I couldn’t get a good look at the shoes. Do I walk clockwise, counterclockwise, straight through? Even with the variety of shoes there, I just couldn’t bring myself to enjoy or even look at them with the chaotic layout too distracting.
And you know what I think the cause is? Again, it’s weird, but I think it’s the right side of the all the pairs of shoes on display. Thinking about it, I think most stores display the left shoe. Why? I don’t know, but I’m sure there’s some reason. So browsing amongst all the right pairs was just so disconcerting. The shoes were pointing one way, but I felt like I had to walk against this natural direction. Or maybe it’s because I’m right handed and picking up the right shoe in the displayed orientation, I would see the inner, medial side of it. But really, the outer side of the shoe is where it’s at.
I have to go back one day and see if that sense of confusion is still with me, but man that new Nordstrom just feels too chaotic.
Krispy Kreme Kicks
Gotta love Nike’s latest kicks collaboration with Krispy Kreme for Cavs guard Kyrie Irving. While I’m not a fan of the actual look of the Ky-Rispy Kreme, the overall idea is crazy good, especially the donut truck driving across America selling the special makeup.
Custom Air Max Zero via Nike iD
Was fooling around with the build-your-own Nike iD service and came up with this pair of Air Max Zero.
I like them but not at a $190 price tag. There are a lot of options to customize on the Zero so you could spend a ton of time playing around.
Boost Over Air Max
So my shoe tech of choice for trips has been Nike’s Air Max, preferably a full length Air Max setup ala Air Max 360. Several years back, the red-bubbled Air Trainer 1.3 protected my feet at Disneyland. In 2013, the Perry the Platypus-colored Air Max 90 rocked Alaska and Disneyland. Last year for HIChina15, I was hoping for the Nike Air Max PacFly but could never find them so instead, the old faithful (and Air Max-ed out) Griffey’s traveled China. But in 2016, finding a full length Air Max is not that easy.
As a default, there’s the annual Air Max runners but the 2015 didn’t feel right in the right places. Only old school retro Barkley’s and Chris Webber’s included Air Max in the forefoot. However, these were full priced and bulky so I passed them over. But I would have considered the crazy olive, bright crimson color way of the Webber/Air Max Sensation if I saw them.
Anyways to get back on track, I couldn’t find a suitable Air Max shoe to provide that endurance and support I like while on travel. So instead, I looked elsewhere and saw that popular Adidas Ultra Boost runners were available in a stability model, the Adidas Ultra Boost ST. While there’s a general consensus of the plush ride of the Ultra Boost, the regular models don’t work with my flat arches but a stability model addresses the shortcomings so I committed and went with Boost over Air Max.
What can I say other than not bad at all. Yep, the prices of the Ultra Boost are still at a premium, but I wanted to see what the hype was about. Ultra Boost did not disappoint and provided a soft cushioned ride. A running shoe, the Ultra Boost ST isn’t made to take a daily beating, but it held up fine while traveling even through light rock climbing, hiking through slushy trails, and walking miles of amusement parks. Along with the mega-padded Boost, Adidas’ Primeknit is definitely a draw. Supple, form fitting, and breathable, I love the knit upper and have gotten spoiled by it great qualities. The sizing of the ST seemed half a size big at first and not true to size, but I went with my typical size 10 though it seemed like I could have gone with a 9.5.
In general, Boost provides a different feel than Air Max, and I’m not sure which I like better. The Boost is pillowy while the Air Max feels more solid. To me, the Boost is passive, absorbing the weight and pressure via the foam nodules. Air Max seems aggressive with the encapsulated air fighting back against your weight creating a supporting underlying structure. There’s less of a sinking in feeling with Air Max compared to Boost. While it’s purely preferential, the stance provided by the Air Max just feels more supportive, creating a solid foot bed.
But hey, you really can’t go wrong with either. But since Ultra Boost is now the marquee of Adidas, it’ll be some time before discounted Ultra Boosts show up. You can find regular Boost shoes at a cheaper price but not yet with the Ultra Boost. Air Max, on the other hand, should be easier to find on clearance, but you’d just need to see if those Air Maxes work for you and your feet.
I’m still undecided over Boost or Air Max. Right now, if I find the right Air Max, I’d go that route with the nod to that solid base and slight fit issues with Adidas.
Dispelling the Illusion of the Nike Factory Store
Don’t get me wrong. If I’m ever nearby a Nike Factory Store, I’m going in. But… after visiting three Nike outlets recently, I’ve come to realize that their offerings aren’t that good. While on vacation at Palm Springs, Hollywood, and Anaheim (with a stopover in Long Beach), I managed several (unplanned) visits to Nike Factory Stores at Desert Hills Premium Outlets, Long Beach, and the Outlets at Orange. While each location offered something a little different, they were pretty much the same.
The stores have the “walls” and the “racks” as I call them. The racks and shelves have the inventory stuff, usually older models or stuff that didn’t sell well. There’s usually a lot of sizes with a modest discount. Predominately, there are the running shoes and trainers. Sometimes, you can find even steeper discounts, but it varies from store to store. The walls is where the good stuff is at, meaning you can find some rare items there but in limited quantities. Some items are really marked down on the wall while there are many one-of-a-kinds. So grab something if you like it.
But that’s when the revelation set in. I looked at Nike’s online clearance site, and you know what I saw? Pretty much the same shoes at the factory stores. But then again, why should I expect different? I guess I had always assumed that the Nike Factory Store was a potential treasure trove of great deals. Well, you can find them, but it’s not easy or as convenient as periodically scanning the online clearance items.
I thought I had found some great pickups at Desert Hills that had lots of Kobe X.
But again, compared to Kobe X on clearance online, the prices and selection were pretty much the same. Only the Easter colorway was unavailable online and not discounted an additional $30.
This LeBron collaboration with Doernbecher was an anomaly with so many of these $200 pairs at a discounted price.
The main difference with the physical factory store and the virtual clearance area was the in-store specials. From the three locations, each had different colorways at well reduced prices. Say the KD8 for example. Each store had a bunch of discounted KD8 colorways, but one location had a black colorway for even cheaper than another store while the third store may not have had that black colorway but had a different colorway on markdown. It was really weird.
By far, the Desert Hills location had the best offerings. The store was buzzing with people, especially tourists who would buy new suitcases to fill up with their outlet purchases. Their walls had a good variety but turnover of merchandise was brisk. I went there three times and each time, new (different) items took the place of bought items.
I was hoping for some great finds at Long Beach since this location is somewhat isolated even though the mall is trying to develop the shopping area. This location is smaller than Desert Hills and didn’t have great stuff at the time, but I did spot a Kobe 11 Black History Month but in a size 11.
Lots of KD8 and more clearance Kobe X at Long Beach, but you could have found these online as well.
Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting much at the Anaheim factory store at the Outlets at Orange. With close proximity to Disneyland, I was guessing that frequent visitors would wipe out the store, and I was correct. Bigger than Long Beach but I think smaller than Desert Hills, there were a lot of shoppers going through an okay selection. I thought I had a find with these LeBron 13 All Stars. There was only one on the wall, but I checked online and sure enough, I saw that the LeBron 13 ASG had been added to the clearance section. So not a find, and they didn’t fit well so back to the wall they went.
Amazingly, with several trips to three different Nike Factory Stores, I still walked away kicks-less. I loved that Easter-themed Kobe X, especially since Easter of 2016 was coming and this pair was reduced to $109, but I was too slow to buy them. The other Kobe colorways were okay but not good enough to pay $140. Now I just gotta hope I can find any pair of the elusive Kobe X at a Ross at a great price. 😉