10 Signs You Need to Take a Break From Buying New Sneakers

At some point you just have to stop!

Nov 06, 2013
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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

There comes a point when we look at all the sneakers we've collected over the years and smile. We want to gracefully bow out of the game and leave it to those that came after us, the younger crowd that just wants to be fresh. However, we can't. We may take a break for a few weeks or a few months, but we always come back. We tell ourselves that it will only be one pair, no more. But the next thing you know, you are camping out for the latest release. 

But we want to encourage you to stop. Take an extended leave of absence from the sneaker game. Quit. Your house has become to full to the brim with sneakers and nothing else. You need to take it easy on the kicks, bro. There are plenty of sneakers in your collection to wear, and you need to focus on other aspects of your life. If any of this relates to you, hide your credit cards and stay away from sneaker stores. Here are 10 Signs You Need to Take a Break From Buying New Sneakers.

RELATED: 10 Signs You're a Lame Sneakerhead
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You are always ranting about how quality sucks but you are copping every release.

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You know who you are. Every week you hit Instagram and Twitter to tell the world how much the quality of sneakers suck. We get it. You were copping sneakers when you had to cure the leather yourself, but we don't need to hear that every week. Here's an idea, just stop buying them if you don't like the quality.

You've licked the bottom of a sneaker.

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We saw it. We even highlighted you on one of our Twitter Reacts articles. However, that does not make it okay. Just take a break, Put the sneakers down and buy something that is more appropriate (and less hazardous) to lick, like a lollipop.

You have doubles of doubles.

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Copping doubles is not a bad thing. You want to actually #wearyourkicks and keep a pair on ice for when those start to show signs of wear and tear. But, you seem to have so many pairs, that you have doubles of doubles. That is not a good thing. Back away from the sneaker stores and get some use out of the pairs you have in the closet before they fall apart.

You have more deadstock sneakers than ones you have worn.

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You aren't like those other hypebeasts. You buy what you like. It just so happens that you like pretty much everything. This has resulted in you having so many sneakers that you don't get a chance to wear most of them. Remember the two pairs of Space Jam XIs you copped a few years ago? Have you even worn them? No. You haven't. That's horrible. Think about the shoes. How do you think it makes them feel to just sit in a box?

Nike Factory Stores ban you from shopping there.

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You may not know this, but you just can't buy as many pairs of shoes as you want from Nike. There is an actual limit. Don't believe us? Ask Jordan Geller, the own of ShoeZeum. He actually received a letter from Nike telling him that he wasn't allowed to buy shoes at any of their stores. Really, it boils down to business. If you are going to cop like you are a store, you need to get a license like you are a store.

You think camping out for sneakers is a legitimate date with your girl.

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It's been a few months and you and you girl haven't been out on a date. Of course she is bugging you to do so this weekend. However, those kicks that you have been watching online drop this weekend and you know you are going to have to camp to get them. So what do you do? You bring your girl along and turn it into an "urban" camping trip complete with Wendy's Dollar Menu burgers and fries. Bad idea.

You have to rent a storage unit to keep all your shoes.

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It is one thing to take over the closet, cabinets, and garage at your house, it is another thing entirely when you have to go rent a storage space because you literally have nowhere else to put shoes in your house. Maybe, just maybe, it is time to give some of those kicks away to make room or STOP BUYING EVERYTHING.

Brands come visit your collection to see if your have sneakers they don't.

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You've heard of the ShoeZeum right? (You should have, we just talked about them a few slides ago.) Well, it just so happens that he had so many kicks, that a group of executives from Nike paid a visit because they were blown away by how many sneakers he had. But the number isn't the issue, since Jordan had shoes dating back to the 1970s Nike sent an archivist to see if he had things in his collection that they didn't. You have Nikes that Nike doesn't? You might have a problem.

A re-retro dropped and you haven't even worn the last retros yet.

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Yes, we're talking to you, who still has six pairs of deadstock Military Blue Air Jordan IVs from 2006 and five pairs of Fire Red Air Jordan Vs from 2007. When the Air Jordan release schedule is ahead of your wear schedule, maybe it's time to hit the brakes.

You haven't paid rent this month.

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It is easy to judge from the outside looking in: Who are we to tell you that you can't buy as many shoes as you want? Feel free. You can store them however and wherever you like. However, we suggest that you take our advice, because that pink slip on your door is not an advertisement for a shoe sale. It is a three-day pay rent or leave sign that will have the sheriffs kicking you out in 72 hours.

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