The sneaker game can be cruel. So many fire releases, but so few pairs to go around. But, when you’ve taken yet another inevitable L on the raffles and launches, there’s always eBay. The eBay Authenticity Guarantee means you can cop with confidence on the OG marketplace, with experts inspecting your purchase to get fakes out of the paint. Thanks to eBay Australia, here are four of Octobers's best releases, as determined by The Weekly Drop’s Newsletter Guy.
Born X Raised x Nike SB Dunk Low
We’ll kick it off this week with the biggest sneaker release of the month and, potentially, the biggest of the year. The Born X Raised x Nike SB Dunk Low gives us the best of what the Born X Raised brand is about, with the signature smack of Dodger Blue and details that come straight from BXR DNA. Specifically, the ‘One block at a time’ script embroidery on the toe, ‘On The Turf’ on the tongue and heel and a nice little co-branded panel. It was already slated to be one of the best on the 2023 calendar, but when you add the RIP Spanto sentiment and the fact that this is a collab that can now never be repeated, it takes on some serious cultural gravitas.
Our Sneaker Of The Year voting will start soon and, personally, I’m not sure anything will beat this one.
If you’ve got the bread, the resellers have the BXRs. Find your pair now on eBay.
Air Jordan 8 ‘Playoffs’
Furry chenille tongue, yes. Big superfluous straps, absolutely. Funny little panel of what I guess you’d call modern art, definitely. There’s legit so much to love about this shoe. It looks nothing like the Jordan 7. It isn’t close to the Jordan 9. It’s just this weird crazy thing that Tinker Hatfield dropped on us in 1993 then got back to the regular scheduled programming the next year. It’s a lot of things but, mainly, it’s one of the best-ever Air Jordans.
What really gets me going here on this truly huge sneaker is the sky-high construction. It’s basically a baddie boot for men. You go hit the strip in these and you’re gonna get looks. Looks you didn’t anticipate from people you definitely weren’t expecting. But that’s what happens when you’re out there in some Playoff 8s. Double-strapped up on a Thursday afternoon.
They sold out quick but you can still score a pair on eBay. Hit the site now to take a look.
WTAPS x New Balance 990v6
I’ve got a pair of the WTAPS x New Balance 990v2 right here in my sneaker closet and, I have to be honest, I love the vibe on those things. It’s a grey on grey on grey New Balance. Possibly the most unassuming sneaker in that whole closet but, also, one of the most valuable based on current market prices. Putting those on and hitting the streets is a real IYKYK moment. Especially because I, The Newsletter Guy, choose to live in the far-flung outer suburbs of Melbourne where, yes, it’s an IYKYK moment but, also, it’s safe to say nobody knows. So it’s an If You Know You Know But I Know Nobody Knows So I Guess It’s Just Me Who Knows thing. A true IYKYKBIKNKSIGIJMWK moment.
So, when WTAPS comes back, links up with New Balance for another sneaker and dips the 990v6 in another tasty cocktail of greys, I’m inclined to cop straight away for my future trips to the local Stockland shopping centre to flex on the ladies in the homewares store and the guy at the fish shop who lets me pay on eftpos even when I don’t hit the $10 minimum. They don’t understand, but I do, and that’s all that matters. IYKYKBIKNKSIGIJMWK amirite.
The resale on these is high but it is slowly coming down from the frankly insane heights they were out shortly after release. Now’s the time to pull the trigger. Cop your pair on eBay.
Above The Clouds x ASICS GT-2160
I feel like I’ve overshared this week so I’ll keep it brief with this one. Out of respect for the team at Above The Clouds, I’m not gonna sully this sneaker with a personal anecdote about eftpos limits or being objectified by tradies. I just wanna say that Above The Clouds made a wonderful sneaker with ASICS and, as Australians, we should all be proud of them and buy a pair. I am, you are, we are … Australians all gonna buy a pair of these.
Sold out at retail, but pairs are available now on eBay.
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