You’re home. You’re bored. You have nothing to do. Or you have everything to do, especially if you’re into sneakers. Hopefully you're wearing a cool pair of socks or soft slippers (and we genuinely hope you’re staying safe, getting well, or using your best judgment to put yourself in smart situations), but there are plenty of sneaker things to do while cooped up: watch videos, read books, learn your history, organize your sneakers. Here are some sneaker activities to keep you occupied during the COVID-19 quarantine.
Sneakers get dirty. It’s a fact of life. The only way to make sure that never happens is to keep them on ice forever. Who wants to do that? Learning how to clean your sneakers is an artform and a process we should all be familiar with. You can buy products from brands like Jason Markk, Crep Protect, or Sneakers ER. There are different components and materials to consider: leather shoes, suede shoes, laces, outsoles, and much more. Here’s how to clean all of that.
Reorganize your sneakers.
A lot of sneaker content is fleeting. Short clips that don’t fully satisfy your craving for footwear knowledge or are just flat-out clickbait. There are a few sneaker documentaries out there, though—ones that go into the core of footwear culture. Give them a watch.
Watch: Unbanned : The Legend of AJ1
Sneaker YouTube: some love it, some hate it, most can’t stop watching it. Catch up on Sneaker Shopping, Full Size Run, and other sneaker content from Complex.
You don’t see them as often these days, but the ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s were full of sneaker advertisements that were pure gold as brands faced off with each other for market share. Here are a few of the best, most important, and most entertaining.
Michael Jordan's Nike ads:
Nike Air Max 1 ad from 1987:
Nike's LeBron James and Kobe Bryant MVPuppets commercials.
'90s adidas ad by David Lynch.
Ken Griffey Jr. commercial for Foot Locker from the 1990s.
Not every sneaker video worth watching is a documentary, an old ad, or something from YouTube. There are also plenty of interviews online that are gold if you love or want to know more about sneakers. Here are a few.
Tinker Hatfield interview.
Kanye West and Steven Smith interview.
Kobe Byrant interview with Jacques Slade.
Fat Joe with Bobbito Garcia from ESPN's It's the Shoes
Michael Jordan interview on his favorite Air Jordans.
Not everything is online. There are plenty of sneaker books packed with knowledge, stories, and anecdotes. Here are a few of the best ones to pick up.
Where’d You Get Those? New York City’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987
Start your own Sneaker YouTube channel, podcast, or blog.
Learn the history.
Look for steals online
Take a break from sneakers and focus on other things.
