The Best Ways to Buy Sneakers in 2019

Buying a new pair of sneakers seems like it should be fairly straightforward. You go into the store or log on to a website, select the pair you want, pay for it, and go about your day. But this is 2019. It’s not even close to that easy. Gone are the days of old when you could stroll into your local store at any hour of the day, sometimes weeks after a release, and cop that pair that everyone was excited to get their hands on.

You need to jump through hoops to get certain pairs these days. There’s raffles to sign up for, newsletters to subscribe to, and alarms you need to set just to guarantee you even get a fraction of a chance at acquiring the goods. We know. The process is extremely frustrating a majority of the time. It can also feel like you just hit the lottery when you get the elusive “Got ‘Em” notification from the Nike SNKRS app.

The point is that there’s a lot of things you need to know to give yourself the best chance at copping your next pair of sneakers. If you are new to the shoe thing, or just need some new advice to up your odds, take a look at our tips for the best ways to buy sneakers below.

​​​​​​Apps are a very polarizing aspect of sneaker buying for a lot of people. Some swear by them, while others wish they didn’t exist, because they provide them with nothing more than the dreaded “L.” No matter what side of the argument you fall on, there’s no denying the importance of these apps when it comes to acquiring all of the hottest drops. The Nike SNKRS app is probably the most notorious of the bunch. It provides release information for all of the latest releases and exclusive SNKRS Stash launches for the more hyped-up releases in major cities, like New York and Los Angeles. Adidas also has its own app, handy for acquiring the plethora of Adidas Yeezys every month. To stay up to date on all of the upcoming release dates to make sure your money is right when the time comes, the J23 app is another worthwhile download. Check out our full list of the best sneaker apps here.

When a hyped-up release hits stores, the overwhelming reaction makes it seem like absolutely nobody was able to score a pair besides that random person you follow on Instagram that calls themselves a full-time reseller. Of course that isn’t the case for everyone, but more often than not you are going to find yourself hitting up the secondary market. Be prepared to spend over retail, especially for the more limited releases like Virgil Abloh’s Nike collabs or Travis Scott’s Air Jordans. You can pretty much find anything on StockX and GOAT, though. If you can afford it then this is the less stressful route to take instead of waking up early and sweating it out on release day. These places are also good to score some good deals on more under-the-radar pairs to help you stand out from the crowd if you are willing to do a little extra digging.

​​​​​​Before online marketplaces reigned supreme, brick-and-mortar consignment shops were the easiest way to get the rarest of pairs. They shouldn’t be slept on now though. Flight Club and Stadium Goods are the most well known nationally, but there a ton of local consignment shops that started to operate a couple years ago to capitalize on the increasing intrigue in sneakers. The prices are always going to be a little higher than other alternatives, but it is definitely much more satisfying to walk out of the store with your purchase in-hand than having to wait a week or two for UPS to drop them off at your doorstep.

This might apply more to people living in close vicinity to major cities, but it’s worth it to seek out your local boutique. Aside from being another way to purchase the sneakers you are coveting, it is also a way to integrate yourself into the local community. It feels like everyone is into sneakers these days, but becoming cool with the employees at your local boutique will introduce you to the people who genuinely know their stuff (most of the time). Plus, networking is good in any aspect of life. Not to get too corny, but it could be a great way to meet some new friends. It also might provide you with some hookups for the next limited release if you get cool with the store manager.

​​​​​​Everyone loves the newest collabs and colorways, but purchasing a hidden gem on sale is also an incredible feeling. An insane amount of sneakers hit the sale racks these days. Nike’s seasonal sales are especially fruitful, and usually offer 30 percent off of the entire sale section. Major boutiques like Bodega and Sneakersnstuff offer some solid markdowns all-year round, too. Pay special attention to sales during holidays for some of the best markdowns. The Kicks Deals Twitter account is another good tool to use to keep up with all of the latest markdowns in real time. You don’t need to spend top dollar for a solid pair of sneakers. We promise.

​​​​​​Everyone is enamored with the boutiques, but there is no reason to abandon the reliable mall stores like Foot Locker, Champs, and Finish Line (or even smaller regional chains like DTLR, Shoe Palace, or Hibbet Shoes). They aren’t going to be providing the limited collaborations all the time, but that isn’t always what you need. For the latest Air Jordan retro, Nike Basketball model, or even a classic like the Adidas Stan Smith or Superstar, there is no easier way than just taking a quick trip to the local mall. The VIP perks offered at these types of stores even give frequent shoppers some deals, another reason not to steer clear of these spots.

If you don’t mind navigating through some shady sellers, Facebook groups can be another great tool for finding your next pair. Some cities’ pages are more active than others, and you will need to wait to be approved by an admin to join most groups, but it’s worth it to find some deals. If Facebook isn’t ideal for you, try and find some of the local resellers on Instagram or even Craigslist. If you use this method, just make sure you agree to meet the seller at a safe location. Malls are always a good option. The local police station is the safest. It sucks we need to even worry about this type of thing, but better to be safe than sorry.

EBay is one of the O.G. online marketplaces when it comes to sneakers (and literally anything else). Patience is key if you want to use eBay, though. Pay attention to auctions with little time left to snag pairs at the last second. If you’d rather not have the hassle, the “Buy it Now” option is also solid. Just be careful of fakes. If those Off-White x Nike Prestos are $200, then avoid them at all costs. Grailed is another good option, but takes a little more digging. EBay is a great place to stumble upon obscure pairs you thought you’d never see again, while Grailed provides an easier outlet to locate newer releases or more high-end designs.

​​​​​​​One of the easiest ways to guarantee that you get your hands on almost any release you want is to acquire the highly-coveted “sneaker plug.” There’s really no advice on how to do this. Maybe you will become a regular at your local store. Maybe you randomly meet someone who has the connection. There are many ways. Hopefully, you are in the position to choose one at some point.

We all hate them. They’re the reason we don’t have 80-percent of the pairs we want to own. But in 2019 it probably is the easiest way to get any of the shoes you are looking for on release day. When all else fails, a bot might be your last hope. There are a ton of different people making bots these days, some sketchier than others, so be a little tentative if you are in the market for one. If you happen to know how to code, you can even save some money and try to make one yourself. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.