10 Reasons Life is Good For Sneakerheads Right Now

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With all the Instagram filters available, it's possible to make old shoes look new and if you want, you can make new shoes look like cartoons! What's not to like about that?

OK, fine, YOUR town doesn't have a sneaker boutique. (Move.) But most towns do - the best shops aren't necessarily all in New York, L.A. and Chicago anymore. And with everyone from Supreme to Crooked Tongues selling online with reasonable (or even free) shipping, there's no reason to miss out on anything no matter where you live.

Your parents don't understand your sneaker obsession? No problem. Hop on Twitter or Instagram, find a hashtag and the next thing you know you've got a friend to talk trash to about those new releases you can't wait to get.

Seriously, old 'heads that put in years to make that connect had it rough. Today, with a little research (and some help from your friends), you can connect with brands, shops, resellers, and all sorts of people that could potentially hook you up with a free pair of kicks.

Yes, you can say that hype is ruining everything, but the truth is, you don't have to buy hype sneakers. And on top of that, the hyped sneakers distract a lot of people from buying quality sneakers. So while you see 20 people posting pics on Instagram of that new release, hit your local spot and grab two pair of discounted colorways. A couple years from now, you'll be stuntin' in those slept on colorways.

Back in the day, if you were super-into sneakers, you didn't meet a whole lot of people like yourself. Now? Not only has the internet made the whole globe a single community under sneakers, but there are a heck of a lot of people out there into the same things you are. It's not weird to have 20, 50, 100 pairs of sneakers. In fact, it's weird not to.

Miss out on that shoe that sold out within literal seconds? And the restock? No worries! As long as you don't mind spending double (or triple, or, er, 10x) retail, you'll still be able to get your hands on a pair. EBay and consignment shops are there if you need them.

The best thing about a relentless release calendar is how much good stuff finds its way to outlet stores and clearance racks. Assuming you're not the "Yeezys or bust!" type, you can put together a mean summer rotation for less than $50 a pair.

We've come a long way since tiny Air bags, L.A. Gear Catapults and React Juice. Performance shoes are lighter and more responsive than ever, and advances like Energy Boost and Flywire are a big part of it.

There are literally dozens of colorways for most of the sneakres out now. If there's not, there's probably a way to create your own colorway through NIKEiD or miadidas. Wearing a pair of sneakers that turns heads has never been easier.