10 Sneaker Accessories You Need Right Now

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Sneakers are the ultimate fashion accessories. Normally, that would be debatable, but you’re reading this on a sneaker site so work with us. Some people live through their kicks, only talking sneakers, only thinking sneakers, and only taking pictures of sneakers. Since most people who live on IG also have pretty much the same shoes, the newest way to stunt is fancy socks. Like sneakers, you’ll get likes or disses depending on the brand, style, and how well they match your shoes. It’s a lot of stress for cotton foot condoms. But don’t be caught without them, or your shoes are gonna stink real quick.

Whether it’s a watch, a non-watch, a leather strap, or a woven bracelet, wristwear has become a necessary addition to anyone’s accessory drawer. It seems like sneaker heads are always retying their laces or adjusting their sneakers’ tongues (at least on Instagram), so the wrist is a natural extension of the look. Especially if you want to shock everyone with your newest G-Shock. There are tons of accessories brands using all sorts of materials and designs, that this is one of the very few arenas you can really show some individuality.

It’s not clear if you can really be a sneakerhead if you don’t have a bottle of Jason Markk, a square of Restore Block, or a Mr Clean Magic Eraser sitting around somewhere near a sink. But, if you want to keep your kicks as crispy as possible, you’re going to need some kind of cleaning system. No matter how careful you are when rocking your prized possessions, the weatherman isn’t always right and the salsa doesn’t always stay on the chip—something is going to get on your shoes. And you’re going to need something more than just a toothbrush and water to get it off.

“One to Rock and One to Stock,” right? That’s that mantra for anyone who wants to stunt the best. If you want to be the guy who breaks out that super fresh pair of the hottest release from five years ago, you need to make sure that pair is going to survive the journey through time. Seasonal changes in humidity, the acid from stuffing papers, even mites, could mess up those kicks even if they’re totally deadstock. So, do your due diligence and wrap it up. A few layers of plastic wrap around each sneaker will keep the humidity constant, the acid off, and bugs out. They’ll be as fresh as the day you bought them, provided you didn't seal anything nasty inside.

"A what-now?" A shoe tree. You know those funny, skinny metal Slinkys you see poking out of ASICS on the European message boards? Those are the newer version of the wooden, shape holding inserts your grandpa used on his dress shoes. They exist to keep your shoes in the same shape as they were when they came off the production line. Natural materials like leathers tend to relax over time, especially when packed into tiny boxes. As the years go by, your sneakers will lose their shape, and the only way to fight the ravages of the ticking clock is with internal support. Brands use tissue and cardboard to do this job immediately after production, but those materials contain acids, and degrade on their own. Better to have something do a more permanent job. But be careful, get the appropriate size for your shoes, and don’t over pack. Otherwise, your new shoe trees could change the shape of the shoe just as bad. 

Not everyone is willing to spring for appropriate shelving that their kicks require. Even the cheapest options can still cost hundreds of dollars if you have more than 100 pairs of shoes. That means you could be missing out on the next release just to more politely stack the pairs you already have. Boring. But, over time the cardboard of your boxes will start to give way, stacks will lean, and rearranging will become a chore. See a pair at the bottom of the pile you want? Unless you have 15 minutes to rearrange everything, that pair might have to wait another day. And then another week. And then another month. Who wants to make style choices based on a lack of shelving? That’s more boring. 

A sneakerhead’s best accessory is a friend on the inside who can get them shoes they can’t get themselves. This is the dude you @ in all social media, the dude you call “fam,” the dude who when he sees your email or text rolls his eyes before he clicks “read.” But if you know what you’re doing, you treat him well. You shower him with gifts, meals, and due praise. Keep him happy and he’ll keep you laced. Make sure it’s a symbiotic relationship and you’ll be enjoying exclusive kicks with a lot less legwork.

This accessory is almost always overlooked, and gets people in the most trouble. Although it can take the form of a piece of paper or a checkbook, at the very least it should be a number in your head you carry with you at all times. Your budget is the limit you’re able to spend on sneakers. But it doesn’t count if you haven’t made room for rent, food, and the rest of your bills. If you’re well laced and asking for bus fare: you are losing. Your sneakers mean nothing if you have to carry them on your back after you’ve been evicted. It will undoubtedly force you to start making choices between releases, but that’s okay. You’ll probably end up choosing only the dopest pairs, and end up with a collection that is way sicker than if you bought every pair that caught your eye.

These days everything is a Quick Strike. Almost no sneaker releases are announced with more than 2 week’s notice. That means even if you have a job with a regular paycheck, you probably have real responsibilities. If you’re smart, you already worked on that budget. But no one is perfect. Maybe your next pick up is from an unorganized brand, or maybe you haven’t been reading Complex Sneakers, and a release sneaks up on you. You need emergency credit. Maybe it’s a small credit card that you keep around for just these reasons, or a particularly generous friend who can spot you. Either way, if you don’t have rainy day options for emergency credit, you’re guaranteed to miss out on a release or two.

NOTE: This is not an endorsement of reckless borrowing. Even a credit card with a small limit can get overwhelming if you don't use it responsibly. Use only in emergencies, when the ability to pay it off in full is quickly guaranteed. Remember: Your credit score is more than just a number.

Not every day in the sneaker game is a good one, so you need to pack yourself some tissues and aloe. The tissues for all the real tears you’ll shed over missed releases. And the aloe for all the burns you’ll get from the heat around you. Stay laced. Stay protected. Stay safe.