Image via Overkill
Summer is officially here, and that usually means one thing: clean, new sneakers. Not only can you finally pull out some of your best pairs without having to worry about them getting trashed in lousy weather, but this season’s also loaded with a bunch of great releases that should be on your radar.
If you think summer’s strictly the time for white low tops, you should broaden your horizons. Everyone else is going to have the same idea: white lows have become the summer sneaker uniform piece in recent years, but it’s almost a little too easy. To avoid getting lost in the crowd, consider adding one or more of these pairs to your rotation.
From retro Js to the next wave of adidas Ultra Boosts and Kendrick Lamar’s latest Reebok collaboration, these are the sneakers that have both the streets and social media buzzing. Keep in mind that more releases are sure to be announced in the coming weeks, so stay alert out there. It’s gonna be a real hot summer.
Kendrick Lamar x Reebok Classic Leather
Release Date: July 1
Price: $110
Kendrick Lamar’s collaborations with Reebok have all been instant sell-outs so far, and you should expect more of the same with this latest installation.
Here, Lamar connects with Garbstore’s Ian Paley—who’s become known for his signature “inside out” Reebok collaborations—to deconstruct the Classic Leather silhouette. This collaboration also recalls the gang unification theme seen on Kendrick’s previous sneakers, although it’s much more subtle on these Reeboks.
The off-white colorway features hits of blue, red, and grey and is capped off with a gum outsole, making them perfect for warmer temps. Even better, the Kendrick x Reebok collaboration will also be released in kid’s sizes for the first time, so you can lace the whole fam in this one.
adidas EQT ADV Support
Release Date: June 24
Price: $150 (Consortium “910” colorway)
adidas Originals has flourished during 2016 with the wildly popular NMD line and its numerous spin-offs, but it looks like the brand could have another monster on its hands with the EQT ADV Support.
The moment that images of the EQT ADV Support first appeared, people started asking what they were, when they were dropping, and where they could cop. Now, we finally know more, and these old-school-meets-new-school hybrids are almost here.
Oftentimes, brands struggle to combine a retro-inspired design with modern technology, but based on everything we've seen so far, the EQT 91-16 is an exception. By pulling just the right elements from the EQT Support 93 runner, adding advanced materials like Dyneema and Kevlar, and finishing it off with a streamlined, modern edge, adidas makes this one look effortless.
So far, the sneaker’s been revealed in a handful of colorways—yes, there’s even a triple-white one—all of which have been met with similar anticipation, and it will debut in a black and white Consortium colorway limited to just 910 pairs (pictured above). If you slept on the NMDs when they first dropped last December, don’t make the same mistake with the EQT ADV Support this summer.
Air Jordan XII “Gym Red” a.k.a. “Alternate”
Release Date: July 2
Price: $190
2016 has been the year of the Air Jordan XII. Every colorway that’s released so far this year has been a struggle to cop, with pairs flying off of shelves faster than any other Jordans in recent memory, and that includes last December's Jordan XIs.
With that in mind, it should be clear that this “Gym Red” colorway is going to be a problem. The colorway itself gets its blocking from a rare Mike Bibby PE from his run with the Atlanta Hawks. This 2016 version lacks the “Team Dime” PE branding, but that’s definitely not going to stop people from swarming to these.
Don’t be surprised if this is one of those Air Jordans you literally can’t escape from seeing on the streets this summer.
Nike Sportswear “Olympic” Collection
Release Date: July 4
Price: Various
To be honest, Nike Sportswear’s upcoming “Olympic” collection is so good that it’s almost impossible to pick only one sneaker.
If we had to choose, we'd go with the Air More Uptempo worn by Scottie Pippen during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. This particular pair was last re-released during the summer of 2012 and it did well, but the Air More Uptempo buzz has only grown since then. The sneaker’s recent hype, coupled with an undeniably clean O.G. colorway that’s dropping with perfect timing on the 4th of July, make for one of the summer’s standout releases.
As great as the Air More Uptempos are, they’re not releasing alone. This patriotic collection also includes the return of the “USA” Air Max BWs and Air Pegasus, “Olympic” Air Prestos and Air Force 180s, and a brand new Air Presto Ultra Flyknit colorway. No matter which pair you choose, you really can’t go wrong here.
Air Jordan VIII “Championship” Pack
Release Date: June 25
Price: $250 each
Since 2014, Jordan Brand has been paying tribute to MJ’s NBA championship wins with special “Cigar” and “Champagne” colorways of the sneakers he won the rings in—a nod to the GOAT’s locker room celebration must-haves. So far, we’ve seen it on the Jordan VI and the Jordan VII, and now the Chicago Bulls’ first three-peat comes full circle with the Jordan VIII.
For 2016, the brand is doing things a bit differently and straying away from the stogies and the bubbly with Jordan VIIIs inspired by the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and celebratory confetti.
With intricate details and premium quality, these are going to be slightly more expensive than your average Jordan retro, but they’re also a lot more special. Whether you actually remember watching MJ win his third ring live or you relived the moment on YouTube, it’s going to be hard to deny these.
adidas NMD PK "White O.G."
Release Date: July 15
Price: $170
Technically, this white-based flip on the "O.G." NMD Primeknit colorway already released, but that launch was an overseas exclusive, meaning many of us stateside were left out in the cold.
One look at the resell prices for the original black NMD colorway tells you everything you need to know here. Many people slept on the initial release last December, and the resell is just too expensive for most people, so this colorway will be as close as they get to that O.G. look. Between people looking who are looking for a quick flip and those of us who are caught up in full-on NMD mania, there will be a ton of eyes on this release next month.
adidas Ultra Boost Uncaged
Release Date: $180
Price: June 29
The adidas Ultra Boost is a great sneaker straight out of the box—we named it the best of 2015, after all—but beyond looking great and being supremely comfortable, it also spawned a DIY customization trend unlike anything we’ve seen before.
People were literally cutting their Boosts apart, removing the plastic support cage that wraps around the sides of the shoe. The craze became so popular that adidas eventually started releasing their own versions in the form of the Hypebeast and Solebox Ultra Boost Uncaged collaborations. Both of these sneakers are excellent, but they were also next-to-impossible to get at retail.
Thankfully, adidas will be giving more people a chance to experience the Ultra Boost Uncaged with this updated release. This time around, the entire Primeknit upper has been redesigned for an even more sock-like fit and aesthetic, however the full-length Ultra Boost midsole remains untouched.
The Ultra Boost Uncaged will debut in a handful of color ways including grey, black and white, and red.
Air Jordan V O.G. “Black/Metallic Silver”
Release Date: July 23
Price: $220
Out of every sneaker on this list, this is the one that needs no introduction. To say that this pair is anticipated is putting it lightly, because ‘heads have been thirsting for these since 1999.
That’s how long it’s been since “Nike Air” branding graced the “Black/Metallic” Jordan V, but they’re finally coming back with all the O.G. details this summer. This is the sort of release that will bring people out of the woodwork who haven’t copped Js in years, so you won’t just be competing with the resellers for these.
Like recent “O.G.” Air Jordan retros, the retail tag has been marked up a bit on these, but it’s a small price to pay for a wearable pair of proper “Black/Metallic” Vs.
Air Jordan XII “OVO White”
Release Date: July 30
Price: TBA
Now that Jordan Brand has finished off the “OVO” Jordan X releases, it’s finally time to drop the XIIs.
This particular pair has been rumored to release for awhile now. After being spotted at Jordan Brand’s “Flu Game” pop-up earlier this month, these are all but confirmed to drop later this summer. These “OVO” Jordan XIIs are built around a white leather upper with a stingray leather overlay and subtle metallic gold accents.
Anytime that Jordan Brand and Drake hook up, you know it’s going to be special, and this latest “OVO” colorway is no different. Combine Drake’s buzz with the popularity of the Jordan XII—not to mention the limited factor—and you’ve got one of the season’s most hyped up launches.
adidas Ultra Boost “Triple Black”
Release Date: TBA
Price: $180
Aside from DIY “uncaging" projects, the most commonly seen adidas Ultra Boost custom is blacked out midsoles, specifically “Triple Black” colorways. That’s because, thus far, adidas Boost cushioning has only been offered in white, meaning that there’s no true “Triple Black” counterpart for the “Triple White” make up. The lack of an official release led to countless all-black customs, but, unfortunately, many DIYers found that their paint would begin to crack and deteriorate over time.
Adidas initially had admitted it was a challenge to produce a colored Boost foam without compromising the cushioning’s performance—hence the all-white capsules on every Boost sneaker thus far. However, it didn’t take long before images of NMDS and Ultra Boosts with colored midsoles started popping up online; some with black Boost, some with red, and the hype’s been building ever since.
A rumored “Triple Black Japan” NMD release was slated for June, but when the time came, they ended up releasing with a white Boost midsole. The difference between those and these “Triple Black” Ultra Boosts is that official images of the Ultra Boosts have already been loaded onto adidas’ website, meaning a release is only a matter of time at this point. In other words, it’s not if, but when they release. You can expect everyone else to be right there beside you trying to cop a pair.