Sole Camp

Air Jordan 2012 "Year of the Dragon"

No, the Nike conglomerate is not done yet. Tomorrow, Jordan Brand will release one of the more anticipated colorways of the most recent Air Jordan signature. The “Year of the Dragon” Air Jordan 2012, like the other “Year of the Dragon” sneakers, did not have a release date at first. However, now it comes in the form of an aftershock after the craze that was today’s “Galaxy” Nike release. If you’re gunning for a pair of the Azure Dragon-inspired “Year of the Dragon” 2012s, be ready to fly through, over, or around the traffic tonight on the web or tomorrow morning at select Jordan Brand retailers.

Air Jordan 2012 Deluxe "Wolf Grey"

For Jordan Brand, this past week has been all about the launch of the Air Jordan 2012, the latest shoe in the Jordan signature series. Jordan Brand invited many enthusiasts in the sneaker industry to New York for the beginning of the week, and additionally, to a top secret location in New Jersey on Tuesday for the event itself. At the event (with the assistance of the shoe’s designers, Tom Luedecke and Tinker Hatfield), and with a press release straight out of Beaverton, Jordan Brand properly unveiled the 2012, talked about all the technology that the shoe presents to a basketball player, and noted some of the shoe’s unlikely influences.

Air Jordan 2012 Deluxe "Wolf Grey"

The Air Jordan 2012 encompasses six different possibilities for playing style, with three interchangeable midsoles (“fly over,” “fly around,” and “fly through”), and two interchangeable inner booties, one high, one low. Other notable tech specs on the sneaker include advanced Flywire technology and an innovative “flight carbon” plate. Even with all of that technology the shoe is influenced by the Jazz Era on the 20th Century, with wingtip patches covering the toe and side panels. At the event, people tested out the shoe on court in multiple basketball drills, and could take the pair they used home. People had a choice of three colorways…

Released: Air Jordan 2012 Deluxe “Wolf Grey” (pictured above) & “University Blue”

Air Jordan 2012 Deluxe "University Blue"

…two of which were set to release nationwide the next day. Yes, two colorways of the Air Jordan 2012, each stunning in their own right, have released already. The “Wolf Grey” colorway catches eyes immediately with its neon tongue and laces, whereas the “University Blue” colorway provides a clean balance of blue and grey on the already nice silhouette. You can get the Air Jordan 2012 Deluxe, for $223, at your local Jordan Brand retailer (such as Extra Butter) now, or online at NikeStore.

Upcoming Colorways of the Air Jordan 2012

Air Jordan 2012 Deluxe "Year of the Dragon"

Air Jordan 2012 Deluxe "Bred"

Air Jordan 2012 "All-Star" Collection

Air Jordan 2012 iD

Wait, you’re saying that I forgot a colorway? That’s right! At the media launch event, the industry experts could also choose the most-anticipated Air Jordan 2012, the deluxe “Year of the Dragon” colorway. This colorway features a smooth combination of shades of blue and vibrant yellow accents on its upper. If you’ve been longing for a pair of the “Year of the Dragon” Air Jordan 2012s, then you’re wait is not much longer, as the sneaker will be released right in the midst of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, on Saturday, February 25th. However, there are even more cool colorways of the Air Jordan 2012 on the way, such as a “Bred” version, and “All-Star” editions, which were both on display at the event. Not to mention that starting on February 14th, you will be able to design your own colorway of the 2012 on NikeiD too! Keep up with Sole Camp if you want to stay updated on the hype that is the Air Jordan 2012.

Also check out Inside the Sneaker Box for some nice shots and video from the media launch.

Some more information regarding Nike & Jordan Brand’s “Year of the Dragon” collection has been revealed recently.

“Year of the Dragon” Collection Special Packaging

Nike Air Force 1 Supreme TZ "Year of the Dragon" Packaging

Nike Zoom KD IV "Year of the Dragon" Packaging

Nike Zoom Kobe VII Supreme "Year of the Dragon" Packaging

Air Jordan 2012 "Year of the Dragon" Packaging

Much like the China-release version of the “China” LeBron 9, the shoes in the “Year of the Dragon” collection all come with special packaging. The Air Force 1′s box is a box that commemorates the AF1′s 30th anniversary (hence AF1-XXX), and that all AF1s that release this year will come in. For the “Year of the Dragon” AF1, however, Nike stepped things up a bit by adding a plastic top layer that has a cool dragon design on it to the box. The KD IV’s box seems like a regularly-shaped box that has some nice attributes, including the Green Abyss and Bright Mango of the “Year of the Dragon” KD IV on it. The packaging for the Kobe VII is pretty funky, though. The case for it features the same color scheme as the “Year of the Dragon” Kobe VII and was intricately designed using the sole of the Kobe VII. Lastly, the packaging of the Jordan 2012 in the collection is both striking and classy. It’s red and gold colorway hearkens back to its Chinese roots, and its handle and layered drawers make the sneaker it carries seem like it is all about business. The Kobe and KD boxes are likely to only be released in China (like the special LeBron box), where as the Jordan 2012 box should be available with all pairs in the US. As for the Air Force 1…

Released: Nike Air Force 1 Supreme TZ “Year of the Dragon”

Nike Air Force 1 Supreme TZ "Year of the Dragon"

…it was released already, with the special packaging everywhere. Both yesterday and earlier today, the “Year of the Dragon” AF1 released at a select few Nike stores and Tier Zero accounts for a retail price of $200. If you were looking forward to this sleek sneaker and missed out on it, eBay is probably your best bet to find it.

Nike Zoom KD IV to launch this week at House of Hoops in MD

This week, Kevin Durant will head home to DC for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s game against the Washington Wizards. However, on Tuesday night, he will make another appearance in the DC-area. At a House of Hoops in Hyattsville, MD, Kevin Durant will be on-hand to exclusively launch the “Year of the Dragon” KD IV. The event will also have raffle giveaways, an entertaining host, and music. If you’re in the area, you probably shouldn’t miss out, as there is no other release date for the “Year of the Dragon” KD IV out yet!

(Images via Sneaker News & Sole Collector)

Nike & Jordan Brand "Year of the Dragon" Collection

Nike and Jordan Brand pulled out quite a few tricks for the Chinese Year of the Rabbit. Last year, they released special makeups of the Air Force 1, Air Jordan VII Retro, and Air Jordan 2011, to name only a few. 2012 brings the Year of the Dragon, and with it, a diverse, yet entirely stunning collection of shoes from the brands behind the Swoosh and the Jumpman. In the spirit of the common idiom that “dragons rise out of four seas,” the two brands will release a total of four shoes. Jordan Brand will use the occasion to bring in the Air Jordan 2012, the latest addition to the Jordan legacy line. With a combination of Flywire and adjustable inner booties and missiles, the 2012 takes the best of recent performance technologies and makes them collide for a unique playing experience. This golden yellow, Carolina blue, and deep blue makeup of the shoe tributes the Chinese occasion in imperial style. Another adjustable basketball shoe in the collection is the Zoom Kobe VII Supreme, dressed in festive shades of red, green, and yellow that harken back to Kobe Bryant’s Italian roots and his love of kung-fu movies. Anyone looking to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a simple pair of kicks can look forward to the Air Force 1 Supreme TZ in the collection. Unlike last year’s bright “Year of the Rabbit” AF1, this year’s AF1 has an entirely black base, but brings some vibrancy with an all-white sole, dragon robe-inspired material, and attributive insole. Fans of the Air Force 1 can also look forward to a Nike Destroyer jacket that will release in tandem with the shoe. The last sneaker in the commemorative collection, and perhaps the most talked-about, is the Green Abyss/Bright Mango Zoom KD IV. With its dazzling water-ripple design on the medial strap and inclusion of bold colors, the KD IV is sure to be an attention-grabber for many. As of now, the only sneaker in the collection with an official release date is the Air Force 1, slated to be released on Saturday, January 14 at some high-power Nike retailers (House of Hoops, official Nike stores, Tier Zero accounts, etc.), and Sunday, January 15 at others, like 21 Mercer. Check back on Sole Camp in the near future for release dates of the rest of the collection, and hit the jump for additional looks of each sneaker.  (more…)

Hey everyone! Even though Sole Camp has been running for over one-and-a-half years already, this is my first sidebar! I felt like I needed to make this when I found out about a certain shoe…

Air Jordan 2011 Ray Allen "3-Point Record" PE

Earlier today, a picture of this Air Jordan 2011 Ray Allen PE leaked onto the web. This 2011 has a white eyestay, midsole, and pull-tab, a green lining and tongue, a gold outsole and tongue tab (that also features the Ray Allen signature and “2,561″ [the record number of threes Ray set]), and a gold/green “shell”. Honestly, I think that the 2011 Ray Allen PE looks magnificent! The gold on the shell makes the shoe look like a trophy in itself, while the green on it gives it some Celtic flare. In addition, the gold shell-tip reminds me of Ray Allen’s “Finals” Air Jordan XI PE from 2008. The placement of the three-point number on the shoe (2,561) also makes the sneaker more significant than just a Celtics-colored shoe, such as…

Air Jordan XIII Retro Ray Allen "3-Point Record" PE

…the White/Clover Air Jordan XIII that Ray Allen wore to break the record in and that released back in July of this year. When I first discovered that the Ray Allen XIII was actually releasing, I was kind-of excited that I might have the opportunity to possess a Ray Allen-sneaker; the shoe of my favorite player in the NBA who is not a New York Knick. However, I soon enough looked beyond the fact that it was a Ray Allen PE, and realized that A, I am not a big fan of the Air Jordan XIII at all, and B, I don’t think I would like wearing such a simply colorblocked white and green shoe. In fact, excluding the Ray signature, the shoe has an eerily similar colorway to the White/Black-Varsity Red XIII that re-released late last year, which sat on shelves for a while in some places. After the Ray Allen 2011 was revealed earlier today, I was just confused as to why Jordan Brand decided to go with the rather plain colorway of the XIII over the pretty radical trophy-like colorway of the 2011. I probably would have put some effort into getting the 2011, even if hype was high and quantity was low on it. It would have been the perfect commemoration for Ray Allen’s groundbreaking three-point record. Alas, Jordan Brand disappoints me (Picture via Sneaker News).

Upcoming NIKEiD Products for Summer/Fall 2011

Are you a fan of NIKEiD, Nike’s sneaker customization service? If so, then you will have a lot to look forward to in the next couple months. In the months of July, August, and September, Nike is set to drop some pretty cool silhouettes onto the NIKEiD website. This upcoming Wednesday, July 20th, two of the Nike Sportswear Hyperfuse models will make their way onto the service: The Air Max 1 Hyperfuse and Dunk High Hyperfuse. The Air Max 90 Hyperfuse will join the first two on Wednesday, August 31th. Other models, like the P-Rod 5, Air Jordan 2011, and Air Force 1 will also release on NIKEiD in this period. Check below for a complete list of NIKEiD release dates for the upcoming months.  (more…)

Air Jordan 2011 "Warrior Pack"

Jordan Fly Wade "Radiant Green" & "Orion Blue"

Tomorrow, Thursday, June 8th, Jordan Brand is launching a whole set of Air Jordan 2011′s, and a duo of new Fly Wade’s. The “Warrior Pack” of 2011′s will finally release, despite the numerous release date setbacks it has faced. You will now be able to “choose” for “your flight” from three very hot colorways (“Neo Lime”, “Wolf Grey”, & “Orion Blue”). In addition, the “Radiant Green” and “Orion Blue” colorways of the Fly Wade look nice for the summer; simple, yet striking! You can pick up all of these Jordans tomorrow, at your local Jordan Brand retailer (Photos courtesy of Extra Butter & Jordan on Facebook).

Air Jordan 2011 “Orion Blue”, “Neo Lime”, & “Wolf Grey”

Air Jordan 2011 "Orion Blue", "Neo Lime", & "Wolf Grey"

Haven’t we heard this story before? Once again, Jordan Brand has delayed the release of arguably the three hottest colorways of the Air Jordan 2011 so far. While the three pairs have dropped at places overseas like Titan, they will release in the U.S. on June 9th, as opposed to May 21st.

Air Force 1 Low Premium “Denim/Bronze”

Air Force 1 Low Premium "Denim/Bronze"

Since Jake showed you all the “Denim/Bronze” Air Force 1′s at the beginning of this month, a slew of pictures of the shoe have emerged, revealing the true beauty of the shoe. The raw denim upper, gum outsole, bronze accents, and unique Nike branding on this Air Force 1 make it a true standout of the more recent Air Force 1′s. The “Denim/Bronze” Air Force 1 will however launch about a week later than expected, now on May 28th. You can check Hypebeast for some more pictures of these Air Force 1′s.

Recently, there has been a lot of confusion and commotion surrounding recent Air Jordan, Nike SB, and LeBron 8 P.S. releases. With this post I will try to clear things up:

Nike SB Quickstrike Delays

The supposed 4/20 Dunk for 2011, the “Cheech & Chong” SB Dunk High, has caused a lot of confusion. As the special day neared, no one knew for sure whether the shoe was releasing or not. Apparently, the “Cheech & Chong” is now releasing in May. However, where does that leave the more-anticipated “Space Jam” SB Dunk Low? That shoe is now releasing in July, leaving room for the Brooklyn Projects-designed “Reign in Blood” SB Dunk High to release in June. Stick with Sole Camp for more information on these quickstrikes as it is revealed (Pictures via ISS & High Snobiety)

Tokyo23 Pack – Japan Only

Exactly a month ago, Jake revealed the “Tokyo23″ Air Jordan V & CP3.IV in hopes of them hitting the states. However, it looks like this pack will not release in the U.S., as it released at Nike Harajuku this weekend and there is still no information about a U.S. release. Your best bet, if you want one of these hot yellow kicks, is eBay, unfortunately (Pictures via Sneaker News).

Air Jordan Delays

Air Jordan 6-17-23 "College Blue"

About a week ago, Jake informed you all about three new colorways of the Air Jordan 2011 that were supposed to release yesterday. In addition, a new colorway of the Jordan 6-17-23 (which we have not posted about yet), was also supposed to release yesterday. However, the “College Blue” 6-17-23, and the “Wolf Grey”, “Orion Blue”, & “Neo Lime” Air Jordan 2011′s will all release on May 21st (Pictures via Sneaker News here & here).

LeBron 8 P.S. – 3 New Colorways Available for Pre-Order on NikeStore

LeBron 8 P.S.: "Royal", "Away", and "Dunkman"

Last month, the first colorway of the LeBron 8 P.S., a “Home” version, released to Nike Basketball retailers. On May 13th, 3 more colorways of the shoe will launch, but you can secure your pair early this time around! For the first time in recent memory, NikeStore has allowed people to pre-order shoes, in this case the “Royal”, “Away”, and even the supposedly-exclusive “Dunkman” colorways of the LeBron 8 P.S. Order away at NikeStore.

Air Jordan VII Retro "Year of the Rabbit" - May 7th, 2011

Air Jordan 2011 "Orion Blue", "Neo Lime", & "Wolf Grey" - April 30th, 2011

Need a fix of Jordans in the next couple weeks? Jordan Brand’s response? “No problem.” Exactly a week from today, three new colorways of the Air Jordan 2011 will release: the ”Orion Blue”, “Neo Lime” (previously knows as the “Electric Green” colorway), and “Wolf Grey” colorways. And just a week after that? The “Year of the Rabbit” Air Jordan VII Retro. Pretty sweet, right? (Pictures via Sneaker News and Jordan Brand)