Sole Camp

Many call Memorial Day Weekend the kickoff to summer. In New York, with the weather at a very solid mid-80′s range and the sun shining in the sky, I could agree. With such beautiful weather, Dylan and I made getting out of the house a must for this weekend. While out of the house, we went to three sneaker stores.

Saturday was a pretty nice day! To start, my dad, Dylan, and I got pizza in Port Washington at an old favorite pizzeria of ours, Carlo’s Pizza. We always use to go there before seeing movies when Dylan and I were younger. I don’t know why that had to change, as going to Carlo’s again made me remember how amazing their pizza is! After lunch, we decided to pay Sneakerology/Exit 36 a visit. Earlier that morning, I was emailing with Lori, their store manager, about the Air Jordan VI Infrared Pack. Furthermore, I was wearing an Exit 36 shirt that went perfectly with my “Larry Perkins” Dunk Lows. So, we figured, why not go there? Like the last time I reported on a visit to Exit 36, Jesse was there. This time, he had on a pair of “Space Jam Air Jordan XI’s. I also spotted a pair of “Raygun” Dunk Lows on a different employee’s feet. Exit 36 had all of the recent Jordan releases, with some more limited releases still in stock (like the “Silver Anniversary” Air Jordan IV Retro). They also had some Jordan apparel, like a pair of white and blue shorts that would go perfect with the “Powder Blue”/University Blue Air Jordan IX Retro that just released. The Nike shoes at Exit 36 were pretty good too. The one pair that absorbed any and all attention I had was not in the Exit 36 section of the store, but rather, in Sneakerology: The “Neon” Air Max 24/7. When I saw the shoe, I had to try it on! So, Jesse got me a pair from the back. With Max Air, the shoe is definitely comfortable. The waffle-like sole also really makes walking with the 24/7′s on a different experience. Finally, aesthetically, the shoe looks even better than the “Neon” Air Max 95, in my opinion. In the end, though, I did not get a pair. The one thing holding me back was the price for a pair: $160. That’s even more expensive than Air Jordan Retros! Perhaps if I wasn’t thinking about getting the Infrared Pack, I would get a pair. For now, I had to pass. Before we left Exit 36, Lori made sure to remind us that Exit 36 would be getting in around 50 pairs of the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1 for release this Saturday. After finishing talking to Lori, we said our goodbyes and left the store.

Now, fast forward to today, May 31st, known to many as Memorial Day. Today, the weather was probably one of the nicest I’ve experienced in a while! The sun wasn’t beating down too hard on us, and thus, both the temperature and scenery were perfect! First, we went to the Grand Lux Café in Roosevelt Field Mall for lunch. After, though, is when the fun really started. Right after lunch, we took a stop to a store that we’ve never been to before. Residing in Carle Place, NY, is Poets Skate Shop. Poets has been in the game for quite some time already. While they only opened up their current Carle Place location in August 2008, owners (and skaters themselves) Gino Ianucci and Matt Bell initially opened up Poets as a low key test project in 2001. Thus, they have had a Nike SB account since the brand started. It is located at 351 Westbury Ave. When you get around the area, Poets should be pretty noticeable, as it stands alone, and is pretty big, to boot. I didn’t really go into Poets expecting much of a change from the normal skate shop shoe selection, and my expectations were correct. Most notably, Poets had Adidas skate shoes, and of course, a fine selection of Nike SB’s. They had recent releases from the past few months of Dunk Lows, Dunk Highs, Blazers, Bruins, Janoski’s, Salazar’s, and so on. In addition, Poets had a wide collection of apparel from Nike SB, HUF, and other brands. From the get go, I could tell that Poets weren’t playing at all. Right when we came into the store, Matt came out from behind, welcomed us, and told us that if we needed anything, just come to the back and ask him. After browsing the mass of sneakers, one really stood out to me. That shoe was a Black/Solar Orange Dunk High that is part of the June 2010 Nike SB releases. When I first saw the shoe online, it looked horrid, to say the least. What limited the sneaker’s appeal were the laces put on it. The black laces used in all of the pictures available online really don’t do the shoe justice. However, in Poets, the shoe was on display with orange laces, which really made the shoe stand out. So, I tried on a pair, and honestly, I was impressed. Although, I figured that the shoe would eventually be priced lower, and therefore, passed on it, for now. Afterwards, I asked Matt about the “Eric Koston” Dunk Low. He told me that Gino (Ianucci, of course) never ordered the lowtop Dunk for some reason, but that the “Eric Koston” Dunk High would release at the store on June 12th. Matt then told me to keep up with the Poets blog for more information on their shoes. I then proceeded to tell Matt about Sole Camp, so hopefully he’ll see this. Another thing Matt told me was that Poets collaborated with Nike SB on a Blazer set to release in August. I guess I’ll keep all of you posted on that. Before we left, Matt introduced himself to Dylan and I, and we introduced ourselves. Then, we headed out.

We didn’t end the day there, though. To finish the sneaker explorations of the weekend, we went to Extra Butter. When we got there, Dylan and I were greeted by Roose, and by Jason shortly after. Throughout the whole weekend, Extra Butter was having a Memorial Day Weekend sale, which they called “2-Fer’s”. Some of their products had a certain percentage off, but a majority of the apparel and shoes were two or three for X price. They had deals of 2-for-$100, 2-for-$150, and 2-for-$200. While the last deal may sound ridiculous, if you were in store to see what was on sale, you would understand, and definitely appreciate. They had Spizikes on the 2-for-$200 shelf. Spizikes normally retail for $175! They also had the “Blackout” Air Jordan 2010 on the same shelf (a $170 retailer)! For someone looking to make quick cash, or someone just looking for certain shoes for lower prices, Extra Butter’s sale was perfect. In addition to the higher-priced deals, Extra Butter had a rack of Nike and Jordan Brand apparel with a sign reading “3-for-$23″. Apparel from said brands usually retails for $30 at least! With not much of an inclination to buy any of the shoes on sale, Dylan and I decided to take up Extra Butter’s “3-Fer” on apparel. We got an Air Jordan 1 shirt (to go with Dylan’s AJKO’s) and two pairs of shorts (one being a pair of the “Aqua” shorts, made to match the “Aqua” Air Jordan Fusion 8, but that could go well with my “Aqua” Air Jordan VIII Retros, too). Aside from the stuff on sale, Extra Butter had some pretty exclusive sneakers in stock. They had one pair of the “Silver” Anniversary” Air Jordan XI left, in a size 9. Like I mentioned on Friday, Extra Butter got in the “Future Sole” Jordan Melo M6, which they said has been doing well, sales-wise. In addition to that, it’s a pretty nice shoe in person. The blue and yellow combination on the strap really pops off when contrasting against the black. While the Melo model was doing well, another shoe that Extra Butter only had two left of really blew it out of the water. When Extra Butter got the shoe, on the first day it was available, they sold around thirty pairs! What drove that many people to buy the shoe? Well, what else could besides for the ever-lovable Mickey Mouse. Yes, the shoe I am talking about is the Mickey Mouse adidas Originals sneaker, designed by none other than Jeremy Scott, the designer behind the adidas Wings shoes. The shoe is designed with red, white, and gold all around, but the real icing on the cake is the Mickey Mouse tongue. In person, while the shoe looks bigger than I expected, it is pretty awesome! Definitely a must-have for any Disney fan who is into sneakers! Jason made sure to get us on Extra Butter’s blog on Sneaker News before we left. For those who don’t know, Sneaker News has several subsidiary blogs on their website. On one blog, Extra Butter posts the shoes that they and friends wear. Now, we are on the blog. As you can see, Jason (Cinematic) was wearing a sneaker made by Vans in collaboration with Supreme. In addition, during the visit, we updated Jason on how we’ve been and what we’re doing for the summer. I have to say, the crew at Extra Butter is just an overall nice group of people who do their thing first and foremost to support the sneaker game, so please, do not sleep on their store! In addition, Jason told us that they had something special planned for the very near future. Stay tuned to Extra Butter’s actual blog for that. After we paid for the apparel, Dylan and I said our goodbyes to the cool-as-ever Extra Butter crew and left.

Overall, I would have to say I had a pretty cool Memorial Day Weekend. I went to some sneaker spots and enjoyed the beautiful weather, which is good on my part! Until the next post, I will bid my adieu to you all!

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Nike Air Max 95 "Comet"

Nike Air Max 24/7 "Chili"

Nike just keeps going and going with the summer-friendly sneaker releases! Under Jordan Brand, the University Blue Air Jordan IX Retro released today. Under the Nike Sportswear division, the Jones Beach-inspired Air Force 1 released yesterday. In addition to those, Nike has released two red hot Air Max models just in time for summer!

First, there’s the “Comet” Air Max 95. Like all 95′s, the “Comet” colorway has a gradient-friendly upper, with paneled color blocking. Unorthodox from other Air Max 95′s is the use of white, as opposed to only grey and black. In fact, white takes up a majority of the upper, as the tongue, lower panel, toebox, laces, and netting on the shoe are all white. The midsole is also white. Grey and black are not missing, though, as they take up some of the paneling the inner lining, and the outsole of the shoe. Finally, the Comet Red, found on the shoe’s swoosh, eyelets, and Air Max unit, really pops off the shoe. For now, I can only wonder how bright ted red would look in person, contrasting agains the white tongue and netting. I would have to imagine that it’d look pretty bright, though! (Picture via HighSnobiety)

In addition to the “Comet” Air Max 95, when NikeStore got the “Neon” Air Max 24/7 in, they snuck in a new colorway of the hybrid model: “Chili”. The “Chili” colorway is another borrowed colorway from the Air Max 95. This Air Max 24/7 features the “grey-dient” upper of most Air Max 95′s, while sporting netting and an overall upper more similar to the Air Max 97, and a sole that highly resembles the Air Max 360 sole. It actually looks the exact same as the “Neon” Air Max 24/7, except the Volt is switched for a Chili red. You will be able to pick both of these Air Maxes up from your local Nike retailers within the next few days.

Air Jordan IX Retro White/University Blue-Black ("Powder Blue")

From the looks of the shoes that are releasing within the next couple of weeks, it really looks like summer is starting. June 12th will bring us the white-and-red “Bulls” Air Jordan VI Retro. Today, the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1 made its official 2010 debut. Tomorrow, Saturday, May 29th, the supposed “Powder Blue” Air Jordan IX Retro will release to Jordan Brand retailers across the nation. I say assumed because initially, when word of a white and blue IX Retro hit the web, everyone mistake the shoe for the “Powder Blue” Air Jordan IX. While the shoe has the same exact color blocking as the original “Powder Blue” Air Jordan IX, it uses University Blue, as opposed to the darker Powder Blue. So, the upper and outsole use white, while black and University Blue fill any and all other parts of the shoe. From seeing these in real life (Dylan has a pair), I can honestly say that this shoe is a perfect way to start off the Air Jordan IX mania that will take over 2010. The shoe is beyond clean, and the blue just pops off the shoe! So, if you agree with me on this shoe being clean, then go pick up a pair at your local Jordan Brand retailer, starting tomorrow. (Picture via Jordan Brand)

"Future Sole" Jordan Melo M6

The release was only announced just about a week ago, but that week has passed. The “Future Sole” Jordan Melo M6 is set to release tomorrow, Saturday, May 29th. Ever since Austin Jermacans won the 2009 Future Sole design competition with the silhouette pictured above, people have been clamoring for a release. Carmelo Anthony wearing the shoe in several different colorways was a good sign for these people. Now, the release is set in stone. This updated version of the Melo M6 has some new basketball-friendly features (the strap, a more lightweight and supportive composition, etc.), along with a sleek black upper, and University Blue and Taxi accents. Lastly, the shoe has a “Future Sole” imprint by the strap. This shoe will be released as a Limited Quickstrike, as in, only releasing at certain retailers, and in limited quantities. For you New Yorkers, check WestNYC and Extra Butter.

Nike Air Force 1 Premium "Jones Beach"

Dylan told you about the re-release about a month back, and now, the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1 is set to re-release exclusively at Street Gear NYC tomorrow, Friday, May 28th. For those who missed Dylan’s post, the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1 was designed by Street Gear NYC manager Rich, in commemoration of the famous Long Island beach. The tan-colored canvas and leather upper stands for the sands of the beach. Further, the designs on the leather by the heel are inspired from the little bit of grass that grows on the actual beach part of Jones Beach. The ice blue seen on the outsole, tongue tab, and back of the shoe symbolize the ocean. Some additional details on the shoe are a picture of Long Island on the outsole, the latitude and longitude of Jones Beach on the back of the shoe, and on the insole, an additional picture of Long Island with the words “Strong Island”. Overall, in addition to being a great tribute shoe to Long Island, I think that the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1 is an amazing summer shoe. The light colors on the shoe are perfect for the bright sun. The canvas material also has a nice look in the amazing weather. Finally, who could doubt the awesomeness of the shoe’s tinted clear outsole, shining beautifully in the sun?  If you want to make the shoe pop off even more, you could switch the white laces for ice blue laces!

In addition, Rich collaborated with Nike and made a “1 of 1″ version of the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1. That version of the shoe has “1 of 1″ on the back, replacing the “Nike Air” logo. Also, the shoe comes in a premium box, made out of wood, that contains a description on the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1. Rich gave the sneaker to Jones Beach Rescue, who will use the shoe as a fundraiser. If you are free tomorrow, be sure to get to Street Gear NYC early in the morning, as the shoe will release there at 10 AM tomorrow, sharp. If you have school, like I do, though, do not fret. While Street Gear NYC will be the first store to release the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1, other stores, around the Long Island area, and in very few cases, all across the nation, will release the shoe a week or two after Street Gear NYC will. For example, Extra Butter is set to release the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1 exactly a week after Street Gear NYC will, on Friday, June 4th. Exit 36 and Sneaker Bistro will also be receiving the shoe, but with no confirmed release date at press time. Besides for the Long Island sneaker boutiques, some chain sneaker stores on Long Island will get the shoe, and even some stores nowhere near New York, like Nice Kicks’ sneaker boutique in Austin, TX, will get the shoe. In short, the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1 will be nowhere as limited as in the last release. So, don’t sweat it if you can’t make it to Street Gear NYC tomorrow at 10 AM, but definitely try and get a pair of the “Jones Beach” Air Force 1s before they’re all scooped up! (Picture via HighSnobiety)

Air Jordan Alpha 1 Black/Varsity Royal-White

Air Jordan Alpha 1 Black/Varsity Maize-White

June is just right around the corner, with only four days left in May after tonight, and with a new month come new general releases from footwear companies. In addition to all of the Team Jordan’s, for the month of June, Jordan Brand has two Air Jordan Alpha 1 colorways in store. Earlier in the month, I showed you all the Varsity Royal Alpha 1, so the shoe should already be familiar to you. In addition to the Royal colorway, though, Jordan Brand is releasing a Varsity Maize Alpha 1. This Alpha 1 is similar to the Air Jordan 1 Retro of the same colorway that released in the Old Love New Love Pack (also known as the Beginning Moments Pack). The Varsity Maize Alpha 1 has all of the same features of the Air Jordan Alpha 1, suited perfectly for basketball courts all around the world. What’s ironic is that the Black/Varsity Maize-White Air Jordan 1 Retro in the Pack was made to commemorate MIchael Jordan’s newfound love for motorcycle racing, while this Alpha 1 makes the colorway efficient for basketball, his old love! Anyways, be on the lookout at your local retailers for both of the Air Jordan Alpha 1s pictured above, or purchase a pair from NikeStore now.

Nike Blazer High Vintage Varsity Red & Varsity Royal

I have never been a huge fan of the Nike Blazer, which is one of Nike’s classic Basketball sneakers, and now one of their regularly released models. None of it’s colorways as a Skateboarding shoe have stood out to me (besides for the Uber-Exclusive Supreme Blazers), and is has always took the back-seat to the Dunk and Air Force 1 as the ultimate sportswear shoe that was made for Basketball. However, I am a huge sucker for the vintage look, featured on the recent AJKO retros, and since early 2009, on the Nike Blazer! In February 2009, Nike Sportswear released the “Vintage Glory” Blazer pack, featuring red, blue, and green suede Blazers, which each had off-white elements, and a bright suede upper that shined defiantly compared to the vintage elements of the shoes.

In June 2010, Nike will unleash two more colorways of the Vintage Blazer, that is, in Varsity Red and Varsity Royal. In fact, these Blazers are very similar in color to the red and blue ones from last year, except the Blazers releasing this year don’t look as “wrecked” as the Suede Vintage Blazers from last year. Be sure to look out for these two stunners in June, and also hit the jump for more pictures of the Varsity Red and Varsity Royal Blazers, a view of the “Vintage Glory” pack from last February, and a preview of two more Suede Vintage Blazers slated to release in Fall 2010 in Yellow Grey and Blue Grey colorways respectively. (more…)

Air Jordan Fusion 12 Obsidian/White-French Blue

Last year, three Air Jordan XIIs released, with two being Retros of older colorways. Sadly, as the “Cherry” and “Red Playoff” colorways of the XII racked up their third releases each, one colorway of the XII that remains un-Retroed is the “Obsidian” colorway (sans the low-top Obsidian XII). Well, at the end of August, we will get somewhat close to a Retro: An Obsidian/White-French Blue Air Jordan Fusion 12. Unlike many recent AJFs released, the Fusion 12 keeps many of the attributes of the Nike Air Force 1, while simply complementing the silhouette with various Air Jordan XII features. The Fusion 12 is modeled after the Air Force 1 Mid and the Air Jordan XII. The shoe has the strap, sole, swoosh, and toebox of the Air Force 1 Mid. The rest of the attributes of this Fusion 12 are of the Air Jordan XII. The heel and tongue have Jordan tabs. The shoe borrows the speed laces of the XII. Furthermore, the Fusion 12 uses the sun ray stitching found on the sun-inspired Air Jordan XII. And what better of a colorway to release the Air Jordan Fusion 12 in than the original Obsidian/White-French Blue colorway? Look for this Air Jordan Fusion 12 in Jordan Brand retailers when it releases in late August. Hit the jump for more pictures. (more…)

Air Jordan IX Retro White/University Blue ("Un-Powder")

Almost exactly a month ago from today, I gave you all a detailed look at an upcoming IX Retro in an “Un-Citrus” colorway. Well, a few days ago, another all-new IX Retro was revealed. This take on the Air Jordan IX comes in a White/University Blue-Black “Un-Powder” colorway. The mesh tongue, laces, lace holders, heel tab, and perforated leather on the shoe all have a University Blue shade. The bordering leather and entire sole are white, while the only hints of black on the shoe are black contrast stitching on the University Blue leather, black inner lining, and a black embroidered symbol on the back of the shoe. Said symbol looks like a hybrid between a heart and a basketball. The inspiration behind the symbol is unknown for now. Further information on the shoe should come eventually. All I can say, for now, is that IX fans will definitely be satisfied after this year is over. Right now, proof of seven Air Jordan IX Retros has been revealed to the public. These IX Retros include the already-released “Silver Anniversary” colorway, the “Powder Blue” colorway releasing this weekend, and others! So, stay tuned to Sole Camp for more information on the “Un-Powder” Air Jordan IX Retro, and check the jump for more pictures. (more…)

Usually, when reporting on DunkXChange, I tend to give you guys a huge story, and then add some pictures at the end of the post. My posting philosophy has changed, though. In order for you to get the best coverage, I will mainly tell you guys about my Sunday through the pictures. For now, let’s start with the day.

Before Dylan and I headed over to DunkXChange, I sold my pair of “Purple Pigeon” Nike SB Dunk Lows for $190 to a person with whom I arranged a meet-up with beforehand. This took place right after we got into the city via the Long Island Railroad. Otherwise, the day was not too eventful, until DunkXChange, that is. We took a taxi down to SoHo, got pizza at Mario’s Pizza ($3 for two great slices of pizza…not bad at all, right?), and then headed for DunkXChange. After a somewhat-extensive wait on the line, we were in. Now, here are the pictures.

To start, my "Space Tiger" Nike SB Dunk Lows. There was a possibility of rain for the day, so I decided not to bring out something that I would mind getting wrecked by rain, but yet, was still pretty cool.

Now, here are the actual DunkXChange pictures. As at all DunkXChanges, the new releases were definitely prevalent throughout. Check the recent Air Jordan releases (White AJKO's, "Powder Blue" IX Retros, the two General Release II Retros of 2010, and others) and the Copper Foamposites, courtesy of SneakerBum.com!

What really dominated the scene, as always, though, were the older, more exclusive releases. This picture, detailing a booth that one of my friends (named Justin) took part in, has some pretty cool shoes, like the "De La Soul" Nike SB Dunk High, "Jedi" SB Dunk Low, "Infrared" Air Max 90, and Air Jordan IX Mike Bibby PE.

One of the very different parts about this DunkXChange, in comparison to others this year, were some of the dealer booths. After Sneaker Con the day before (another sneaker exchange event that took place last weekend), WindyCitySole.com made an appearance at DunkXChange, with their extensive stock of brand new condition shoes!

Here is the collection of Jordan's that WindyCitySole brought with them to DXC. In particular, check out the Air Jordan XX3 Premier Titanium Editions in the front, and the "Eminem" Air Jordan II Retro all the way in the back!

I normally see a lot of Air Jordan's at DunkXChange, though. What really caught my eye, out of WindyCitySole's stuff, were some things on the table pictured above. They had some nice Air Max LeBron VII's (All-Star's, Dunkman's, Akron's, China Exclusive's, etc.), Zoom Kobe IV's and V's, Penny Hardaway-related shoes (Air Penny's and Foamposites), the "Tennis Ball" Hypermax, and a few awesome Air Maxes ("Infrared" Air Max 90, "Parra x Patta" Air Max 1, "112 Pack" Air Max 1, and "Kaws" Air Max 90 Current Premium)!

Here's another different booth at DunkXChange. A whole booth filled with OG Air Jordan's! There are some pretty nice OG's here, including OG "Grape" V's, White/Cement Grey IV's, and "Fire Red" III's!

Speaking of OG Jordan's, here's a pair that a friend of mine bought. OG "Carmine" VI's with a separated sole...for a measly $20!

My friend who bought the "Carmine" VI's is Mike. He wore the White/Cement Grey Air Jordan IV Retros pictured above. His pair is looking pretty fresh! In fact, seeing the White/Cement Grey IV's on peoples' feet at DunkXChange has really renewed my love for the Air Jordan IV. The afore mentioned and pictured colorway is way too nice!

Now here's a pair that you don't see too often..."Coraline" Dunk Highs!

This pair didn't even release at all! The Air Jordan XI-inspired Air Max LeBron VII!

You think the "Pigeon" Nike SB Dunk Low is super exclusive, at around 250 pairs? Then you must have never seen or heard of the "Motorsports" Air Jordan IV Retro. This shoe was made available exclusively for Michael Jordan's Motorsports team in 2007. Only a handful of pairs exist. At DunkXChange, someone had a pair of the elusive Jordan IV. I have to say, they're pretty nice! It's a shame that they're so limited...

Looking forward to the Air Jordan VI Infrared Pack coming out in a few weeks? Well, that's fine, but check the above picture for a truly awesome Infrared VI Pack: OG's!

As you can see from the selection of sneakers at the event, it was pretty good. In addition to me selling my “Purple Pigeon” Dunk Lows, my brother sold a pair of Zoom Stefan Janoski’s and bought a new pair of shoes (which can be found below). Before I go, though, I want to make some shoutouts:

Mario’s Pizza for making some awesome pizza!

Jason and Greg for hanging with us in SoHo for a bit during a DunkXChange break!

My dudes from the ISS NYC Thread: Mike, Justin, Stevie, Adam, and Mikey!

Chris, the guy who bought my “Purple Pigeon” Dunk Lows!

Before I sign off, here are two more pictures!

Dylan's pickup from DunkXChange...the "Powder Blue" Air Jordan IX Retro coming out this Saturday! He was able to pick up a pair from WindyCitySole almost a week early, for retail without tax! Major shout out to WindyCitySole for the shoes!

Courtesy of Justin, here's a picture of the shoes that my brother wore to the city: "?uestlove" Air Force 1s!

Well, that’s it! I may go to the recently-announced DunkXChange in June, or I may not. Before then, though, some big things are happening in the sneaker game. So, keep your eyes peeled to Sole Camp in the exciting weeks to come!