2021 - Upping the Sneaker Game

Gear Review

Sneaker Collection Journey

*Building a curated rotation of classic staples and future favorites.*

4

Current Pairs

3

Retired Pairs

4

Future Targets

6

Years of Collecting

Table of Contents

• ①Section I — Current Collection
• ②Section II — Future Acquisitions
• ③Section III — Performance & Reflections

Section I

Section I — Current Collection

I began my quest to build a sneaker collection in 2019, focusing on classic staples. Now, I'm feeling confident enough to venture into the $100-$200 segment, exploring Air Jordans, Air Max, and other iconic Nike styles. This versatile set of four pairs provides great options for various occasions.

 

• →White Adidas Stan Smith — Size 9.5
• →White Converse All Star — Size 9.5
• →White Nike Air Force 1 — Size 9 (Special pair)
• →Black Nike Miler React — Size 10 (Daily driver)

The Air Force 1s are my special pair, while the Nike Milers and Stan Smiths serve as my daily drivers. The Stan Smiths and All Stars are great for casual outfits, and the Milers double as trainers.

Retired Shoes

• →Adidas Superstar
• →Puma Suede
• →Red Onitsuka Serrano — Size 9.5

Section II

Section II — Future Acquisitions

I'm considering the following future acquisitions, with a goal to limit my collection to 7-10 sneakers at a time (excluding dress shoes):

• →Nike Air Jordan 1 — Researching colorways for a new special pair.
• →Nike Air Max 90 — Eyeing for the chunky look and black casual versatility.
• →Nike Air Force 1 — Looking for a different colorway.
• →Adidas Superstar — A replacement pair, perhaps in a bold colorway to experiment.

Section III

Section III — Performance & Reflections

I often evaluate comfort and style before committing to a purchase. My experience with the Nike Miler React serves as a lesson in prioritizing foot support over initial impressions.

Item	Status	Insight
Nike Air Max Excee	Not Purchased	Looked better than the React, but passed for comfort.
Nike Miler React	Retired	Fell short on long-distance comfort; caused foot pain.
Adidas Superstar	Former Pair	Provided better support than the React foam.

Update Logs

### 9/5/2022 In hindsight, the Air Max would have been a better choice. The Milers haven’t provided the long-distance comfort I anticipated, and I found better foot support in simple Adidas Superstars than in the Milers with their React Foam.

### 10/20/2025 Finally retired the Milers after 4 years, but honestly should have retired them much sooner. While they became a backup pair of sneakers that I kept in the car, whenever I did use them my feet would hurt after a mile or so.

Always prioritize comfort and fit over aesthetics for your daily rotation.