On the heels of our first look at the Air Max Darwin 360 comes a different take on updating one of 1994′s top Nike Basketball releases.  The Nike Air Maestro Flight is a takeoff on the first shoe Scottie Pippen wore as leader of the Chicago Bulls in the wake of Michael Jordan’s first retirement, a shoe immortalized on the league’s biggest stage when Pip rocked an all-red pair to the All Star Game at Target Center in Minneapolis.  The overall feel of the new silhouette is quite similar, though longtime heads will notice differences in how the overlay and Swoosh are layered, not to mention the addition of a visible Air cushion in the heel.  These upcoming colorways lean toward the early ’90s more than the period during which the OG Maestros were released; does this little piece of anachronism enhance a classic design with palettes that are considered a part of Nike’s ‘golden age’, or will purists be irritated that they didn’t get a simple Maestro retro release?  We’re leaning toward the former, and you can see more images after the jump to aide in your opinion.  Check out the pics, leave a comment to let us know what you think and stick with Sneaker News for the US release dates.  via SF

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Creating a great pair of tonal shoes can go a variety of ways within a relatively small range of colors, everything from simple monochromatic looks with cotton laces to something filled with a sampler of shades plus some neutral tones for balance.  The further you go to the second side of that scale, the more important it is to utilize textural contrast to make the shoe more than just a color study, and Mighty Crown might have just set the record for the most different materials used for a single color.  Their new Nike Dunk High Premium has as many different ways of showing the color black as parts spread across the two shoes in each pair, the end result looking like the AF1 Bespoke material samples ring tossed in a blender with black dye.  It’s totally crazy and yet absolutely serviceable as an all-black standby, certainly one of the more intriguing candidates for sleeper hit of 2011.  Click through to see more angles and expect these at top-tier Nike Sportswear accounts on October 14th.

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Just as Air Jordans III and IV offered a look at how well grey tones can buffer high contrast colorways in the late ’80s, the Air Jordan IX ‘Olive’ proved to the world that earth tones can indeed accompany black and red to improve their casual versatility.  We haven’t seen the Olive Nines in over nine years now, but apparently that wasn’t always Jordan Brand’s plan, as a deluxe take on this OG design was created as a sample for the Premio Bin 23 collection.  The final Air Jordan IX Premio turned out to be white and gold, but now that we can see the Olive-esque sample edition in a full video courtesy of the same guy who leaked the initial images of this nixed sample back on the first of the month, do you agree the right choice was made?  Click through to see more of the AJ9 Bin 23 sample in question, let us know what you think and stick with Sneaker News for more rare Air Jordan samples and player exclusives.  via Stickie213

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It’s not like they haven’t already had a banner year with notable releases including the Nike Sportswear Hyperfuse series, Air Jordan 2011 and Fly Wade and a host of new options for standby models, butNIKEiD has once again managed to raise the bar in 2011.  Check out the new glow-in-the-dark option available on the Nike Zoom Hyperdunk 2011 iD, an unprecedented feature that’s sure to attract as much sneakerhead attention online as the finished product is guaranteed to garner in the streets.  Now that you’ve gotta make your 1 of 1s with low light viewing in mind, will that change how you design the custom color combo?  Have a look at the first sample pair and let us know which colorways will translate best to this new look.

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Aside from the obligatory Bob Marley incense sold at pretty much every shopping mall, it’s not all that common to see a reggae act collaborate with commercial products.  But that’s not the case for arguably the most successful non-Jamaican sound system in the entire world, Japan’s Mighty Crown.  Going on twenty years of doing all kinds of delightful things with dub plates, Mighty Crown has already shown us a Dunk High Premium on the way in celebration of their two decades, but that clearly wasn’t all they have in the works with Nike Sportswear.  This new Mighty Crown x Nike Sky Force 88 Low Quickstrike is considerably quieter than the Dunks when it comes to sheer number of textures, but a macro snake skin print on the combination of glossy patent leather and reflective 3M makes for one heckuva standout shoe in its own right.  Click through to see more images and stick with Sneaker News for the exact release date of this October drop.  via Warped

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Watching the evolution of what was once the Sport Culture division into Nike Sportswear in 2008 and the three-plus years since gives sneakerheads a bird’s eye view on the changing world of release distribution.  What was once a steady supply of a few select retro models accompanied by appropriated casual defaults has become a market split between brand new lifestyle designs, hybrids and tech-upgrades along with the all-timers, this latest release the latest occurance of the updating of a cult favorite.  The Nike Air Max Darwin 360 takes its name and silhouette from Hall of Fame forward Dennis Rodman‘s 1994 signature look, adding a full-length Max Air cushion and updated materials on the upper to make this battle tested throwback even better.  Click through for some more images, let us know which colorway is best and stay tuned to Sneaker News for the US release dates on these summer 2012 drops.  via CK

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As we mentioned earlier when we showed you the sweet Burgundy/Gum Air Force 1 High, the autumn weather demands seasonal colorways, but you’ll see a higher frequency of high-cut sneakers. The low-tops are a thing for the summer, and Air Force 1 High is a common shoe during the colder, crisper months, and this new AF1 High release, which features two types of two-toned blocking (Obsidian and White, alternate perforations) might be one of the easiest pick-ups of the month. With Air Force 1′s, you can’t ever go wrong with these types of simple colorways, and as baseball postseason starts to heat up, expect these Uptowns to be rocked freely…uptown, where the New York Yankees are the talk of the town. Extra Butter has ‘em in stock, so check out the pics below and cop a pairr now on eBay.

Nike Air Force 1 High
Obsidian/White
315121-402

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Jordan Brand has the ambitious task of re-inventing its most historic models in such a way that contemporary methods of performance basketball sneakers are utilized without compromising the legendary design of the Air Jordan Legacy. We saw a first attempt with the Air Jordan 2.0, which featured the Air Jordan II upper with a basketball-specific full-length Max Air sole. For the Air Jordan 8.0, Jordan Brand implemented the lightweight, no-sew upper construction with Flywire on the crossing mid-foot straps; the lightweight yet sturdy upper and Flywire are common details seen in today’s most advanced basketball kicks like the Nike Hyperdunk 2011 and upcoming Nike LeBron 9, and combined with the iconic design of the Air Jordan VIII, the Air Jordan 8.0 seamlessly meshes unmistakable style with unparalleled function. The ‘graffiti’ like print on the heel-guard of the Air Jordan VIII has also been revamped, as this new White/Metallic Silver-Varsity Red-Stealth colorway features a new paint-splatter detail. Europe’s Afew has these in stock right now so check out the detailed gallery below and look out for these at stateside Jordan Brand retailers soon.

Air Jordan 8.0
White/Metallic Silver-Varsity Red-Stealth
467807-101

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It truly is something special when a professional athlete players for the team he or she grew up watching, and unfortunately, that doesn’t happen quite as often as we’d like. That’s why there was a collective celebration when Carmelo Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks, despite arguments made by NBA analysts that the Knicks might’ve overpaid to get Melo in Orange and Blue. What matters is that Carmelo Anthony is indeed a New York Knicks – possibly for the rest of his career, and playing alongside the best power-forward in the game in Amare’ Stoudemire will only make the Knicks a perennial contender (throw in Chris Paul in the mix and you’ve got quite a monster hand). The Jordan Melo M8 will be Carmelo’s first signature shoe as New York Knick (the M7 came as a Nugget), and here we have an on-foot image of the ‘Home’ Knicks colorway. The Melo M8 is a performance-driven shoe, with an outsole traction engineered specifically to Melo’s signature jap-step-spin move. Check out the extra shot below and let us know what you think of the Melo M8. via godjewels.

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Any time a mysterious package arrives from Jordan Brand, our ears perk right up. So when a large box showed up with a JB return address yesterday, we dove right in to find a huge black box emblazoned with a jumbo Jumpman logo across the top with the tagline “EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.” printed along the front lip. Inside the package was every aspiring athlete’s dream – a full kit of Jordan training gear carefully considered to cover everything one could need from head to toe. The obvious standout item was a black/white pair of the new Jordan Trunner LX 11, a retooled and revamped version of the popular Jordan training/running shoe – featuring a strapped-up woven laceless upper sitting atop a Phylon midsole with a large visible Max Air unit in the heel.

To the left of the Trunners, a water bottle and super-cool Jumpman branded (PRODUCT) RED iPod Nano sit embedded in a layer of foam which lifts up to reveal even more goodies. In addition to a DRI-FIT Jordan t-shirt and shorts, also included in the workout-themed package was a drawstring bag containing a set of Embark resistance cords to help put all this training gear right to work. The cherry on top is a set of Beats by Dre headphones to go with the iPod, ensuring that you’re ready to hit the gym or track in style and comfort from the shoes on your feet to the sounds in your ears. Unfortunately, this amazing package is not expected to hit retail, but the shoe is available now at JB retailers in a variety of colorways. Check out some pics of the “Every. Single. Day.” Trunner LX 11 box after the jump and a big thanks to Jordan Brand for getting us well-equipped for training season.

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It’s not a runner-turned-trail shoe like the MT580, but the New Balance ML574 has indeed taken on a rugged look for fall.  Four new colorways are split between the classic navy or black plus grey and white look that the New Englanders are famous for, while the other two actively co-opt outdoorsy aesthetics with a couple of distinct palettes finished off with corded boot laces.  Do you prefer the traditional look or something with the look of an all-in-one footwear solution for tough conditions?  Click through to see more of each pair, let us know what you think and stick with Sneaker News for updates on the US availability.  via Kasina.

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Off the Wall has been absolutely killing it with some subtle yet stellar tonal designs over the past couple years, and these latest releases from Vans Vault can stand alongside any of those recent highlights thanks to another simply satisfying theme.  The Vans Vault Snakeskin Pack applies a reptillian texture to select leather elements on these new Vans Switchbacks (first time as a Vault release), Mountain Editions and Slip-Ons, each model in two new colorways save the last in three.  It’s all clean stuff that you could see yourself wearing on a variety of occasions; which pair is the overall winner?  Have a look at the whole set before you make your decision, then look for these at top tier Vans retailers.  via HS

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