Nike Basketball’s Christmas Day 2011 Pack doesn’t have the cohesive theme that last year’s big three shared, but even without the unified backstory, each of these new pairs is arguably better than its counterpart from last year.  The LeBron 9 is quite similar to last year’s V/2s, so this new one wins on tech upgrades while the Zoom Kobe VII looks even wilder as a ‘Cheetah’ than last year’s model did posed as The Grinch.  And for Kevin Durant’s Nike Zoom KD IV, it’s a metallic bronze upper giving these a more upscale feel compared to the bright yellow KD3s, a look that brings just the right amount of bling to the holiday set.  These new images remind us these ship with black and red laces, and though they’re expected in select stores on Christmas Day, the release info remains something of a mystery.  Click through to see the details that are finalized on the ‘Christmas’ Zoom KD IV and stick with Sneaker News for word on the Chrismas Pack’s availability.  via HC

Nike Zoom KD IV ‘Christmas’
Metallic Copper/Black
473679-700

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Detroit’s Burn Rubber stole the New Balance spotlight last year, becoming one of the brand’s best received collaborators and securing a lofty spot in the Sneaker News Top 30 of 2010.  Store owner Rick Owens showed off his extensive NB collection over the summer, but in terms of a follow-up to last year’s superb MT580s, all we got was a pixelated teaser shot.  Seems like the photo was a bit misleading, because while the dark silhouette being hidden is clearly one of these upcoming Burn Rubber x New Balance MT580s, there are actually two pairs involved here.  One comes in navy blue with grey and golden accents to represent ‘blue collar’ while the black pair adds a soft beige and suggests a ‘white collar’ feel.  The Workforce Pack could have exploited the 99/1 meme that’s been so prominent in the public discourse this fall, but it skips the fighting and brings together these two ‘classes’ in perfect harmony.  Will you occupy the Burn Rubber x New Balance ‘Workforce Pack’ when they release next year?  New images of both pairs might aide in your decision, and be sure to check back with Sneaker News for the US release date.  via HS

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We just saw that the Air Jordan X Retro ‘Chicago’ scheduled to release in January will come with a brandnew hangtag setup; will that nice little detail be included on the other Tens slated for 2012?  If so, you can expect to see that translucent red ‘X’ on the ‘Old Royal’ edition set for February as well as this other all-new colorway that’s so fresh it has yet to receive a release date.  The Air Jordan 10 ‘Stealth’ is somewhere between the ‘Sacramento Kings’ and ‘Dark Shadow’ originals in terms of sheer darkness, this tonal black and dark grey design getting a bit of levity thanks to white on the outsole and sockliner.  These are another in a growing lineup of black/white kicks ready for the new year; will this one be your choice, and will they be your pick of the AJX litter, for that matter?  Click through and you’ll be able to see some new images (sans tags, at least for now), and stick with Sneaker News for the Air Jordan X ‘Stealth’ release date.  via Air-Randy

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Is Freegums’ design the most important Nike LeBron 9 release so far? You could argue that the ‘Cannon’, ‘China’ or ‘Miami Nights’ has drawn more attention (though you’d probably just be saying which one you like best), but did any of those designs make it into LeBron James’ new UNKNWN retail spot (other than on the iPad-enhanced shelves)? It’s Freegums’ handiwork at the front door of the new Aventura Mall location, the same kind of intricate detail that marks the lining of his LeBron 9 collaboration. A select few were able to get pairs early at the private release party during Art Basel, but the general public will have to wait until New Year’s Eve for the chance to grab a pair at select Nike Basketball retailers like Millennium Shoes. But somewhere in the middle of these two polar opposites is a group nearly as elite as the Shoe Gallery party attendees: the select few who’ll be ahead of the curve by buying a pair that’s already available on eBay.

Nike LeBron 9
White/White-Black-Sport Red
469764-101
12/31/11
$170

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The Air Jordan hybrid shoe will always be a polarizing entity for as long as the Air Jordan sneaker remains relevant. With so many purists of the sneaker game (and purists of those purists), introducing a redesigned model bearing the same name as the original is always a tough task. That same applies with automobiles and clothing – even the McDonald’s McRib Quickstrikes always seem to draw some sort of juxtaposition with the OG. October’s release of the Air Jordan 8.0 was a bit underwhelming to say the least, with all six Air Jordan 8.0 releases thus far sitting patiently on store shelves, but perhaps the ‘Aqua’ should draw some deserved attention to the shoe. Set to arrive this January, the Air Jordan 8.0 ‘Aqua’ will be a fresh new start for the Air Jordan 8.0 in more ways than one, so take a peek at these new detailed angles below and let us know what you think. via Kinetics.

Air Jordan 8.0
Black/Bright Concord-Aquatone
467807-009
01/xx/2012
$160.00

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December is already way too jam-packed with great releases, so Retro releases like this Nike Air Max NM should wait just a few weeks before they officially hit stores. A release date for these haven’t been set just yet, but some retailers have been getting their shipments in, so perhaps a RD is arriving very soon. It’s certainly one of the better brand-new Retro+ colorways we’ve seen in a long time, and we’re certain a particular city in the state of Pennsylvania will be all over these once they do in fact become available. In the mean-time, take a gander at these new images below and let us know what you think of this new colorway. via AGS.

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Lots of news about Jordan Brand packaging this week, as Monday brought news of an updated box and label for next year followed by a look at a super-limited promo box for the Air Jordan XI Retro ‘Concord’ crafted in wood and individually numbered.  Today, it’s something a bit more directly related to the shoes themselves, or at least in terms of proximity.  The Air Jordan X Retro ‘Chicago’ is shown off in advance of its January 21st release, now featuring not one but two new hangtags.  One is a nice translucent ‘X’ in matte red with ‘Air Jordan Collection’ in its crux, the other a black Jumpman on one side and the Ten’s signature checkerboard lining pattern on the reverse.  The blend together beautifully and raise the level of luxury on the first Air Jordan Retro for 2012 to unexpected heights.  Other neumerals could obviously prove more difficult to render in this rather fetching design, but would you be psyched for future Jays to feature individualized renditions of what could be among the best wide-release hangtags ever released?  Click through to see both sides of the black tag, let us know what you think and stick with Sneaker News for updates on the ‘Chicago’ Air Jordan 10.  via Kicks-lab

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The Nike Air Flight ’89 played a prominent role in Nike Sport Culture’s mid/late-’00s strategy, its classic basketball lines taking on colorways and design elements from other legendary releases as a foreshadow of things to come after the Sportswear division was formed in 2008.  But interestingly enough, even as a trend it helped to pioneer is going stronger than ever, NSW has left the Air Flight ’89 off release schedules for pretty much its entire existence.  But in honor of its 23rd birthday (the Flight ’89s do look a lot like the Air Jordan IV that also turns 23 next year), we’ll be seeing some new drops, kicking off with this Chicago Bulls-styled black nubuck edition with white and Sport Red accents.  Check them out in greater detail after the jump and look for these at select NSW retailers like Long Island’s Sneaker Boutique or grab yours now on eBay.

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For years, Nike has seemed content to sit back and let adidas dominate the indoor soccer shoe market, but perhaps as Three Stripes looks to expand and give the Swoosh a run for its money in basketball and elsewhere, it’s time to reevaluate what Beaverton can do for short-sided football.  The Nike Street Gatois a great start to what could be a formidable line of footy shoes, and is starting to show what it can do in a variety of colorways.  Coming up for early next year is this blue suede edition that maximizes the casual appeal of this design without watering down its technological advantages.  The black accents make for a ‘J-Pack’ vibe but the medial tessellated texture makes it obvious these were built for ball control, and you can see more angles after the jump.  via Sneaker Freaker

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The New Balance 581 has yet to hit retailers, but it’s clear the company is putting quite a bit of energy behind it, with no fewer than six colorways and four collaborative releases on the way.  The above pictured pair falls into that latter category, having been designed by one of Japan’s leading sneaker retailers and a longtime NB teammate.  The mita sneakers x New Balance ML581 comes in a range of colors so neutral, it’s basically impossible to find something you can’t wear with them.  The range of soft brown and off-white tones is expansive, and gets a nice washed out ‘driftwood’ feel thanks to grey coming in along the rear midsole.  Click through to get a better view, let us know how these rank against the other NB581 collabos and stick with Sneaker News for word on US availability.  via SlamJam

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Reebok is very selective when it comes to choosing which of its Classics will be re-thrust into the contemporary scene. Trust us when we say that there are still a ton of hardcore Reebok aficionados out there, heralding the Pumps, Furys, DMX, Classics, and signatures that once co-dominated the scene in the 90′s. Last year’s Reebok Insta Pump Superlite definitely turned heads with its outstanding design, which was a re-interpretation of the Insta Pump Fury, but a U.S. release has yet to occur. Hopefully a different fate awaits the Reebok Pump Fury HLS, which re-captures the OG styling but with a slight redesign – most notably the streamlined midsole. Check out the extra shots below and we’ll notify you when more information on these Reeboks pop up. via SneakerFreaker.

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Welcome to the penultimate full week of Best of WDYWT of 2011! There’s quite the collection of sneakers below, starting with the Nike Mag 2011 that one sneakerhead and his pops wore to Sneaker Con Los Angeles, and the great spread of SB Dunk Low classics, like the Supreme collab, the ‘Pushead’, and the Heineken. As usual, the Air Jordans made their mark, with a trio of Air Jordan Vs grabbing most of the attention, and some older heat, like the Air Huarache LE. With such a broad spectrum of kicks covered in one Top 20, voting for the best might be tough (although the Mags are the likely favorite). Check out this week’s Sneaker News Blogs: Best of WDYWT and if you haven’t submitted your own kicks yet, the easy instructions are right ahead.

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