Sneaker News Top 30 of 2012
December 28th, 2012 by Sneaker News | 183 comments
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2 | NIKE AIR FOAMPOSITE ONE “GALAXY”
In just a few short years, the public perception of the original Nike Air Foamposite One model has undergone quite the rapid metamorphosis. From the time of its original release in 1997 up until about two or three years ago, the Foamposite was, for the most part, nothing more than another great shoe in a long line of innovative and fondly remembered Nike Basketball models. While the shoe definitely enjoyed a strong cult following within the sneaker community and especially in certain regions of the country, it wasn’t until some new colorways like the Eggplant and Copper versions emerged that consumer interest was reinvigorated like never before and Foamposites became a juggernaut must-have sneaker commodity for the masses. The fever only spread from there, and now Foamposites unthinkably challenge Air Jordan Retros for consumer dollars at retail, taking the shoe to unseen levels of popularity far beyond its original late 90′s heyday.
Both in terms of OG retros and more recently concocted colorways, the Foamposite aesthetic approach has almost always been steadfastly uniform in its blueprint: solid colored foam upper, black eyelet strips and tongue, corresponding accents, clear outsole. While there have been some occasional variations over the years, most have successfully clung to this formula, but as more and more predictable colorways were churned out, it became inevitable that the forward-thinking Nike design minds would eventually figure out a fitting way for the shoe to evolve. When the Foamposite’s surging dominance made it a no-brainer for a role in the 2012 All-Star collection, the perfect opportunity arose to take the shoe where no Foamposite had gone before.
With the NBA All-Star Weekend taking place in Orlando this year, Nike chose a NASA-inspired space exploration motif for their annual sneaker collection, this time around supplementing the usual signature and team All-Star colorways with an ambitious multi-shoe Nike Sportswear capsule as well. Joining a trio of Dunk Highs and two Air Flight Ones was the most jaw-dropping Air Foamposite One the sneaker world had ever seen. For the first time ever, the shoe featured a full graphic printed upper and glow in the dark outsole, which doesn’t sound all that gamechanging, but one look at the
galactic outerspace landscape that covered the length of the shoe made it quite clear that these would become the most sought after Foamposite release the game had ever seen.
Those early assumptions didn’t even scratch the surface of the madness that would ensue as the February release date approached. Many devoted individuals began to camp outside of stores over a week ahead of time while others held out hope that they’d be able to defy the odds and snag a pair online. Those bubbles were burst a few days before the release when Nike announced that the shoes would not be sold on NikeStore, leaving anyone who wanted a pair forced to go out and brave the mob scenes if they wanted even a sniff of the “Galaxy” Foamposites. Things got real when over 3,000 people showed up at the midnight release at an Orlando mall, forcing the need for intervention by police riot squads and eventually resulting in an impromptu postponement of all sales. While some shops were still able to maintain order through wristband and raffle systems, many retailers, including the entire chain of House of Hoops locations in particular, were forced to cancel the release altogether in fear of the same kind of mayhem arriving at their front doors.
While plenty of people were lucky enough to get their hands on a pair of the limited kicks, plenty more came up empty and the release hysteria would spark the implementation of a number of procedural changes in the way sneakers are now released. For Nike and many other retailers, there are no more midnight releases and Twitter RSVP systems have replaced the weekly lineups, and as a result, it’s harder than ever to actually obtain a pair of shoes you want. It’s hard to believe that something so good could come along and indirectly have such a negative effect on the sneaker game, but the Galaxy Foams may have done just that. On the one hand, things are more orderly and civilized now, but sadly, some of the fun, adventure and thrill of the hunt seems to have been drained out in the process. Is it Nike’s fault that they make shoes so cool that people are ready to riot for them? That seems like an unfair finger to point, but it’s undeniable that the Galaxy Foamposites and the chaos that came with them will have an impact on the way high-profile releases are distributed and sold for years to come.
avapkicks speaks blasphemy. Questions, Answers, any of the Pump series. I know this is only your opinion but damn.
You crazy, you not a real sneaker head if you think reebok dont make good shoes@avapkicks
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@xavier987654321 its a few out there but their stock wont b that vast and the price will b super high
I also feel some sort of way that the best release of a signature shoe all year wasn't featured by itself. The KD IV! I dislike every other KD except this one, including the KD V. These were incredibly made, had GORGEOUS colorways, and are the only low top basketball shoes I will ever hoop in because the fit and feel is INCREDIBLE. I can't see how the "Aunt Pearls" or "Gold Medals" weren't on this list representing in their own right! Besides ridiculously limited quantities, and thus leading to huge hype; I don't see how these wouldn't have made a top 15 list let alone a top 30. But hey, that's just my opinion.
Honestly my #1 release of the year was the "Paranorman" Foam. I have copped every limited release and general release foam since 97, and these are the only ones I haven't retrieved; and honestly, it's the one time I didn't feel cheated by either the company (Nike) or retailers as to why I didn't get a release of a particular shoe. It seemed to be an honest and fair raffle on twitter, that gave that patron an extremely well deserved prize for sharing a picture that directly linked to the theme of the product. I submitted plenty of "weird" childhood pics, but understanding that I might not be 1 of the 800 "weirdest" children captured in the world helped settle my disappointment. I haven't even mentioned the craft and beauty of the shoe itself. Next to the galaxy and metallic red it would be my 3rd favorite foamposite. The release was genuine, the theme and idea was genuine and the shoe was simply AMAZING! My favorite sneaker was the galaxy (My favorite sneakers have been foams since they released so I'm extremely bias), but the amount of BS i had to go through and amount of money I had to pay to purchase one pair to actually rock was ridiculous, even though I was and always am willing to do all sorts of waiting, and hours of lines to purchase releases. The paranormans were all positives about a sneaker and it's release, in a world where the "sneaker game" has taken a turn for the worse. It was a huge breath of fresh air on a very recently SUPER HYPED model of sneaker that ranks #1 all time in my opinion.
Personally i think the foamposite galaxies was the best shoe of 2012 not a huge fan of the yeezys anyway
Amazing pictures that showed off of the little nuances that made each shoe special. Overall this was a good list but I would not have included the Lebron X. That shoe still hasn't found its must have colorway. I can't wait until they announce the Black Friday and Christmas Jordan retros.
For real here. Not brand new but a lil shiny to sneaker blog, release thing. Is there any place like Hanon shop. On line or in our country? Why they do all those great New Balance colorways?
Stussy shoe is diffrent. But just in case they gotta slap New York on the back. No hater here I'm a fan of Supreme but enough New York. U dont rule the shoe world. Maybe it's Orgon?
i feel the PARANORMANS was a better FOAM than the GALAXY foams. that slime green on the bottom is better than the galaxys. the green slime smoke screen on the side is dope i mean, the galaxy was dope but i feel the PARANORMANS are better
The Ewings were trash when they were release in the early 90's. hypebeast have made trash popular
@Qubayza ur so right. Slap in the face. These company's think they can re-release crap and cause a craze. They're prob right. I'm sitn in a little row home w/ 18 yrs left til I own it. Has nuthn to do wit bein a knick fan, when I was a young buck I laughed that shoe. Rember bobo's.well they're back in blue and orange
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@Qubayza Your entitled to your own opinion, but must not be from NY or if you did you must have lived under a rock back then. When the Ewings dropped EVERYONE under 25 had them back in the 90's. No internet ,no hype machine... just hard core Knickerbocker fans.
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@IgotthatFIRE @Qubayza you are correct about that! i had the ewings back in the day and they was the joints to have in NYC! and that buzz came off of seeing people with them, not like how sneaks now a days are constantly pushed by the companies themselves! but to say ewings are trash you are seriously a rookie in this game
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Think some of the things that go into being on that list are shoes that can leave a lasting impact because of material . Or that represent a trend in the shoe game. For example i wouldnt paint in that Ewing shoe but it does say somthn about todays sneaker buyer and trends.
@WZRDUPSO The Flyknits were just a marketing ploy by Nike for the Olympics. They are ridiculous and only look decent in volt.
@WZRDUPSO wait til u see the technology of that flyknit shoe inspires. Gona b a whole species of shoe w/ that technology. Like hyperfuse is in air max 90 lunar tr 1 , or the lunar bottom af 1 even cole hann shoes. See what i'm sayn. Flyknit gota b somewhere on that list.
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ok so the yeezy got number 1...If we took all the branding of it wouldnt make the list right
@npt the 11s came out when? the lebrons has BETTER technology going for it! thats why, it's a better shoe to ball in, but as for looks, i rather wear the 11s
I'm not new at shoes. I am new at being able to comment on shoes. Lets just say no iphones where i was. I dont collect. I wear. The list was big. Sneaker News didnt have to cut alot out. New Balance shoe collabs are incredible. As an oldhead where was air max 95 BB and Lunar Air Force 1. Get that Ewing shoe out there. It was a money project from the beginning. The big shoe companies weren't gona give an aging slow center a big shoe deal. Its a crap shoe. In 10 years if my nephew is paying $400 for Shaq's shoe. I'll wear sandals!
