As Nike Basketball continues its look back over twenty years of game changing designs, we’re reminded that the Air Jordan Legacy could have filled up half of the list (or perhaps one of its own). We see the connections to MJ in Tinker and company’s Air Flight Huarache and Air Raid designs and now with the pair pictured above, the other half of these features have focused on a key early ’90s rival. After he won a gold at Barcelona ’92 in the Air Force 180, Hall of Fame power forward Charles Barkley turned in his finest season and met up with MJ in the 1993 Finals. An MVP-level effort wasn’t enough for Sir Charles to capture that first championship, so Beaverton went back to the drawing board to create a product that perfectly married, in Hatfield’s words: “The outlandishness of Charles’ persona and the beauty of the product”
The Nike Air Max2 CB (’94) reflected Chuck’s rebellious persona thanks to designer Tracy Teague having the kind of freedom of expression to which Barkley alluded in his infamous ‘Role Model’ ad. Accordingly, the AM2 CB is an imposingly aggressive design equipped to handle sudden outbursts as the Round Mound of Rebound continued to play above his size. Features like straitjacket-inspired lockdown straps, reinforced ghillie lacing and a ferocious, toothy midsole made this design so memorable it was recently resurrected as the basis for Nike Sportswear’s Air Max Barkley, but longtime fans and collectors recognize the original style as irreplaceable. Check out some of the early sketches and OG colorways after the jump below, let us know Nike Free Run 4.0 V2 where Charles Barkley ranks in the pantheon of great signature ballers and stick with Sneaker News as we examine twenty years of bold basketball design.
Desert boots have been huge over the past two-plus years. So huge that Clarks Originals isn’t even making new pairs of the hugely popular Wallabee so that their original chukka can shine brighter than ever before. So huge that every sneaker brand out there has some kind of desert boot design and/or hybrid available, and so huge that they’re getting a best-of-both-worlds treatment courtesy of respective industry leaders of style and performance. The Nike x Cole Haan LunarGrand Chukka takes the same sole we saw on the Wingtip version and applies it to a three-eyelet desert boot upper for a design that might turn out to be one of the biggest surprise hits of 2012. Check out more details below and look for these starting this Thursday, May 3rd at Cole Haan Soho. via CH
The Nike Zoom Kobe VII is set Nike Free Run 3.0 V3 to be a pretty lighthearted affair for the summer, with the majority of the designs on their way sporting some pretty colorful looks. The Barcelona pairs that we gave you the exclusive on are no doubt the brightest of the bunch but lets not forget this World Baksetball Festival fare sporting fireberry on the heel clip and a cool thunder blue down into the lining. Click through with us for a better look at this Nike Zoom Kobe VII and let us know if you’ll be picking them up when the August 4th release date arrives. Photos: Sole Movement
Reebok’s rainy day sneakers look to be extending beyond that of the upcoming Reebok Kamikaze II ‘Reign Man’ pairs. Pictured here is a two pair pack of the Reebok Ex-O-Fit Hi previewed by none other Nike Free Run 3.0 V5 than Swizz Beatz featuring a wet look across the upper. Those water droplets dotting the upper go subzero when things get down to the outsole, with Reebok slapping an icy look on bottom. Hit the jump for the full preview and stay tuned to Sneaker News to find out when the Reebok Ex-O-Fit ‘Wet Pack’ will be hitting retailers.