Taking inspiration from the Nike Air Raid is a Japanese brand, AG’s ‘Raiders GTS Boot‘.  The Air Raid was and still is a sneaker that broke necks since the early 90’s with its ‘x’ strap.  Now take that ‘x’ strap and revamp the entire sneaker with a vulcanized sole, metal eyelets as well as premium leather and you’ve got a handsome lifestyle sneaker. Currently these are only available at Rowgage.

Image Source: Sneaker News

Once again the perforated swoosh look makes an appearance.  This time, the Nike Air Force One receives the ‘Work Boot‘ treatment with metal grommets, boot laces and a rugged upper.  And I LOVE IT.  My only wish is that with the additional name of ‘Supreme‘ tied to this forces, shouldn’t they have a snazzier sole?  I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering this.  We’ll keep an eye out for sure though.

Image Source: Sneaker News

Last year I disclosed how much I love the Air Max 90 Current.   Shortly after the release of the infrared, a triple pack came out with personal touches from designers, Ben Drury, Kevin Lyons and Hitomi Yokoyama.  A year has passed and Ben Drury has been invited to work on yet another pair of Air Max 90 Currents.  The above pair comes with a plethora of textures including metal “d” lace eyelets, perforated suede, a mesh toe box and boot style laces.  Finally, the tongue receives stitching that reads “Trust Me” on the right shoe and “London” on the left.  Besides the 2006 exhibition of the same name, I’m wondering why these AM90 Currents have the same slogan.  Each element blends really well together with its mainly blue and black colorway.  The Ben Drury Air Max 90 Currents are available now at Nike Sportswear @ 21 mercer St.

Image Source: Sneaker News

Nike amazes us with a new look for the Air Zoom Toki.  Instead of an all perforated leather upper, this time its the swoosh that gets the holey treatment.  The minimal wine colored upper along with brown piping also adds to the Air Zoom Toki’s mature look.  These quickstrikes are due to release very shortly at Nike Sportswear quickstrike accounts.

Image Source: www.dunk.com.cn

With winter slowing creep up, its nice to know Nike’s ACG line has a new colorway for the Air Max Abasi boots.  With elements taken from the Safari printed AM90 boots and the Air Max 180, these Air Max Abasi’s are tough.  I simply love the nubuck olive green with carbon fiber accents.  As of right now, theres a limited amount of sizes available at Mad C in Japan.  But I’m sure a lot of us are hoping that some local quickstrike account will get them soon.

Image Source: Sneaker News via Mad C

Over the past couple of years, I’ve really taken a liking to the Nike Air Classic BW. Not that I’ve lost any love for the Air Max 90s or 95’s. But any sneakerhead would agree its good to have options. The above pair which consists of Halloween colorways of black, neon orange and white was recently made available at JD Sports. However, unless you’re near a boutique that has an account with JD Sports or live near the sports culture chain in the UK, its just nearly impossible to score a pair.

Image Source: Sneaker News

The Jordan silhouette known as the Spiz’ike that has mixed reviews is making a comeback 2010.  We first heard news of a hybrid boot Spiz’ike, which should be available now at select boutiques and online.  Personally, I’m looking forward to them in any of the available colorways.  Here we have a pair with colorways inspired by the Air Jordan V Grapes.  If you can’t wait for the 2010 release, Osneaker has them available for pre-order.  And like any Jordan release, you do not want to sleep on these.  On a different note, I’m wondering if all future Spiz’ikes will have the Nike lacebars as seen above.

Image Source: Osneaker

Lately, I’ve been really feeling crocodile anything.  After seeing a pair of black croc Vans Chukka, the croc patterned Applebum 59Fifty and even the Meat Guy’s crocodile claws for bbq’ing, I feel like its a texture missing in my life.  The void ends here.  I am or rather will find these Nike Terminator “un-HTM”.  The retro hi top may feature a simple one-two colorway of black and white.  But the texture makes up for what would just be a simple statement.  I absolutely love the metal grommets that hold up the round laces common in current day Nike Running sneakers.   Hopefully, we’ll be seeing these in the States soon, as they are only available at NOS currently.

On a different note, if I can secure these, I’ll be on a two-peat with the Nike “un-” series.

Image Source: NiceKicks.com

Back in June, we came across preview images of a new take of the Air Force 180.  The “Auto” in Auto Force 180 derives from Nike’s autoclave technology.  Outside of Nike land, its better known as vulcanizing.  Two versions were shown then, an NYC edition and an Olympic colorway.  If I recall correctly, both pairs are set to release before Holiday 2009.  What we have above are 3 new simple and clean colorways set to release in Summer of 2010.  Of the 3 pairs, I’m feeling the navy pair the most as I like my sneaker colorways to be as neutral as possible.  But I still can’t wait to get my feet onto one of the Holiday 2009 pairs.

Image Source: Sneaker News

Ever since the tier zero 3 Decades of Cushioning and Tech Pack Air Max 90’s, I’ve felt the need to own Nikes with a black base and contrasting accents.  From afar, the colorway combo may only consists of black and volt.  But take a closer look and you’ll see a splatter pattern was snuck into the outer ankle collar.  Theres no confirmed date of a US release, nor a seasonal time frame attached to it.  So we’ll all just have to keep our eyes peeled.  And its been a hot minute since I’ve bought any pair of Air Maxes.

Image Source: Sneaker News via in52

You can always count on JD Sports for simple colorway combinations that will create a statement.  Without the stealth grey mudguard and white outline around the air unit, this would just be a pair of black and white Air Max ST’s.  However, due to the brand being across the Atlantic and a shortage of US accounts, its still far fetched for many of us.  If my memory serves me correct, I do believe Atmos NYC has an account with the UK chain.

Image Source: Sneaker News

This Saturday, ALIFE Rivington Club will drop their collabo sneakers with Nike, the Nike Dunk High TZ Supreme.  The sneakers, which retail for $158, will be accompanied by a shirt in black or white.  The first 100 to purchase the sneaker will receive the “Black, White, Gum & Bang!” shirt.  However, the shirt may also be purchased as a standalone item.  As an added bonus, those that have camped out for these Dunk Highs are encouraged to stay for a dj set by Miami’s DJ Craze and complimentary drinks.  The reception will be held from 3 – 6pm while the release begins at 2pm.  I’m not the hugest Nike Dunk fan, but I love the Schoeller technical fabrics utilized on various parts of the sneaker and the textiled laces.  Finally, the tongue tag pays homage to Nike Air boxes of yesteryear.

Image Source:  A.R.C. Sports

With Nike’s Air Trainer sector getting much love lately, it’s only appropriate to once again retro the sneaker that started it all.  These are the original colorway Air Trainer SC that a lot of us fell in love with in the early 90s.  A lot of may have to do with Bo Jackson endorsing them with his “Bo Knows” campaign.  But I’m certain the colorway combination of white, safety orange, stealth gray on a midtop pair of trainers had a lot to do with it as well.  Be on the look out for these og Air Trainer SC’s next month.

Image Source: Foot Locker Unlocked

The Untold Truth pack was a big hit with me., So anytime Nike decides to outfit their sneakers in a baseball theme, I’m all eyes.  Recently unveiled is a pair of Air Max 1’s honoring New York Yankees pitcher, Chien-Ming Wang.  The dead giveaway of the baseball theme may be the stitching that wrapped around the sneaker.  Not noticeable from pics is the upper actually consists of the same leather as a pair of baseball gloves.  Smaller details include his jersey number on the inside of the tongue and his last name relogo’ed as the silhouette of a pitcher.  A black midsole, lace tips, speckled gold outsole and bits of gold accents here and there make up the finer detailing.  The release will be very limited worldwide, so we’ll have to keep our eyes peeled come July 10th.

Image Source: Sneaker News via FRESHNESS

Much like a pair of Air Max Current shown here early last month, these  Air Max 90’s also resemble the 3 Decades of Cushioning Nike Air Max 90’s.  For this upcoming Fall 2009 release, Nike chose black as the base of the upper.  As a contrast, Total Orange (which I mistakenly still call “Safety Orange” in conversation) makes a nice contrast.  But you all should know me by now and how much I love texture.  Parts of the upper receive a caviar like treatment.  I predict these will sell like hot cakes wherever they’ll be sold this Fall.

Image Source: Foot Locker Unlocked

Here’s an interesting Nike hybrid product.  Take the upper of an Air Force One and mate it with the sole of the Nike Blazer.  Add in a feature like perforated leather found in recent Blazers and you have a very appealing retro lifestyle silhouette.  Overall this hybrid is a good look for the summer, but my concern lies with the sole.  The Nike Blazer sole is terrible when it comes to comfort and I’m not even sure if the puffy SB like tongue will aide any bit.  Hopefully, these will hit a quick strike account soon for a test fitting.

Image Source: Sneaker News

These have got to be the best Air Max Lights I’ve seen in awhile that aren’t JD Sports releases.  Which means I don’t have to venture off to Atmos to see if I can find them in my size.  For this particular summer release, Nike has gone with a tri-colorway with mainly black and white taking center stage.  The usage of gold is at a premium.  Noteworthy is the toe meshbox, paying homage to all retro Air Maxes.  Currently, sneakersnstuff in Sweden carries these remarkable Air Max Lights.  But if you’re pining for them and can wait, your local quickstrike boutique should have them any minute soon.  DC heads, you know where to… Commonwealth.

Image Source: Sneaker News via sneakersnstuff

For the above pair of Air Classic BW’s, Nike takes the traditional colorway combo of white, red and black to a whole new level of cleanliness.  Much like white space practices in visual communication, the mainly white upper does all all the talking.  The tongue, lining and midsole receive splashes of red and black is strictly reserved for the laces and heel logo.  These Air Classic BW’s should be arriving to quickstrike accounts fairly soon, if not already.

Image Source: Sneakernews

Coming out this weekend is a pair of summer time Uptowns.  The upper consists of mainly all white leather.  However, the outsole receives a translucent “UNC” blue treatment which reveals the air unit.  And as mentioned in the title, this marks another hybrid sneaker coming from Nike.  After successful rounds of mating Air Force and Air Max, Nike is now integrating Huarache ACG with Air Force Ones.  For this particular sneaker, the mesh tongue with “Huarache ACG” logo is the dead giveaway.  Overall, its a clean execution with a solid colorway.  I can’t wait to see these at a local quickstrike account.

Image Source: NiceKicks.com

Ever since its inception in late June 2008, I’ve fell in love with the Air Max 90 Current.  Lightweight and retro appeal for form and function purposes.  The latest colorway or rather textile for this silhouette is a grid paper pattern.  But a closer look at the upper will reveal that this model does not share the same toebox as previous Air Max Currents.  Instead, it retains an identical upper seen in all other Air Max 90s.  Only the sole receives a partial “Current” treatment.  As far as dates go, these AM90 CT TZ’s are available at select Nike Sportswear quickstrike accounts and retailers.  So Nike has applied the grids found in an earlier pair of Blazers.  I wonder if they’ll answer my prayer and make the next pair with vivid blue grid lines?

Image Source: Sneaker News via Dunk.com.cn