Image via Nike
With Memorial Day Weekend 2019 in the books, that means the official start to summer is right around the corner. With the warm weather ahead, now is as good a time as ever to upgrade your sneaker rotation. Thankfully, this week has a ton of worthy options worth considering.
Drops start early this week with the "Hot Lava" Nike Air Tech Challenge II and Converse Star Series hitting retailers this Tuesday. Releases continue the following day with an Air Mag-inspired colorway of the Nike Adapt BB. Things really start to pick up on Thursday with the long-awaited Sacai x Nike collection, "Neymar" Nike Shox R4 pack, and an Air Max 1 designed by NBA point guard De'Aaron Fox all arriving at retailers.
On Friday, the "Heritage" LeBron 16, Oyster Holdings x Adidas Samba OG collaboration, and two colorways of the Adidas Alphaedge 4D are all up for grabs. This busy week of releases wraps up on Saturday with the "Pride" pack from Adidas and "Be True" pack from Nike celebrating LGBT Pride Month, two brand new takes on Jerry Lorenzo's Nike Air Fear of God 1, the "Carpe Diem" Kobe 4 Protro, wider launch of the "SP Gina" Air Jordan I, and "Ray Allen" Air Jordan VII all hitting shelves.
For a more detailed look at all of these pairs, here is a Complete Guide to This Weekend's Sneaker Releases.
Converse Star Series
Price: $80-$100
When: Tuesday, May 28 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Converse is following its return to performance basketball, the All Star Pro BB, with the brand new Star Series. Designed with the help of the legendary Tinker Hatfield, the collection provides three modern lifestyle silhouettes from the historic brand: the BB (Basketball,), RN (Running), and UT (Utility). The BB and RN will be debuting this week in black and white-based mesh options. Each features orange detailing, Chevron logos on each side panel, and sit atop lightweight Cushlon midsoles.
Nike Air Tech Challenge II 'Hot Lava'
Price: $130
When: Tuesday, May 28 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: One of Andre Agassi's most popular signature models makes its return this week to celebrate the 2019 French Open. The "Hot Lava" Air Tech Challenge II from 1990 perfectly represented the tennis legend's flamboyant style during the era and still stands out today with its Hot Lava accents and splatter print paneling on the midfoot and lateral heel.
Nike Adapt BB 'Air Mag'
Price: $350
When: Wednesday, May 29 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Earlier this year, Nike debuted its futuristic Adapt BB. Now, the auto-lacing basketball sneaker is taking direct inspiration from Marty McFly's favorite pair that inspired it all, the Air Mag. This version of the Adapt BB is dressed in a colorway mimicking the Back to the Future sneaker with a grey upper, blue splatter on the heel and midsole, and multi-colored dots on the lateral heel and tongue to resemble the flashing lights of its inspiration. The upper sits atop an icy outsole.
Sacai x Nike Collection
Price: $140-$160
When: Thursday, May 30 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Sacai's Nike collaboration featuring the LDWaffle and Blazer High has been one of the most talked about projects of 2019, in part due to the various delays and confusion surrounding an official retail release. The wait finally ends this week when two colorways of each model from Chitose Abe finally make it to retail. Each multi-layered design incorporates various colors and elements from popular models across Nike's archive to create a brand new, fashionable look all its own.
Image via Nike
Image via Nike
Image via Nike
Nike Shox R4 'Neymar' Collection
Price: $150
When: Thursday, May 30 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Neymar is one of the biggest names in professional soccer. Nike is honoring the Paris Saint-Germain forward with a pack of Shox R4s. The more eye-catching option of the two sports a gradient upper with colors inspired by the watermelons sold in markets in the area of São Paulo, Brazil where Neymar grew up. The second is much more tame in comparison with a white and silver upper made to resemble the Shox R4's OG colorway. Multiple Swooshes decorate each side panel. Each pair is completed with special Neymar logos on each tongue.
Nike Air Max 1 'De'Aaron Fox'
Price: TBD
When: Thursday, May 30 at 10 a.m.
Where: House of Hoops, footlocker.com, and other select Foot Locker locations
What You Need to Know: Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox was given the opportunity to design his own colorway of the Nike Air Max 1. The result is a color scheme inspired by his interest in astronomy. Colors inspired by the planets cover an upper constructed of multiple materials. Additional details include astrodynamics equations on each insole, his "Swipa" nickname stitched on each heel, and jersey number "5" on each tongue tag. Pairs designed by some of the NBA's other young stars, Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker, will be hitting retailers in June to complete the pack.
Nike LeBron 16 'Heritage'
Price: $200
When: Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: The storied history of the Los Angeles Lakers inspired the "Heritage" colorway of the LeBron 16. A purple Battleknit 2.0 upper and yellow tongue are a nod to the franchise's current team colors. A "2" and "3" are stitched on each tongue in the Lakers' signature font to represent LeBron's number. The heel pull tab is styled to resemble the throwback MPLS Lakers uniforms. A light blue heel panel covered in each of the 16 years that the franchise won the NBA championship and insoles covered in "LeBron" written in Lakers-inspired lettering complete the tribute.
Oyster Holdings x Adidas Samba OG Collection
Price: $130
When: Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m.
Where: adidas.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Oyster Holdings has joined Adidas for another travel-inspired collection. This time, the brand has dressed the Samba OG in red, blue, and yellow colorways. Each features a ripstop upper, leather overlays, white Three Stripes, and gum bottoms. Special branding can be seen in the form of a multi-colored "International Sportsman" logo stamped on the lateral heel and passport stamps covering the insoles. Seven sets of laces will allow for some personal customization as well.
Adidas Alphaedge 4D
Price: $300
When: Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m.
Where: adidas.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Adidas is bringing back the futuristic Alphaedge 4D in black and white colorways with an updated upper design more closely resembling the original Alphabounce. A Primeknit upper features zone forging in select areas for additional stability. The lightweight design sits atop a 4D-printed Aero Green midsole.
Image via Adidas
Adidas 'Pride' Collection
Price: $45-$180
When: Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m.
Where: adidas.com and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: June is LGBT Pride Month. Adidas is celebrating with special colorways of the Ozweeego, Ultra Boost 19, Continenal 80, Nizza, and Adilette slide. Each is dressed in a white or cream upper with rainbow detailing acting as a nod to the pride flag. "Love unites" is written on each insole.
Image via Adidas
Image via Adidas
Image via Adidas
Nike 'Be True' Collection
Price: TBD
When: Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Nike's latest installment of its annual "Be True" collection to celebrate LGBT Pride Month drops this weekend. A rainbow-colored Air Max 720 and Tailwind 79 with rainbow accents will be releasing alongside a collection of matching apparel. The highlight is an Air Max 90 with multi-colored overlays and an octuple Swoosh to represent the eight colors present on Gilbert Baker's pride flag.
Image via Atmos
Nike Air Fear of God 1 'Orange Pulse' and 'Frosted Spruce'
Price: $350
When: Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Jerry Lorenzo's Air Fear of God 1 returns this week in a vibrant "Orange Pulse" and "Frosted Spruce" colorways perfect for the summer months. The tonal color schemes both features mesh upper, TPU lacing cages, a zipper running up each heel, and double-stacked Zoom Air cushoning in the heel.
Image via Nike
Nike Kobe IV Protro 'Carpe Diem'
Price: $175
When: Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: The Kobe IV Protro is returning in another OG colorway of the popular Kobe Bryant signature model. This time, the "Carpe Diem" color scheme will be coming back for the first time since 2009. The pair black, purple, and yellow color scheme was frequently worn by the Black Mamba on the way to his fourth NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers. Its standout detail is the "Carpe Diem" logo stamped on each tongue.
Air Jordan I 'SP Gina'
Price: $185
When: Saturday, June 1
Where: Shoe Palace locations
What You Need to Know: Following an exclusive release at the Shoe Palace BASCOM store last week, the special "SP Gina" Air Jordan I colorway will be launching at other Shoe Palace locations this Saturday. The pair is inspired by frequent Shoe Palace customer and San Jose elementary school teacher, Virginia Wright. Its glittery black upper is accented by a red "Nike Air" tongue and red outsole. Special details include SP Gina logos on each insole and a Jumpman-branded apple hang tag.
Air Jordan VII 'Ray Allen'
Price: $190
When: Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m.
Where: Nike SNKRS and other select retailers
What You Need to Know: Jordan Brand is releasing a brand new Air Jordan VII inspired by some of Ray Allen's PEs during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks early on in his career. A black nubuck upper is accented by purple and green hits throughout to represent the throwback jersey colors of the Bucks. Allen's personal logo on each insole is a solid finishing touch.