30 Gifts For the Sneakerhead in Your Life
At a loss as to what gift to get the sneakerhead in your life for the holidays, birthdays, what have you (besides a stern talking-to and maybe a few vouchers for free therapy)? Join the club. Indeed, what can you possibly give the impossible little—or not so little—fella who shows up to every family gathering in a new pair of Js and cares more about scuffing than making small talk? Sneakerheads are very particular in what they like and don’t. They live in their own world, and that world is made of sneakers.
But guess what? Sneakerheads are people, too. And in the spirit of giving, we say you take the high ground and learn to love the peculiarities of the sneaker-obsessed. This is who they are, and there’s no changing ’em. They will always hit you with a loud "What are thooose?!" when you show up in some sweet new hard-bottoms; snark when you wear mid-tops; and idolize grandpa’s “sick,” beat-up collection of New Balances (this one is not so bad, but still). But sneakerheads have feelings, too, even if they mask it behind their kicks. And the one you love is probably going through some shit. The past two years were tough one for all of us, and even sneakerheads deserve a little hard-earned cheer.
We were all young once, and, honestly, capturing a little bit of that wide-eyed wonder via the SNKRS app or a scroll through StockX is far from the worst way to release some dopamine. So, check out our selection of certified sneakerhead-approved gift choices, and put a smile on his face. (Or get him a pair of grown-ass shoes and see if you can convince him to become a retired hypebeast. Good luck!)
Nike Air Force 1 Shoe Lace Charms
ASSD
P228 AT AMAZON
Jewelry for shoelaces? Jewelry for shoelaces!
Basketball Shoe Charms
FARSKY
P455 AT AMAZON
Now he can wear sneakers on every part of his body.
'Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike'
BY PHIL KNIGHT
NOW 55% OFF
$9 AT AMAZON
An oldie but a goodie.
Old Skool Keychain
VANS
$12 AT PACSUN
Kicks on a keychain? Absolutely!
Large Drop-Front Shoe Box
THE CONTAINER STORE
$11 AT CONTAINER STORE
Consider it a vault for the most precious kicks in your closet.
100 Sneaker Coloring Book
MOON KICKS
P684 AT AMAZON
No one's ever too old for a coloring book.
Air Jordan Replacement Shoelaces
PRIVATE LACES
$15 AT AMAZON
Because sometimes a simple lace swap is all you need to make your GRs look like limited-edition bangers.
Silver
ETSY
$15 AT ETSY
Kiss the ring.
'Sneaker of the Year: The Best Since '85'
COMPLEX
NOW 38% OFF
$22 AT AMAZON
Get the conversation going. (And then ready yourself for a long, heated debate.)
Tech Essential Web Belt
NIKE
P1,140 AT AMAZON
A belt to keep his pants up and his fit fresh.
Cedar Shoe Tree
NORDSTROM
$20 AT NORDSTROM
Yes, the Swedes have an option that's hard to beat, but if you're looking for shoe trees that go that extra mile, opt for ones made of cedar. Not only is it sturdier, but the material removes moisture and odor, keeping your kicks as fresh as possible.
Face Covers (3-Pack)
ADIDAS
$20 AT ADIDAS
If the sneakerhead you're shopping for is Team Three Stripes, Adidas' face mask happens to be one of the best of the season.
OFF Collection Bath Towel
SOCIETY6
$20 AT SOCIETY6
If he eats, sleeps, and drinks sneakers, he's gonna want to dry off with them, too.
Basketball Shoe Patent Poster
WUNDERKAMMERSTUDIO
$29 AT ETSY
Van Gogh's "Starry Night" for sneakerheads.
History of Sneakers Poster
POP CHART LAB
P1,255 AT AMAZON
All the GOATs on a single poster. It'll help him brush up on his history.
Sneaker Led Night Light
DECORALIGHTS
$34 AT AMAZON
Laser-engraved acrylic plates let your precious sneakerhead broadcast his passion for all to see.
Premium Shoe Care Kit
JASON MARKK
$32 AT NORDSTROM
Everything you need to keep a rapidly growing collection clean.
Shoebox Bag
NIKE
$35 AT NIKE
Protect your heat at all costs.
Acrylic Sneaker Paint Starter Kit
ANGELUS
P2,207 AT AMAZON
For those arts-and-crafts-oriented sneaker enthusiasts, Angelus' specialty paint allows them to kit out their own kicks with the DIY designs of their choice.
'Wipe Your Airs' Floor Mat
ETSY
$42 AT ETSY
A floor mat that makes the process of taking off your sneakers in a strict "shoes off" home marginally more bearable.
Modern Pet Bed
AMBESONNE
$40 AT WALMART
If you love your sneakerhead's cat or dog just as much as your sneakerhead, you're going to need this pet bed stat.
Asuna Slides
NIKE
$50 AT NIKE
A soft foam underfoot made for puttering around the house while you do your weekly chores, like, y'know, cleaning your sneaker collection.
Shoe Rack
SONGMICS
$50 AT AMAZON
Storage space for your collection that doubles as a conversation starter (provided, of course, you can ever convince an actual human being to start a conversation with you).
ESPN+ Annual Subscription
ESPN+
$50 AT ESPN.COM
Chances are, if you're shopping for a sneakerhead, they'll have a passing interest in at least one of the sports that first made the styles they love so damn popular—even if it's only to see who's wearing what in the NBA tunnel.
'Sneaker Freaker: The Ultimate Sneaker Book'
SIMON WOOD
$50 AT URBAN OUTFITTERS
Sometimes you should judge a book by its cover.
Premium Sneaker Bag
LEVITATE APPAREL CO.
$89 AT AMAZON
Because life's too short not to take 'em all.
The Foster Slipper
GREATS
$99 AT GREATS
DTC darling Greats recently introduced the one shoe silhouette we've all been wearing the most: slippers. (And needless to say, the company got it very, very right.)
Corrugate Shoe Tray
YENWEN TSENG FOR NAKNAK
$225 AT DESIGN WITHIN REACH
Yenwen Tseng's designs for NakNak elevate the industrial into works of art. Many say the same about sneakers. So, give them a gift that perfectly reflects this ethos, while showing off their collection.
Levitating Shoe Display
EVERKNOWN
$250 AT NEIMAN MARCUS
For your sugarboo, cause it's levitating. Get it?
"Sneaker Collection"
JOHN KILDUFF
$5,150 AT 1STDIBS
The "Mona Lisa" for sneakerheads, courtesy of John Kilduff.
From: Esquire US
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