How to Be a Sneakerhead (or How to Look Good and Feel Good)

Sneakers have gone from something people bought for sports, or for the athletes who wear them, to something that helps define identity, as many subcultures, cities, and neighborhoods have specific sneakers closely associated with them. But with every up-and-coming brand we have to follow, with every brand collab being the hottest of the season, and with every new sneaker we need in our rotation, being a sneakerhead is becoming more an exercise in spending too much too fast rather than what it once was—and should always be—all about being “fresh.”

But how does one become fresh?

The simple answer is that being fresh is making something look good, because if you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you look good. And when you look good, so do the sneakers.

But how does one start being more discerning about what’s good and what isn’t?

The oldest known footwear tracks are an estimated 130,000 years old. Beyond the greatest moments in sports and pop culture, the history of footwear also serves as a marker for human achievement. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that the kicks you’re wearing have the same design as the ones worn by people during the last Ice Age? Or that the shoes you party with are the same ones people danced with when they celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall?

A small piece of human history could be on your feet—who needs the validation of likes?

It’s easy to take for granted the research that went into the creation of today’s sneakers—even the cheapest sneakers carry with them the result of the development of better materials and lengthy chemical processes that allow for more comfortable cushioning setups. In the unending quest for better footwear, some brands have even experimented with the same materials used for the boots worn during the Moon landing.

If you want to see how far human intelligence has come, look no further than down your feet.

If you only wear what your favorite celebrities wear, if you only want to buy the latest models, if you’re only in it for the hype, if you can afford it, why not? But for most people, especially the ones just getting into sneakers, having more than one pair of sneakers is a luxury, so that one pair you can afford has to really count.

So ignore the prestige, the glamor of top 10 sneakers lists, and the sway of the influencer: do you like the shoes?

It’s guaranteed that nobody’s going to care or even notice that your sneakers were 80 percent off at the outlet. If the sneakers make you happy, that’s all that matters.

Perhaps the best and most unique part of being a sneakerhead is how close to you your sneakers can be. While most other collectibles have to stay on shelves or in cases, you can wear sneakers and make memories with them, from small happy moments to life’s grand milestones. Have memories you can look back on when you see those shoes sitting in a box at home.

Wear your shoes—you only have this lifetime to do so.

People get into sneakers for a variety of reasons. Some get into it because of a favorite rapper’s influence. Some get into it because of friends. Some are trying to rekindle lost childhoods or make up for what they couldn’t have as kids.

But while everyone is allowed to be deeply passionate about things that matter to them, when it begins getting in the way of bigger responsibilities like work, school, and even health, what you have isn’t simply a hobby but possibly a problem.

You can still love sneakers without buying each and every pair you see and want. What matters is what you know, not just what you own, and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.

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