Our monthly series looks at the top releases from the best brands in athletic footwear. Whether you’re an avid sneakerhead or just looking for the perfect pair to complement your style, navigating the vast world of sneakers can be overwhelming. From understanding where to buy to decoding the latest trends, consider this your road map to finding the perfect pair.
October truly brings us into the fall. Basketball, Halloween and homecoming are on the schedule. Adidas has created special editions for five historically Black colleges and universities. New Balance repeats a popular mesh running shoe, one of many favorites that brands are resurrecting. Meanwhile, Nike marks the return of a few fan favorites while Jordan debuts a new silhouette.
Adidas shows love to HBCUs
The HBCU Crazy 8 Low collection by Adidas.
Adidas
Adidas returns to the vault to release special editions of the Crazy 8 Low, which was popular in the 1990s, for five HBCUs — Alabama State, Alcorn State, Grambling State, Prairie View A&M, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. While the HBCU Crazy 8 Low would likely be available only to members of the schools’ respective basketball teams, Adidas has made this release available to the public. Each pair has the respective schools’ primary colors, with the schools’ logo on the tongue.
Release date: Tuesday
Retail: $120
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown unveils his own brand and signature shoe ahead of 2024 NBA seasonRead now
The New Balance 1906 steps into fall
Autumn tones are featured on the New Balance 1906 “Dark Olivine.”
New Balance
New Balance’s 1906 model has quietly become one of the brand’s most popular shoes over the past year. From being used for collaborations to offshoot models to general releases, the 1906 has shown that it has something for everybody. Enter the latest 1906 in tonal hues suited for the fall.
A primarily linen gray upper is covered in shades of green and clay on the “Dark Olivine” that evoke the colors of pumpkins and other gourds in store displays during this time of year. Tying things together is the two-tone midsole of off-white and brown on top of a black outsole.
Release date: Tuesday
Retail: $160
Nike pays homage to Blue Ribbon Sports
The Nike Air Max 1 ’86 OG “BRS Powerwall” revisits one of the most coveted colorways from the 2006 series.
Nike
Before Nike took its name from the Greek goddess of victory, it was known as Blue Ribbon Sports. The “BRS Powerwall” Air Max 1 returns after being in the vault for 18 years. Brown suede mudguards and heel tabs accent a green upper. Paired with gray accent panels that complement the pink swoosh, this Air Max is a nod to the styling and materials of early Blue Ribbon Sports. The final touch uses the “Big Bubble” Nike Air pod, an original design element.
Release date: Tuesday
Retail: $170
Adidas celebrates 50 years of Hello Kitty
Adidas and Hello Kitty collaborate in celebration of the fictional character’s 50th anniversary.
Adidas
Fictional character Hello Kitty is one of the most iconic brands in pop culture. The Adidas Gazelle is an iconic silhouette, so it’s only fitting that the two brands have come together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty. The Gazelle comes primarily in a white upper, with the Gazelle’s three stripes on the side covered in the classic red of Hello Kitty’s bow. The upper has an etched/stamped bow and Hello Kitty’s face is placed toward the back of the shoe’s lateral side. Completing things is cobranding on the shoe’s tongue and insoles.
Release date: Tuesday
Retail: $120
Aunt Pearl receives the retro the treatment
A portion of the proceeds from the Nike KD 4 “Aunt Pearl” sales go to Kay Yow Cancer Fund to support cancer research.
Nike
While Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant’s signature shoes have had many classic colorways that fans have come to love, no pair is more loved and sought-after than the “Aunt Pearl” colorway, which debuted on the KD4 in 2012 and is returning now more than a decade later. The color makeup is a tribute to Durant’s late Aunt Pearl, who died of lung cancer in 2000. Durant has spoken about how his great aunt always encouraged him to pursue his dreams. The shoe features a pink upper with a pearl pattern across the tongue and inner and outer heels. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the shoes will go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund for cancer research.
Release date: Thursday
Retail: $130
A wild Duck hunt
The Ducks of a Feather x Nike Dunk Low “What The Duck” Home colorway.
Division Street
The Ducks of a Feather x Nike Dunk Low “What The Duck” Away colorway.
Division Street
Over the past two decades, Oregon Football has become known for its uniform choices just as much as its on-field product. From wild uniforms that have mimicked a duck’s egg to highlighter yellow to a nightmare combo that people are still trying to figure out if it’s black, brown or green, Oregon has proven that it will continue to push the envelope of what a uniform can look like. It appears that creative chaos will find a home on the Nike Dunk.
Division Street’s Ducks of a Feather brand has partnered with Nike and GOAT to release home and away versions of a “What the Duck” Nike Dunk. Each version pulls from Ducks jersey designs over the past two decades to showcase the evolution of Oregon football.
Release date: Friday
Retail: $275
Golfing on the Eastside
Eastside Golf and Nike collaborated on the Nike Air Max 1 “86 OG,” a hybrid non-spiked golf shoe.
Eastside Golf
The collaboration with Nike marks a new era in Eastside Golf’s relationship with the Nike, Inc. family of brands.
Eastside Golf
Frequent Jordan Brand collaborator Eastside Golf returns with their first collaboration with Nike. Taking on the classic Air Max 1, “Everyone’s Game” is designed in white with hints of metallic gold on the upper eyelets and gold rivets that serve as the anchors for the three sets of double-sided removable Nike swooshes. The six swoosh colors include maroon and white for Morehouse College, blue and white for Spelman College, a mirrored swoosh for self-reflection, a dimpled swoosh inspired by golf balls, a gold swoosh representing Eastside Golf’s swingman logo, and a chenille swoosh nodding to their signature sweater designs. To further personalize the look, Eastside Golf’s logo takes the place of Nike branding across the tongue. Unlike most golf shoes, this model forgoes the traditional spikes, making it perfect for playing a quick nine or shopping for your next set of clubs.
Release date: Oct. 7
Retail: $180
Ja Morant aims for the sky
The “Purple Sky” colorway of the Nike Ja 2.
Nike
Nike recently announced the second edition of Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant’s signature shoe, the Nike Ja 2. The initial colorways teased the “Purple Sky” colorway. A bold purple covers the upper paired with a lemon yellow Nike swoosh on the shoe’s outer, and a soft blue covers the inner swoosh. Completing the night sky theme is a black midsole with white speckles to represent stars. Look for them to make a few appearances on Morant’s feet this season and in gyms across the country.
Release date: Oct. 8
Retail: $120
Ja Morant and Nike release the Ja 2s and pay homage to his college teamRead now
His Airness creates Jordan Heir
The Jordan Heir is a new women’s basketball silhouette from Jordan Brand.
Jordan Brand
With the rise of women’s sports and female athletes getting their own signature shoes, it was only a matter of time before the Jordan brand debuted a flagship model. Enter the Jordan Heir. The low-cut silhouette is covered in a peach color with hints of neon green across the shoe. Add a yellow Jumpman logo and a white midsole, and this shoe represents a Georgia peach hanging on a tree.
Release date: Oct. 10
Retail: $120
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What time? Dame Time
A Cream City colorway of the Adidas Dame 9. Adidas
Adidas
Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard’s signature shoe returns for its ninth edition. The Dame 9 from Adidas has a primarily cream white upper with purple and forest green inner booties to provide a secure fit and comfort. While this colorway works for the Bucks’ uniforms, there’s little doubt that it was inspired by, if not made for, those Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson-era jerseys from the early 2000s.
Release date: Oct. 22
Retail: $120
The Book 1’s Halloween chapter
Hits of orange decorate the black upper of the Nike Book 1 “Halloween.”
Nike
While many shoes get a Halloween treatment, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker’s Nike Book 1 “Halloween” signature shoe receives a little extra special touch for its debut. The black leather and nubuck upper, stitched swoosh resembling skeleton bones, and hints of orange across the upper eyelet and the tongue tie in the complete Halloween color scheme. If the stitching and font on the pull tab look familiar, Booker’s love of A Nightmare Before Christmas inspired many of the shoe’s design features.
Release date: Oct. 30
Retail: $140
Nostalgia reimagined: The Patta x Nike Air Max 1 ‘Chlorophyll’ returns after 15 yearsRead now
Cactus Jack reunites with the Jumpman
The Air Jordan 1 Low x Travis Scott “Reverse Olive” features Scott’s signature backward swoosh logo.
Nike
The Air Jordan and Cactus Jack logos are placed on the heels of the Air Jordan 1 Low x Travis Scott “Reverse Olive.”
Nike
There’s something special about creating several collaborations with a brand while following a specific formula and somehow having each pair feel fresh and different. That’s the case anytime rapper Travis Scott tackles a Jordan 1 Low. All of the trademark Scott tweaks are present in the Air Jordan Low x Travis Scott “Reverse Olive” in the form of the reverse swoosh, his Cactus Jack brand logo on the heel tab and on the medial side of the shoe. A medium olive upper and white leather overlays create the ideal color blocking.
Release date: Sept. 28
Retail: $150
Jacob DeLawrence is a freelance writer, podcaster and occasional menace to society. When he’s not creating you can find him in a basketball gym coaching the future or arguing about wrestling on Twitter, @_jdela.
