Month: May 2021

After leaving his longtime home with the Houston Texans to join the Arizona Cardinals this summer, veteran defensive end JJ Watt is paying homage to late Cardinals legend Pat Tillman with the newest iteration of his Reebok JJ IV trainer. Dubbed the “Valor,” Watt’s sneaker is a heartfelt salute to Tillman — who left the NFL to serve in the US Army after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and was killed by friendly fire on April 22, 2004. Designed with input from Tillman’s widow Marie, the shoe features a dusty gray, tan and red color scheme for a nod to the Arizona desert and is loaded with special details. “PT40” inscriptions can be seen on the top eyestays for a nod to Tillman’s jersey number, and special text is stamped on the medial midsole. Special hangtags state “Tillman” on one side and “Leadership Through Action” on the other, and the insole commemorates the Pat Tillman Foundation. From a performance standpoint, the shoe uses a Floatride base for responsive cushioning and stability and a Flexweave upper with targeted support in high-wear areas. Lastly, outsoles boast a traction pattern inspired by Watt’s fingerprint. “Pat Tillman lived his life in service of a purpose bigger than himself. That is his true legacy. This shoe is a small way to pay tribute to a legendary man, by not only honoring him, but also donating to the foundation established in his name and ensuring that his legacy lives on,” says Watt. “It has been an absolute privilege to work hand-in-hand with Pat’s widow, Marie Tillman, and CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation, Dan Futrell, to ensure that this shoe properly and appropriately represents and honors Pat in a way that he would be proud of.”The Reebok JJ IV “Valor” will release on May 27 via the Reebok webstore and is priced at $100 USD. From May 27 through August 31, Reebok will donate $10 USD for each pair sold to the Pat Tillman foundation, with a max donation of $10,000 USD. Watt will also donate 100% of his personal proceeds from the shoe to the foundation.For more news on upcoming sneaker releases, take a look at the latest installment of HYPEBEAST’s weekly Best Footwear Drops list.

Following its first collaboration release of the All-Court Alpha-L “Manchuria Window” sneaker, Japanese footwear titan ASICS team up with F/CE. and COSTS once again for a second design integrating outdoor aesthetics and Lingnan culture into the classic ASICS Gel-Fuji Trabuco 9.Inspired by Lingnan architecture, the sneaker features a sand palette with orange details and hints of blue. The trio incorporated the use of GORE-TEX waterproof fabric to enhance the upper texture and to withstand constant rain falls as inspired by the coastal weather in the south of China.The collaboration showcases elements of each brand tied together with the unique style of Lingnan culture. ASICS, F/CE. and COSTS Gel-Fuji Trabuco 9 is set to release for ¥1,290 CNY (approximately $201.34 USD) at select ASICS retail stores worldwide on June 18.For more footwear news, ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ and Vans Customs unveil new collaborative prints.

The New Balance 992 was unarguably one of the reasons for NB’s outstanding performance in 2020, and the silhouette shows no signs of disappearing as yet another stellar colorway has just released, introducing “White/Navy.”Originally released in 2006 as part of New Balance’s “99X” series, the 992 was a fresh take on the 990 and soon became a New Balance fan’s firm favorite — Steve Jobs being among them. In 2020, the sneaker was given its first retro release and was subjected to a number of collaborations, notably from the likes of Joe Freshgoods, JJJJound, Studio FY7, and more recently, DTLR.In between the string of collaborations were general releases which also took the sneaker world by storm — and this “White/Navy” pair is no exception. First up is a strong display of premium white leather, which is intersected by white mesh on the toe box, mid-panels, and the heel/collar section, before the “Navy” elements come into action.”Navy” pigskin suede has been used for the fluid shapes that cut through the stark white uppers, carving out areas such as the toe box, eyestay, rear-quarter and collar, as well as appearing on the heel near the “USA” branding. New Balance and 992 branding appear all over the shoe (see the tongue, heel, and rear-quarter/collar), while a small “N” emblem also in “Navy” takes center stage on the mid-panel.Rounding out the shoe is its signature ABZORB-equipped midsole, which is color-blocked between white, gray, and a clear section on the heel. Take a look at the New Balance 992 “White/Navy” above, and pick up a pair now from retailers such as Up There for $277 USD.In related news, Up There has just unveiled its latest Saucony Shadow 6000 collaboration.