Month: January 2026

A new champion of NCAA Football has been crowned and Super Bowl LX rapidly nears. However, American football isn’t the only place that is heating up. The sneaker industry has a stacked lineup of drops coming your way this week, with New Balance, ASICS, Nike, Converse, Vans, and Jordan Brand all contributing. Before we dive into the 10 drops that you should consider copping, let’s look back at the headlines of last week.Two footwear features hit the net. First, our latest edition of Editors’ Picks: Sneakers saw the Hypebeast team come together to highlight which kicks we’re excited to wear this year. We also teamed up with Spike Lee to present the Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 collection, which debuts later this week.In other Nike news, the Swoosh reunited with Zellerfeld to show off the Air Max 1000 Multicolor, introducing dual-color printing to the 3D-printed sneaker. More Air Max headlines were made by the reveal of the Air Max Goadome Low and more Patta x Nike Air Max 1 ’87 “Waves” colorways. As for the Jumpman team, it announced the Air Jordan 6 Infrared “Salesman” and had a “Cap & Gown” colorway of the sneaker leak too.Looking to the rest of the industry, Timberland dropped its Lunar New Year-themed “Year of the Horse” version of the 6-Inch Boot. For New Balance, it had a new “Dusk Shower” pack featuring the 2010 and 204L sneakers surface. Alessandro Michele rounded out the week with the unveiling of a Valentino x Vans Classic Slip-On collaboration.With all of the past week’s key headlines revisited, let’s look ahead at what’s coming soon, starting with New Balance’s latest retro revival. Afterwards, be sure to check out HBX to see if there are any pairs you’d like to order today.New Balance Gator Run “Shadow Red” & “Black”Release Date: January 21Release Price: $130 USDWhere to Buy: New Balance and HBXWhy You Should Cop: New Balance has revisited its archives once again, this time returning with the Gator Run. Previously on the market as an athletic turf shoe, the Gator Run has been modernized as a lifestyle silhouette. Its slim upper sports a faux gator texture in both these “Shadow Red” and “Black” colorways. Meanwhile, each pair is backed by a black rubber outsole that features teeth throughout its exterior.MDS (MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO) x ASICS HYPER TAPINGRelease Date: January 21Release Price: $220 USDWhere to Buy: ASICSWhy You Should Cop: In case you missed out on the debut of the MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO x ASICS partnership, you’re in luck as all three of the duo’s HYPER TAPING colorways are dropping again this week. The sought-after sneaker kicked off this new partnership between Issey Miyake and the beloved Japanese sportswear brand. It is now back in its all-gray, all-black, and multicolor neon renditions for those who missed out at the beginning of the year.Nike Kobe 1 Protro “81 Points”Release Date: January 22Release Price: $210 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: The Nike Kobe 1 Protro is back. As Nike Basketball continues to reissue Kobe Bryant’s signature shoes, one after another, we see the Kobe 1 with its Protro upgrade ready for action once again. Dropping first is the “81 Points” colorway, which was initially a PE for Bryant and eventually dropped to the public in 2019. Created to celebrate his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, it’s dropping 20 years after the incredible feat with colors that nod to the Los Angeles Lakers.Converse SHAI 001 “Ares Grey”Release Date: January 22Release Price: $130 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRS and HBXWhy You Should Cop: Long before the Converse SHAI 001 made its retail debut, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wore several colorways dedicated to different family members. While three of them went on to drop in last year’s “Family Pack,” the “Ares Grey” version, dedicated to his son, remained unreleased. It’s finally time for the all-grey colorway to hit shelves. The versatile sneaker is just as potent on the court as it is off of it and will continue its impressive run in just a couple of days.Parra x OTW by Vans Old Skool 36Release Date: January 22Release Price: $130 USDWhere to Buy: Vans and HBXWhy You Should Cop: Parra and Vans are back at it again this week. The skate brand’s special OTW by Vans division has offered the Dutch artist the Old Skool 36 as a canvas this time. A playful palette of pink, blue, and red sees unique overlays dress the beloved sneaker. Soft suede, custom labels, and matte foxing come together to make this a one-of-a-kind creation from the duo.Nike Total 90 Shox Magia “Metallic Silver” PackRelease Date: January 23Release Price: $155 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: A focal point of Nike’s lifestyle campaigns in 2025 was the return of the Total 90 franchise. The football line was revitalized with a streetwear slant, offering familiar-but-fresh footwear staples and versatile apparel. One of the hit models that was limited to a collab with Maha Amsterdam was the Total 90 Shox Magia. Now, it dons two different “Metallic Silver”-accented colorways with its raised midfoot and padded upper. “Sail” and “Pecan” serve as the starting color for each pair respectively.Action Bronson x New Balance 1890 “Cyborg Tears”Release Date: January 23Release Price: TBCWhere to Buy: SpecializingInLifeWhy You Should Cop: We’ve been closely following the rollout of the next chapter of the Action Bronson x New Balance partnership. The two have taken to the 1890 sneaker, teasing colorways of blue and off-white. The former is set to release this week under the name “Cyborg Tears.” Its retrofuturistic aesthetic is reinforced by wavy detailing across the upper and a palette that blends blue with touches of silver, teal, gray, black, and orange.Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 “Year of the Horse”Release Date: January 24Release Price: $230 USDWhere to Buy: HBXWhy You Should Cop: Heading into 2026, one of the campaigns with the most momentum behind it was the Levi’s x Air Jordan 3 capsule. Today, the denim specialists and the Jumpman team finally announced the partnership and its rollout. Up first is a Lunar New Year-themed “Year of the Horse” colorway dropping exclusively in Greater China, Japan, and South Korea. HBX has you covered this week, with this off-white version of the shoe equipped with pony hair, commemorative embroidery, unbleached denim paneling, and more.Air Jordan 9 “Flint Grey”Release Date: January 24Release Price: $215 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: The second of two Air Jordan launches lined up for Saturday is the return of the Air Jordan 9 “Flint Grey.” It’s been well over two decades since we first saw this colorway hit shelves and it’s now back as a retro. The leather upper sees white surrounded by its signature grey hue. Meanwhile, touches of “French Blue” are present at the lace loops, tongue, and heel.NikeSKIMS Rift MeshRelease Date: January 26Release Price: $150 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRS and SKIMSWhy You Should Cop: Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS formed an alliance with Nike last year, issuing a wide variety of women’s apparel throughout 2025. It’s finally time for the two to dip their toes into the footwear space. Kicking things off is the NikeSKIMS Rift Mesh, which reimagines the Air Rift as a super slim silhouette. Its staple detail, the split-toe, remains present with a midfoot strap sporting the duo’s co-branding. Three tonal colorways, two shades of brown and all-black, complement the NikeSKIMS apparel range seamlessly.