Author: Sneaker Blogger

A new year has begun. 2026 is shaping up to be another major year for the footwear industry with brands competing to bring newness to the space. As we collectively turn our calendars, the sneaker space remains in its unofficial offseason, with only Nike, Jordan Brand, and ASICS preparing notable drops for our first round-up of the year. Per usual, let’s look back at which headlines caught our eye before we preview what to expect.For Nike, it announced the SNKRS app’s 10 most popular releases of 2025, with a notable shift from collaborations to retro releases. We did a deep dive into the data, comparing it to the previous three years of info. Meanwhile, Jordan Brand is looking to maintain its momentum as it just revealed the rumored Air Jordan 4 “Flight Club.” We also took first looks at the Air Jordan 11 Low “University Blue” and an Air Jordan 3 “ACG” sample.Elsewhere in the industry, the Three Stripes had a notable week. Young Thug’s SP5DER dropped its Superstar collaboration while the German sportswear brand offered another premium version of the sneaker priced at $410 USD. We also saw our first Pokémon x adidas sneaker, the ZX 8000 “Mewtwo.” As for New Balance, Action Bronson teased another “Baklava”-themed take on the 1890 runner. HIDDEN.NY helped round out the week with a BAPE STA teaser while Hender Scheme expanded its homage line with a luxe leather rendition of the Nike Air Max 97 that costs almost $1,000 USD.Now that you’re up to speed on what’s been happening in the sneaker space, let’s pivot to what’s to come, starting with another Devin Booker x Nike Blazer Low. As always, head over to HBX afterwards to see which styles you can cop today.Devin Booker x Nike Blazer Low “Safety Orange/Blue Void”Release Date: January 6Release Price: $135 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: Devin Booker’s love for the Nike Blazer Low continues to be celebrated by the Swoosh. After dropping two Detroit Tigers-inspired takes on the sneaker in navy and orange, he’s combined the two colors for a unique “Safety Orange/Blue Void” pair. As with its predecessors, the Tigers’ Old English “D” motif is present at the lateral heel. Meanwhile, the color combination creates a tiger print atop the asymmetrical lacing system while “BOOK” branding at the heel rounds things out.Nike Dunk Low “Dress Shoe” PackRelease Date: January 6Release Price: $135 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Nike is back with a new approach featuring the Dunk Low. This time looking to dress shoes for inspiration, a shiny leather covers the upper of two new iterations of the shoe. Both the “Army Olive” and “Black” colorways lean on the aforementioned composition for a cleaner take on the sneaker, one that also features thin rope laces, subtle tongue branding, and a blank heel tab.Nike Shox R4 “Black Distressed”Release Date: January 7Release Price: $170 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the Nike Shox R4 had a noteworthy 2025. The model’s comeback continues this year and is being jump-started by this new “Black Distressed” version of the shoe. A smooth synthetic upper has been treated with ripples and laser perforations, resulting in a distinct, cracked visual texture. The standard midfoot Swoosh has shrunk and been moved to the lateral toe, emphasizing the retro sneaker’s unique stance while offering a touch of silver that matches the Shox unit and heel detailing.Nike Mind 001Release Date: January 8Release Price: $95 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: When Nike announced its new Nike Sport Research Lab platform, the Mind 001 was one of the most exciting reveals. The result of over 10 years of research, this serves as the brand’s first neuroscience-based footwear design. Another first, albeit of much less importance, is that I was given a pair to demo. After over a month of walking around in the slip-on, I can’t say how it’s improved the function of my brain. What I can confirm, however, is that it’s a mix of satisfying and odd walking around with the pods underfoot, compressing like bubble wrap. For those looking to switch up their slide game, this is a fun option with a variety of launch colorways en route to shelves this week.Air Jordan 40 “Wolf Grey”Release Date: January 8Release Price: $205 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: Jordan Brand has been on a roll with the Air Jordan 40, paying tribute to the Air Jordan line’s history by recreating the look of sneakers like the Air Jordan 16. This week, it’s taken a more subtle approach. The Air Jordan 40 “Wolf Grey” is as straightforward as it gets for a color scheme, with several grays combining across the performance-oriented upper. Meanwhile, the court-ready sole unit combines a white midsole with a milky white semi-translucent outsole.Nike Mind 002Release Date: January 8Release Price: $145 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: For those who would rather try out Nike’s new Mind system as a sneaker rather than a slide, you’re in luck. The Swoosh has also prepared the Mind 002 as a shoe version of its Mind 001 counterpart. The same neuroscience-based technology is present, backing the otherwise plain design. As with the slip-on, 22 independent foam nodes cradle the foot, delivering a unique sensation to each step. Five different colorways have been readied for the innovation-oriented launch as Nike continues to push the boundaries of footwear.Jordan Luka 5 “Venom”Release Date: January 8Release Price: $135 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: For the second week in a row, a new signature shoe is here. Luka Dončić and the Jumpman team are the next pairing to drop a sequel, this time offering their fifth entry in the Jordan Luka line with the aptly-named Jordan Luka 5. New to Dončić’s kicks is the combination of a full-length Zoom Strobel and an ISOband that emphasizes control. These two join a Cushlon 3.0 midsole and Dončić’s signature ISOplate to create a sneaker that is ready to make anyone dominate like Dončić does.Nike Air Force 1 Low and Dunk Low “Year of the Horse”Release Date: January 9Release Price: $125 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: Nike is ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year with two new sneakers that embrace a “Year of the Horse” theme. Up first is an Air Force 1 Low that sees an all-white look enlivened by tiny horses embroidered throughout the upper, as well as plush Swooshes and a tongue tag with a farm backdrop. This same style of tag design is present on its Dunk Low counterpart, albeit with its own graphic. Off-white connects with khaki and mossy tones, while red is a rich accent color for the branding elements. What sets this pair apart is the heel, which features thematic, ornate embroidery.Nike Baltoro “Olive Khaki”Release Date: January 9Release Price: $145 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: That’s not all for the Swoosh, its stacked roster is rounded out by the Baltoro boot. Having returned to shelves last year, it’s back for more action as winter continues on. This week, a new “Olive Khaki” composition places brown overlays atop a black base. Its upper’s material makeup leans on suede and textile, which, in tandem, create a rich blend of textures. As with its other colorways, the shoe boasts a rugged structure that is reinforced to handle the elements.Doublet x ASICS GEL-QUANTUM 360 I AMP “Tyrannosaurus Rex”Release Date: January 10Release Price: ¥37,400 JPY (approx. $239 USD)Where to Buy: atmosWhy You Should Cop: Breaking up the otherwise all-Nike lineup is a new campaign from Doublet and ASICS. The two are moving on from cardboard boxes to the legendary Tyrannosaurus Rex as their point of inspiration. Taking on the Japanese sportswear brand’s new GEL-QUANTUM 360 I AMP model, the ferocious dinosaur species’ head covers the upper. This element combines with the silhouette’s segmented sole unit to resemble teeth with an off-white finish. Its packaging takes on the same approach, creating a dinosaur head that opens to reveal a mouth with the shoes inside of it.