Over the past 25 years, sneaker collecting has transformed from a niche hobby to a worldwide phenomenon. Growing up, most kids had two or three pairs of sneakers. Today, kids and adults alike fill their closets with them. It’s a trend that transcends generations and backgrounds. People who could have cared less about Air Jordans five years ago are now stockpiling them because it’s fun—and more than a little bit addictive. Once you have one pair, you need another. And another. (And another.) The problem is, we don’t all have spare closets—and bedrooms, and guest bedrooms—to fill with every single colorway of every Jordan ever. Nor, it goes without saying, do we all have the income to do it. Luckily, as it turns out, you don’t actually need every colorway of the Jordan IV.
The key to sneaker collecting is focusing on what you truly love, finding some sort of balance between everyday kicks and ones you'll bust out on special occasions, and then passing on everything else. And sure, that's easier said than done. There are thousands of new releases each year, making it relatively easy to spot, if not to cop, something that'll pique your interest on a near-weekly basis. But if you stick to a few handy general guidelines, you’ll be able to temper your worst inclinations the next time you want to pick up those Off-White x Air Rubber Dunks you'll never, ever wear.
There are 10 basic categories I tend to rely on to keep my buying habits in check. I haven’t narrowed my collection down to 10 sneakers just yet, though I’ve definitely thinned the herd significantly over the past 6 months (it sits at around 75 at the moment, but it was at over 200 at one point). My main rule now is that if I acquire a new pair, another one’s gotta go. So whether you’re 14 and just starting out or you’re 40 and need to trim down the collection, here are the 10 sneaker categories I recommend referencing to build a solid collection that'll always keep you looking fresh and, most importantly, stand the test of time. Continue reading from Esquire
The Beginner's Guide to Sneaker Collecting (Forbes)
20 Sneakerheads Discuss the Reality of Sneaker Collecting (Complex)
Millennials Are Changing How Sneakers Are Seen as Status Items (Business Insider)
Tips from Sneaker Heads on Scoring the Hottest Shoes and Keeping Them Fresh (New York Times)
Are You a Sneaker Head? (New York Times)
The Collectible-Sneaker Game: A Guide for Obsessives and Beginners (Wall Street Journal)
