Winning the UEFA Champions League title and the UEFA Euro 2016 championship, as well as earning his fourth Ballon d?Or, Cristiano Ronaldo‘s achievements for 2016 is commemorated with this extremely limited-edition Nike Mercurial Superfly CR7.
Aptly dubbed, ?Vitórias? — Portuguese for victories — the boot’s upper and its signature speed ribs incorporate a stylish Pure Platinum finish with a subtle blue metallic shine and an elegant fade from heel to toe. The Metallic Gold plate is a nod to the gold trophies Ronaldo won this year and the heel graphic reads ?Vitórias.? Finally, the CR7 logo and Swoosh are further highlighted by an iridescent shimmer.
Only 777 pairs are made and individually numbered.
You can purchase it online and at select Nike retailers sometime early next year.
One of the best iterations of the silhouette. Even though I don’t play soccer, I’m a fan of the design profile/colorway overall. Congrats to Ronaldo on a memorable 2016.
No matter what the shoe is, when it comes covered in gold it always catches your attention. Nike has had their fair share of gold kicks, and now we can add this Nike Cortez to the list.
Covered in a Metallic Gold leather all throughout the upper, this Cortez comes with additional hits of gold on the laces, inner liner, tongue, branding, and even the heel. The only contrast comes with the white midsole that gets hit with a black stripe.
Look for this Metallic Gold colorway of the Nike Cortez at select Nike retailers this holiday season.
Georgetown Students Hold Sit-In To Protest Against Nikes Unfair Labor Practices
By SoleInsider
Seventeen Georgetown undergraduates, who call themselves the Georgetown Solidarity Committee, took over president John DeGioia?s office last week to demand that the school cut its licensing agreement with Nike because of what they say are unfair labor practices at the company?s factories in Vietnam.
The two-day student sit-in ended after the university accepted their conditions and promised that the school?s president would meet to discuss their concerns by Wednesday of this week.
They pointed to a recent report by the Worker Rights Consortium, an independent labor monitoring group, that alleged poor treatment of workers including padlocking them into the factory, not allowing bathroom breaks, temperatures in the factory that averaged above 90 degrees and the firing of workers who become pregnant.
The students want the university to not renew its contract with Nike unless the contract includes language that expressly allowed the WRC to conduct independent inspections and reports of Nike factories.
Sabrina Oei, a Nike spokeswoman, said in a statement that the company remains hopeful of reaching an agreement on Georgetown?s licensing contract.
For updates on the developing story, stay tuned to Kicks On Fire.
Was there a more surprising shoe than the Nike SF-AF1 in 2016? Nike Sportswear made sure that Bruce Kilgore’s iconic basketball retro wasn’t forgotten throughout all four major seasons with a number of iconic retro colorways returning to store shelves, but perhaps the most anticipated release was a completely new Nike Air Force 1 model inspired by militaristic aesthetics and durable materials to help hold you down throughout the dreary months ahead. The Nike Special Field Air Force 1 released in a number of coveted colorways and then quickly disappeared from store shelves with the accompanying duffle bag and paracord straps. Today we have some good news though, as we’ve received word that a new Nike SF AF1 Binary Blue women’s exclusive look will be headed to retailers in the near future.
The Nike SF AF1 Binary Blue pairs the waxed canvas, ballistic nylon, and premium leather construction with a deep navy monochromatic colorway while black accents add some depth. International retailers are reporting that this pair will be available before the New Year celebration too, so we’ll be on the lookout for any announcement regarding this women’s exclusive NSW offering.
Check out more of this upcoming Nike SF-AF1 colorway after the break and we’ll be sure to keep you updated in regards to an official Release Date right here on Sneaker News.
If you could draw up a plan for the trajectory of the Nike Kyrie 2 before it even dropped, it would probably go something like this: become the affordable alternative to teammate LeBron James’ signature shoe, gain cult status with hilariously creative commercials, have Uncle Drew rock a black and gold pair in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and hit the final shot over the unanimous MVP Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors (who held a 3-1 lead). The final act? Talk to Juan at Kicks On Fire after the season about the shoes (twiceover) and be featured on the site via a top 10 list highlighting the best colorways of Kyrie 2 before moving on to the Nike Kyrie 3.
Well, that was easy. What?
Anyways, with the Nike Kyrie 2 What The dropping today (and promptly selling out) and the Doernbecher edition launching this weekend, it’s time to bid our farewell to Kyrie’s second signature shoe with a look back at our picks for the Top 10 Nike Kyrie 2 colorways.
Nike
Nike Kyrie 2 Kyrache
Nike
Who knew that a name like Kyrie would be ripe for puns? We kick off the list with one of our favorite sneaker nicknames this year that also doubles as a tribute to one of the most influential Nike shoes of all time. From trainers to basketball shoes, the Huarache left an indelible mark on the “culture” and with such a unique look that was ahead of its time in the ’90s and perfect for today’s sneakerhead, it gets the retro treatment time and time again. The Kyrache is an homage to the original Air Flight Huarache that the Michigan Fab Five made famous and the details, from the colors to the implementation of the Kyrie logo on the Huarache stamp, shows you the level of reverence the swoosh has for the classics.
Nike Kyrie 2 Battle Grey
Nike
What better way to start a title defense than to be draped in gold? Nike’s Battle Grey Pack was the precursor for the season ahead and Kyrie and LeBron’s Soldier 10 got the championship treatment with gold accents. I can’t be the only one who sees how well certain shades of grey go so well with gold and think it has something to do with how dope the Nike Kobe Prelude Pack – in particular the Zoom Kobe 2 – turned out, right?
Nike Kyrie 2 Black History Month
Nike
We’ve seen a bit of diminishing returns when it comes to some of Nike’s themed releases, such as Easter and Christmas, as the designs have become hit or miss. Their annual Black History Month slate has also fallen into this trap as of late, but the Kyrie 2 BHM has bucked that trend thanks to the colorful use of the shoe’s strap and sole. These were easily the highlight of Nike Basketball’s BHM offering from this year.
Nike Kyrie 2 Parade
Nike
Timing is everything and there’s a chance this general release would not have been as popular as it was if Kyrie had not worn them during the Cavaliers’ championship parade. But who cares? He did wear them and the profile of this colorway increased exponentially. But beyond that, the Parade (or Birds of Paradise as it was originally designated) colorway is really just a clean colorway with the white and black split that’s broken up (in a good way) by the colorful strap and volt accents.
Nike Kyrie 2 What The
Nike
For as much grief as I give the “What The” theme, Nike never ceases to make me go “WTF?!” when I see what they have next. The Kyrie 2 What The definitely falls in that category because instead of looking like an explosion at a crayon factory, Nike went for subtlety and changed up the patterns found on the heel and strap that recalls Kyrie’s championship run and the various Kyrie 2 releases. It’s the “What The” release that actually has to make you think instead of banging you over the head with its color choices. I can appreciate that on an intellectual level and judging by how fast it sold out online, it looks the people took it the same way too.
Nike Kyrie 2 Four Wins Pack – Game 5
NBA/Getty Images
We didn’t get to see the gradient midsole a whole hell of a lot on the retail Kyrie 2s, so it was a nice surprise to find out that this PE that Kyrie wore during Game 5 of the NBA Finals would be releasing alongside LeBron’s Soldier 10s as part of Nike Championship Pack…
On a side note, props to Nike for releasing not one, not two, not three, but four different championship packs a few months ago. Why bother designing a championship sneaker for two of your signature guys when you get just fast track retail versions of their PEs, slap them on a fancy box, sell them out in seconds and call it a day? That’s why they stay winning, folks…
Nike
Nike Kyrie 2 Effect
Nike
If there’s one nitpick we can lay on the Kyrie 2, it’s that the early Effect colorway was such a table setter that it was slightly disappointing that Nike never went back to that level of crazy on their later releases. It makes the Effect colorway stand out even more from the pack, but we kind of wanted to see what else Nike could have done given that level of freedom.
Nike Kyrie 2 Doernbecher
Nike
The Kyrie 2 Doernbecher is not dropping until this weekend, but it has already made such an impact on our lives because of the story behind the shoe. Designed by Andy Grass, a child who battled two collapsed lungs due to an accident, this is what resilience, courage, and love looks like.
Nike Kyrie 2 Four Wins Pack – Game 7
Nike
For as much confidence and faith we have in Kyrie’s ability to take over a game, never did we imagine that he would be the one that would hit the shot that would eventually turn into the game-winner in a Game 7. Not when LeBron James has played in more Finals games that some of us can count, not when Kevin Love is arguably a better shooter, not when J.R. Smith is well, J.R. Smith. But there was Uncle Drew, teaching the youngblood Steph Curry a thing or two about getting buckets. The shoes he wore? Those black and gold joints that take up the #2 spot on our list.
Nike Kyrie 2 Ky-Rispy Kreme
Nike
“It was literally just (as simple as that). Let?s take my name and apply it to the shoes and connecting it to things that I love and it was like, Krispy Kreme…” – Kyrie Irving, Krispy Kreme fan
Nom. Nom. Nom.
And yes, I will be forever bitter that I don’t own a pair that comes with the sweet, sweet box. Size 11.5, Nike (or somebody that’s willing to trade down the line).
Treated in an autumnal appropriate hue of olive across its smooth suede and mesh upper, the militaristic-inspired color scheme is juxtaposed against a crisp white-colored rubber sole unit for an aesthetically pleasing two-tone finish overall. Notable details include the visible air bubble unit in the heel and miniature tonal Swooshes across the rear.
Retailing for $160, you can purchase a pair at select Nike retailers starting next Tuesday, December 20th.
You can expect big things for Penny Hardaway’s retro Nike line in 2017. Not only will the famous futuristic Eric Avar creation, the Nike Air Foamposite One and Foamposite Pro be headed to retailers to celebrate the silhouette’s 20th anniversary, but Nike Basketball is planning on bringing back a less heralded ‘1 Cent’ creation in the oft-forgotten Nike Air Penny 4 throughout next year. The Nike Air Penny 4 “Orlando” colorway will be one of the first retros to pop up come Spring 2017 featuring a premium construction of black tumbled leather, royal blue patent leather, and a rich synthetic nubuck to take us back to the days when Penny was a perennial All-Star in the Eastern Conference.
The Nike Penny 4 is undoubtedly the outlier in the Penny signature series lineage given its mid-top construction complete with an ankle strap, a unique shroud covering the more traditional lacing system, and the Air Max technology in the heel. This black “Orlando” take is a completely new colorway, but you’d never guess that given the simple combination of black and royal finishing up with an icy outsole for an homage to Penny’s Magic days. We’ve known about the coming Nike Penny 4 retros since all the way back in September (you can read up on more upcoming colorways here).
Check out more of Penny’s latest retro and be on the lookout for this pair to arrive at retailers this coming Spring 2017 season. For more of the latest updates, head over to our Release Dates page.
The Nike Air Max 95 continues to receive an update for the season, as it’s now presented in a mixture of blue shades for its latest iteration.
Donning an official blend of dark obsidian, hyper cobalt and coastal blue across its suede, leather, mesh construction — the model is further complemented with wolf grey accents and a white Air-equipped midsole, as well as a blue outsole to complete the overall profile.
Priced at $160, you can purchase this model at select Nike retailers worldwide very soon. Stay tuned for updates.
Images: Nike
Author’s Take
You can never go wrong with classic runners and this style is one of them. This colorway is another solid option to its ever growing archive.
The summer Olympics are long over, but the Nike Cortez is still going for the gold with this new colorway sporting a golden metallic sheen. The all-time classic silhouette from Nike gets an attention grabbing makeover this winter with this pure gold edition with everything up top?even the laces?in a metallic treatment. Unfortunately for many of us, these are only releasing in Grade School sizing, so if you can fit into a pair, look for them soon at select Nike Sportswear retailers or Nike.com.
Straying from its signature eccentric mashup of previous colorways, the silhouette dons a minimal tonal finish instead, while it features several of Kyrie?s stories through unique 3-D textural graphics intricately molded onto its profile. As a nod to the ?Dream? Kyrie 2, as well, the sneaker is finished off with chenille swooshes and multicolored detailing for its lining as well as the insoles.
You can purchase this pair at select Nike retailers nationwide starting tomorrow, December 12th.
I would?ve preferred a more eccentric mashup of colors instead but, this rendition is pretty solid. The tonal look isn?t that bad either. It’s stylish as well.
Introduced in 1994, this OG variation of the Nike Air Unlimited, which was worn by Hall of Famer, David Robinson — has now arrived at select retailers nationwide.
Flaunting its classic color scheme of black/white with emerald green accents gracing the lining of its distinctive high-cut neoprene collar, heel branding and dual cross straps and outsole, the model’s overall build is comprised of smooth leather and nubuck to retain its classic design.
Retailing for $150, you can purchase this standout pair at select Nike stockists nationwide now.
I’ve always appreciated this model. This is one of the best-looking bball sneakers from Nike’s lineage in my opinion. This colorway is a must-have as well.
If you like the Nike Air Max 95 and blue sneakers, then you’re definitely going to love these. The iconic running shoe gets draped in all blue for this upcoming colorway, featuring multiple shades of suede, leather, and mesh across the signature wavy upper from dark to light. Thrown in a little Wolf Grey to break up the blue just a bit, and you have your next must-have edition of the Air Max 95. You’ll be able to pick up these blue beauties from select Nike Sportswear retailers and Nike.com soon.
The Nike Air Max Zero Doernbecher By Chehayla Hyatt Debuts Next Weekend
By SoleInsider
Nike’s annual Doernbecher Freestyle Program which debuted in 2004, continues this year, as it’s essentially a collaboration with OHSU Doernbecher Children?s Hospital in Portland, Oregon.
Featuring the Nike Air Max Zero, designed by 10-year old Chehayla Hyatt, who currently battling cystic fibrosis — one day while receiving treatment, she looked up and spotted a flock of wooden birds hanging from the ceiling. ?Mom,? she said, ?the birds are like the Doernbecher staff. They take us under their wings.?
With this theme in mind, the vibrance and wisdom is simply prevalent across the silhouette’s color palette of barely orange, sunset glow, lime green and purple.
Retailing for $130, you can purchase this limited edition pair at select Nike stockists starting Saturday, December 17th.
I always look forward to these designs because kids can create really appealing sneakers as well. This pair holds much more value too and it’s for a good cause.
Kermit The Frog Vibes On This Nike Air Huarache Ultra Doernbecher
By SoleInsider
This special edition Nike Air Huarache Ultra Doernbecher was designed by 10-year old Braylin Soon, who is an aspiring actress that is working towards her dreams with a brand-new liver to replace the one that failed due to autoimmune hepatitis.
Her vibrant personality and big screen goals is perfectly encapsulated with this colorful iteration of the silhouette, which pays homage to one of her favorite and inspiring performers — Kermit the Frog. Additionally, six stars on the upper represent Braylin?s liver donor, who was six when she died.
Braylin expressed; ?I?m so grateful to that little girl, so I wanted to do something to honor her.?
With this pair retailing for $115, you can purchase it at select Nike retailers starting Saturday, December 17th.
The Nike Air Force 1 Ultra Flyknit Mid Is Spotted In Heather Grey
By SoleInsider
The Nike Air Force 1 Ultra Flyknit Mid got off to a strong start when it made its debut earlier this year. As the year went by, the hype went down and the releases began to slow down. Regardless, in my opinion it’s still one of the best models of 2016, so when I saw that another colorway was on the way, I was pretty happy to hear the news.
What you see above is the Nike Air Force 1 Ultra Flyknit Mid Heather Grey. As the name suggests, it comes with a Flyknit upper done in a Heather Grey colorway. More of the same hue is found on the leather hits noted on the heel, strap and Nike Swoosh. Below you will find a White Ultra (cored out) sole unit to give you contrast and comfort at the same time. Need these in your life? Expect them to release stateside sometime in the near future.
