At first glance, finding a gift for the sneakerhead in your life might seem difficult. Especially if you’re not in that world. What could such a person possibly want, besides shoes? Laces? Dr. Scholl’s inserts?
But being into sneakers comes with the constant reminder that no kicks last forever — even if the price you’ve paid makes it feel like a lifetime warranty is deserved. Shoes require upkeep, storage, and cleaning. There’s serious work that the passionate sneakerhead has to put in.
if the paragraph above describes someone in your life, you’ve found the right piece. Below you’ll find the gifts that any kicks aficionado is sure to enjoy.
MISSLO Nylon Travel Shoe Bags, $10.49 on Amazon
Packing and storing shoes can be a real pain, but the MISSLO Travel shoe bags are an easy solution. Separate and protect your sneakerhead’s favorite shoes from damage and dust so they can keep their prized kicks in pristine condition. Make sure you grab the multi-colored pack for easy color-coding, they’ll love you for it.
Sneakertub Subscription, $49.99-$699.99
Sneakertub can get pricey, so reserve this gift for someone you really care about. A Sneakertub subscription will provide your favorite sneakerhead with new monthly sneakers and sneaker accessories from brands like Puma, New Balance, and Saucony. Each box is carefully curated so it won’t just be a box of random shit no one would ever want — choose the tier that works best for the gift’s receiver. And if the relationship blows up, no worries — they’re all commitment free!
Moso Natural Shoe Deodorizer, $9.95 on Amazon
Sneakerheads can be a sentimental bunch, sometimes they won’t want to let go of a favorite pair of kicks despite their sorry run-down, stank-ass state.
Grab these shoe deodorizer purifying bags — they absorb odor and prevent the spread of mold, mildew, and bacteria. The bags are reusable for up to two years and rejuvenate by being placed in the sun. Help your loved ones bring their sneakers back to life, and… you know… keep their smells out of your car and home and all that.
Reshoevn8r Cleaning Kit, $19.88 on Amazon
A serious sneakerhead will always seek to keep their kicks in tip-top shape and this cleaning kit by Reshoevn8r is one of the best on the market (even though it sounds like an Arnold Schwarzenegger film). The sneaker solution is 100% natural, free of harsh chemicals or abrasives, and is safe to use on most colors and materials. The synthetic bristle brush is great for removing dirt from the midsole and the microfiber towel is perfect for removing in-the-moment stains, scuffs and grime.
Gift Cards, $20-$100 at Various Stores
A gift card can sometimes seem like a cheap and thoughtless gift, but sneakerheads have very particular tastes — so they’ll greatly appreciate a gift card from their favorite brands over having you blindly choose silhouette they might hate. Whether it’s for the full price of a fresh pair or a good chunk that they can take the full price, this gift is an instant win.
IRIS Shoe Box, $56.99 on Amazon
Storing sneakers is a headache for sneakerheads everywhere, so they’ll appreciate these transparent shoe boxes that allow them to store and display simultaneously. What good is having all those pairs of shoes if no one gets to see them, right?
Sneakers by Rodrigo Corral, Alex French, and Howie Kahn, $16.96 on Amazon
Your sneaker-loving pal is clearly interested in is visuals, so they’ll love this coffee table book full of art and photos of some of the world’s most iconic shoes. And if they are interested, the book also contains interviews and behind the scenes stories about the biggest names in the shoe game. Best of both worlds!
Socks, $2.90-$5.90 from Uniqlo
A pair of socks can make or break an outfit. They can add a whole new visual component to a pair of kicks and the wrong pair can totally ruin a look. Sneakerheads can never have too many socks. We suggest Uniqlo, they have a great selection of simple and soft socks and their HeatTech line is perfect for the winter.
Cedar Shoe Tree, Prices Vary on Amazon
We know what you’re thinking, and yes a shoe tree DOES seem like a lame gift for an uncle you hate. However, sneakerheads generally implement their own shoe tree hacks in order to keep their leather shoes in perfect shape, so you might as well save them the tissue paper and just pick up a shoe tree.
Does it have to be cedar? No, but cedar will help to pull some of the moisture from the shoes and into the wood, which will increase the lifespan of a pair of kicks.
Vans Authentic, $50 at Vans
Somewhere someone is wearing a pair of original Authentic Vans. There is a good chance that even if you don’t care about sneakers, you’ve owned a pair. They never go out of style so they are pretty much a safe bet. Your beloved sneakerhead will either look fondly on them for nostalgia’s sake or wear them for quick slip-on occasions.
The brand has been introducing interesting colorways for decades now, but it’s tough to beach the look of the lavender shoes in the pic.
Adidas Superstar, $80 at Adidas
Truly iconic. Whether you’re about to hit the gym, run errands, or go out for a night on the town the Adidas Superstars will always look situation appropriate. They’re stylish, simple, their black and white colorway compliments most outfits, and the subtle gold lettering and tongue label add the right amount of flair.
You could customize the colorway, but honestly, the classic cloud white with core black looks is perfect. No one on earth would return a pair of these (given in the right size, of course).
Puma Suede Classic, $65 at Puma
Suede sneakers just look so good, and the Puma suedes are some of the best sneakers to implement the material. Burgundy or blue colorways feel season-appropriate, but they have plenty of other choices if those aren’t your jam.
Nike Cortez, $75 at Nike
Okay, we know what you’re thinking: “If these fools are running down the classics, why not go with the Air Force 1s?” Though those may be Nike’s most iconic silhouette, we want to make the case for the Nike Cortez. They’re leather, they look dope from the side, and they’re a lasting hit that’s appreciated across generations — from the OGs to the fashionistas of tomorrow.
These kicks are available right now in the Forrest Gump-esque Red, White, and Blue colorway, which is rare. The black and white colorway also looks great if you don’t want to seem all “yay, American pride!” in this current political climate.
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