Step Up Your Sneaker Game

Everyone should have cool sneakers.  And by that I mean sneakers that make you happy when you put them on.  I'm not particularly trendily or well dressed above the ankles, but my shoe game it tight.  I'm not afraid to wear some questionable stuff on my feet, and Mark is even farther our there than I am.  In what might become a recurring bit, I will suggest a couple shoes you should consider adding to your rotation.

Anyone can rock Stan Smiths, and I firmly believe everyone should have at least one pair of them.  These are currently marked down to $48 so the risk factor is low.  They're not your standard Stans but no one should lack the confidence to wear them.

Chalk white nubuck uppers with a translucent gray sole?  Yes please.

Also on sale at adidas are these Stan Smiths in Primeknit.  Get them now for $66 and you're all set for the summer.

If you're feeling confident and you don't plan on encountering bad weather, consider these brown velvet Stan Smiths for $60.

Wear these and you're well prepared for situations like this:

Like my doormat tells you, watch ya step kid!  Now go tighten up your footwear collection.

I Like the Way You Walk, MmmHmm

It's a semi-well-known fact that we've got sneakerheads in our community. Zman dropped science about the awful Air Obamas released in 2009. And just today, Mark nodded approvingly at former Gator Joe Haden's impressive collection of kicks:

We've also got a couple of runners in our number. Danimal's a damn Ironman, I log a few miles when not loudly suffering from poison ivy, Dave's run a marathon, and Clarence has worn a mean path from his couch to his fridge.

I don't think either group will have many kind things to say about Adidas' new offering. The Springblade (pictured below) will go on the market on August 1, retailing for $180. The shoe will immediately serve to identify poseurs who have both way too much disposable income and a substantial need to have people make fun of them behind their backs.

According to Adidas America's Director of Running (setting aside his support for these abominations, that seems a cool job) Mikal Peveto, "Six years in the making, Springblade provides one of the highest energy returns in the industry." Six years in the making, and nobody looked closely and said, "Dude, it makes me look like a millipede"?

I get the need to innovate, and I understand that true trailblazers run the risk of looking like idiots. You're talking to the guy who's leading the 'rugby will be America's sport' bandwagon. And wore seersucker pants to a biker bar. Truly, I get it.

I'm also a huge Adidas fan - I like their styling much better than any other major athletic brand. I own multiple pairs of their shoes, several pairs of shorts, multiple shirts, and even a golf jacket. I'm pro-Adidas, in a major way. (Note to Adidas: I'm not one of those bloggers averse to taking free stuff to say good things about products and/or companies. Hit me up. We'll talk.)

But I'm not wrong about the Springblade. Those things are awful. Bookmark this post, because it may be the only place you can see a picture of these shoes.

Other than Mikal Peveto's closet.