Sneaker Freaker International

Retro Runner Rehab is back in business 🤝 We initially launched the informative series in 2016 to spread the knowledge on forgotten gems. As runners have once again taken over the sneaker landscape, we’re reviving RRR to share the best of the best, and why they’re worthy of the limelight. Which deep-cut kicks do you think deserve a retro? 🤔 https://lnkd.in/gBVsKGqE

Is Jon Wexler back at Yeezy? 👀 YEEZY has landed JD Sports Fashion US, and one individual who’s been a vocal supporter is Wex. The former adidas Yeezy GM shared a post about the release, sparking reunion theories across the sneakersphere. Sleuths also noticed he’d liked a comment hinting at a potential return to the fold. Wexler spent close to three decades at the Three Stripes and eventually rose to General Manager of Yeezy, playing an integral role in building the partnership from the ground up, before exiting the company back in 2020. If anyone knows what it takes for Yeezy to succeed, it’s definitely him. Nothing official yet, but if he’s is back in the mix, things are beginning to get real… inter-wex-ing. 

If you know your New Balance numerics better than your times tables, you’d be familiar with the niche 2040 franchise. The first version of this line arrived in 2012, and the whole idea was to push the brand’s manufacturing in the United States to the absolute limit. Today, New Balance just released the ambitious 2040v5 – wrapped in Horween Leather atop two carbon plates, and with three-tiered cushioning. There’s been quite a lot of conversation around the release, mainly around the price tag. So, why is the New Balance 2040v5 so expensive? We broke down the full picture 👇 https://lnkd.in/gfpbUFBx

Built for takeoff 🚀 the LEGO Group and Nike are shooting for the stars, as they gear up to launch their new Air Force 1 set. The Bruce Kilgore-designed classic takes its LEGO brick form in a white-and-grey colourway, with interchangeable orange Swooshes, and accompanied by an astronaut minifigure. https://lnkd.in/g_EE2jSd

Is this the end of an era? ⚽️ The rumour mill is churning like never before, with reports that Kylian Mbappé could be leaving Nike after a whopping 19 years. The commercial partnership is one of the biggest in football, but reports suggest the superstar Frenchman has already ended his contractual relationship with the Swoosh as of July 31, begging the question – where could he possibly go next? The usual suspects don't feel like an obvious fit. A deal this massive would have to be with a brand that's got the wallet for it, and if Steph Curry's move to Li-Ning is any hint, we wouldn't be surprised if Kylian's next move comes from outside the football space entirely.

We're not letting the Big Cat out of the bag when we say: If Justin Oliver is sharing a pair, they're guaranteed to be a certified banger 🔥 Having collected the best of PUMA Group's kicks for over two decades, Justin certainly has enough heat to rock for nine lifetimes. We connected with him to uncover how he got into the German brand, and the significance that the Clyde holds for him personally. https://lnkd.in/gFuNFmc4

On a hot streak 🥵 After dropping the first two colourways of their Nike Homescape Woven colab last month, Soulgoods USA are finally set to launch their 'Chile Red' pair. The Beijing retailer definitely know how to spice up a collection, with this third version landing in a tongue-burning shade of red, paired with ginger and black elements. https://lnkd.in/gAkgAWxj

Great Scott in a sweaty headband 🎾 Nike's Air Tech Challenge II 'Mag' is the Agassi/McFly mashup you didn't know you needed, giving the tradition-defying model a bath in Back to the Future II's Nike Mag palette. This ace is coming in fast like a Delorean outta 1990 – tap in to read up on release info, as well as why these icons of court and screen make so much sneaker sense 🔥 https://lnkd.in/gxbWeYs4

Vandy the Pink knows a thing or two about serving up new flavours 🍨 We linked up with the streetwear designer at his ASICS release in NYC to get the scoop on how he approached creating his latest ice cream-themed colab, and what his favourite hidden details are on each pair. Grab your spoons and be ready to dig in when they hit shelves globally on August 14 🥄

One of the 2026 sneaker scene’s worst-kept secrets was that Ye’s YEEZY was partnering with JD Sports to get the brand's footwear back on store shelves for the first time in years. It’s now been confirmed that Yeezy will be dropping a barrage of their YS-01s as well as the YS-02, BL-01, AQ-01 and HL-02 silhouettes. This is a megalithic move from the UK-born retailer, who will be releasing their first batch of Yeezys on August 13. https://lnkd.in/guE75F_k