SNEAKER PRESERVATION SOCIETY on Instagram

Air Trainer 1’s are just… like the perfect shoe. You can wear them any day for anything. • TRUE or FALSE

So, word on the street is that these are coming back again soon? • Let me know!

The Community. The Culture. The Conversations. • Good homie @ayo_johnnyboi sat down with veterans @bobbykicks_kickstory and @gotee_kickstory on @kickstorypodcast to talk about his origin stories and stories from his sneaker life. • In this conversation, Johnny tells us of his first neck breaker, the Air Flare SC. Dude was playing ball in Air Flares! An iconic model designed by @shoeitecture and famously worn by @agassi in his triumphant @usopen win as an unseeded entry. It’s got its sports stories. It’s got its process stories. It’s got its personal connection stories. I’d argue that, in fact, it’s the stories that matter. Because… it is. • Keep going Johnny Boi. Keep sharing those stories, building community, and forming those local meetups with @big_macadoshis and the Colorado hittahz. • Have a listen to his conversation at @kickstorypodcast

The best thing about this hobby, this culture, this community, is that we connect thru a lowest common denominator: Sneakers • Some of us like to share stories. Some like to relive moments in sports history. Some like to digest design, thought, and process. Some are here to make a living. Some are here for social acceptance and validation. Some are here to flex. Whatever your vice is, embrace it and your audience will receive you. Sometimes those audiences overlap. • I’m fortunate to have met and interacted with so many around the world, considering that I’m an introvert at heart. But know that today, tomorrow, or long after I’m gone, I hope I’m remembered fondly, as I pledge to do the same for those who were here, were established before, or leave before me. This is Community. This, is what will define the future of this Culture. • Sneakers are the Glue that binds us. • Find the Joy in Sneakers.

#TRAINERTUESDAY • On Tuesdays we talk Trainers. • @jdsports has a long standing relationship with Nike, and for years have done retailer exclusives in that signature Photo Blue colorway. In 2009, I remember coming across their site in the UK and seeing these Air Trainer 1’s. At the time I was focused on the Agassi and Tech Challenge archive, so I foolishly passed these up. This was long before JDS came Stateside. • Now, 15+ years later, the forums OG @crisone hits me up if I know what these are and if I want them. No brainer. • I was Class by Tuesday. • Guv’nor status. • People calling me ‘Bruv.’ • I don’t need sugar for my tea, I’m sweet enough. • Yet another experience that reinforces the connectivity of sneakers. Yet another experience that reinforces the community of sneakers. Yet another opportunity to further the culture around sneakers. • Do you remember the 2009 JD Sports Exclusive Air Trainer 1? • Find the Joy in Sneakers.

#MJMONDAYS • “It’s the little differences. I mean, they got the same s**t over there they got here, but, it’s just, just, there it’s a little different.” • 35 years of arguably the greatest Air Jordan model of all time. The “Salesman Sample” based on the 2000 Retro sample carries the design language with the little differences. But little differences can equate to a large impact. The Salesman Sample Retro is superb; doesn’t hold a candle to the OG.

Simply put, when the modern-day general sneaker community looks back at impactful “Golden Era”Nike marquee product, they simply look past the fact that Nike then wasn’t the behemoth Nike-now. Function, innovation, design, and style were risks. Necessities. A large investment on a failed product could have spelt demise. You hear the stories. Huarache Runner: Zero orders. Betting the farm on Michael Jordan. The Air Trainer (1) getting ridiculed at sales presentation to retailers. Just like anything successful, Nike has had to endure. And these experiences are their stories. And we are grateful for the colorful and spirited histories behind not just the aforementioned models, but SO many others. A shoe is just a shoe. You can’t manufacture personality or spirit. It’s the stories that matter. • FIND THE JOY IN SNEAKERS.

Hit me up.

“A SHOE BY ITSELF DOESN’T MEAN JACK. It’S THE STORIES THAT MATTER.” • The @eqlz_world 247 NXT x @naterobinson designed by design legend @aaron.ac.cooper brings a low cut version to the performance 247 line. Grippy. Shifty. Supportive. Responsive. Form follows Function. • This edition celebrates Nate’s time in high school thru his stint in New York with colorway, and details. The drawings on the paper and box tell the stories of the kids he spent time with while recovering from a life saving kidney transplant.

R E D O C T O B E R • Design Team Only

Tennis may suck. But also, it doesn’t. • Commission by @tom.andrich • #TENNISSUCKS #AirChallengeLWP #GuerrillaTennis

#TRAINERTUESDAY • On Tuesdays we talk Trainers. • This is one of the rarest, if not THE rarest 1988 Air Trainer High colorway. I’ll admit that I didn’t even know it existed until @j_trainer_iii shot over a “today years old” screenshot of a Japanese sneaker magazine. As you can see in the final photo, they were offered up to size 28CM (US 10). @lucosemembrane inquires if it was only made up to a size 10? Were these Japan-Market exclusive? Inquiring minds want to know! I WANT TO KNOW! • The Air Trainer High featured a full-length A I R, and this pair, in this state, take that quite literally. Sourcing out a donor and will fast track these over to Marcus at @_restorekicks to do his thing. It’s always a cool thing to take something old and make them new again. • So, let us know your thoughts on this Rare A I R. Have you seen these before?!

For the second year in a row, one of the Big 3 American Sports (Baseball, Basketball, Football) is hosting a marquee sporting event in the San Francisco Bay Area. Last year we were blessed with the NBA All Star Weekend. This year it’s the Super Bowl. • Brands hosted activations all over The City and there were several prime releases. I stumbled upon the Nike Air Diamond Turf II “Prime Closet” at @shoepalace on Powell. Said to be a 200 pair inventory, and only available at that particular store. While in the shop, my son and I ran into @robbie_digital88 from Nike DNA, social media stalwart @dj_sneakerhead , and even ran into Nike CEO, Elliott Hill. A Shock Drop on SNKRS later in the evening quickly sold thru as well. • The colorway harkens back to the championship year when @deionsanders played for the @49ers en route to a Super Bowl win. This colorway never released in 1994, and has finally come out of the closet here in SF. The gold metal hang tag reads “Prime Closet” and features an engraved signature. Also returning is Deion’s number 21, which was long missing while he was away from The Brand. • What are your thoughts on the “Prime Closet” DT2? • Who you got for the Super Bowl? • “I hope both teams lose.” - George Kittle

The Air Diamond Turf II • When others are talking about Practice, these were taking about Playoffs. The reemergence of the Diamond Turf series is a welcomed sight. With the lead up to Super Bowl 60 in San Francisco, and @deionsanders direct connection to @49ers Super Bowl Championship team, it feels so right. • KIds DT2 brought to you by: @instyleshoes1999 • Who are you going for in this year’s Super Bowl?

Starting 6 February 2026, the good folks @sneakermuseumoakland start their latest exhibition: “World of Sports.” They carefully curated examples to showcase many athlete’s signature models across the landscape of sneakers. I was fortunate to be invited to contribute to their exhibit, and hope that my contribution helps SMO further their efforts and energy into propagating the significance and relevance that stories play in the culture of sneakers. • If you’re in the Oakland or Greater Bay Area, stop by and support the endeavors of those who care so much in the cultural and connective value of sneakers. • Sneaker Museum Oakland 902 Washington St. Oakland, CA • Exhibit runs thru early-April