FRESH KICKS: GOAT Rounds Up the Most Popular Sneaker Releases of Q3

Over the last few months, an increasing emphasis on blending pop culture and sneaker design has lent itself to a slew of footwear  collaborations that span television shows, streetwear brands and pro skaters. From the Netflix series Stranger Things and the classic iconography of SpongeBob to street culture mainstays like AWAKE NY and Bodega, summer and early fall releases cater to a wide range of enthusiasts. Nike, Jordan and YEEZY remain firmly in the conversation with consistent sought after drops. Tapping into the energy of the last few months, GOAT has rounded up the quarter’s most popular offerings.

‘Stranger Things’ x Nike Air Tailwind ‘79

Release Date: July 12, 2019
Lowest Price: $140 USD

As the story goes, 34 years ago, a couple of transport vehicles departed Nike HQ in Beaverton, Oregon, and went missing in Hawkins, Indiana. The lost shipments recently began popping up, piece by piece, and that’s how the Stranger Things and Nike collab was born. The Nike Air Tailwind ‘79 silhouette is the third release of the series. It’s swathed in a “Starcourt Mall” colorway, which takes cues from season 3 of the Netflix show, and features detailing like insoles containing the Russian code cracked by Stevie, Robin and Dustin. The shoe has taken Instagram by storm with its mostly grey upper of nylon material that can fade away to reveal secret red and black color shadings, hidden fabrics and logos.

‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ x Nike Kyrie 5 “SpongeBob”

Release Date: August 10, 2019
Lowest Price: $200 USD

SpongeBob SquarePants, the Nickelodeon television show that premiered in 1999, influenced a generation and has carved out a place in modern pop culture with some of the internet’s most popular memes. It comes as no surprise then that the SpongeBob Squarepants x Nike Kyrie 5 was one of the most anticipated drops of the summer. The collaboration comprises two Kyrie signature models reimagined to feature five of the show’s key characters. The “SpongeBob” silhouette is dressed in the protagonist’s classic yellow hue, complemented by a kelp-like squiggly side swoosh, red midsole, gum outsole and hand-drawn SpongeBob behind the tongue. It’s easily one of the most fun-loving shoes of the year so far.

Eric Koston Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 “UNC”

Release Date: August 10, 2019
Lowest Price: $190 USD

Pro skater Eric Koston and Nike Skateboarding joined forces to drop the Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 in the same color as Michael Jordan’s alma mater, the University of North Carolina. The “Powder Blue” sneaker meshes the Tar Heel’s basketball legacy with Nike SB’s skate sensibility. The leather constructed upper complements the blue swoosh, while white Jordan brand detailing and Koston’s signature on the inner tongue tab round out the shoe.

Nike Air Jordan 4 “Cool Grey”

Release Date: August 1, 2019
Lowest Price: $120 USD

The Air Jordan 4 remains one of the most iconic basketball silhouettes in sneaker history and it’s been close to 15 years since we’ve seen the “Cool Grey” colorway. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Air Jordan 4, Nike released a true-to-the-original edition in August, replicating a 2004 drop. The sneaker carries a subtle grey nubuck on the upper with a contrasting thick white midsole, a hint of “Varsity Maize” and black detailing on the outsole and lace loops. The design remains consistent with the OG, as seen in the tongue patch, transparent air bubble, and chrome Jumpman logo on the back heel.

AWAKE NY x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 5 360

Release Date: June 20, 2019
Lowest Price: $230 USD

AWAKE NY founder Angelo Baque teamed up with ASICS to create one of the most refreshing collabs of the summer. The brand’s take on the GEL-KAYANO 5 360 features a “Silver Mint” colorway — a direct reference to Baque’s childhood and his visits to Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, New York. The shoe’s silver elements are a tribute to the park’s Unisphere, a large globe that sits in the middle of the public space, while green detailing draws inspiration from the Statue of Liberty. The shoe boasts a mix of mesh construction, metallic leather, suede overlays and a flexible rubber outsole. ASICS’ 360-degree GEL technology contributes a performance element to the silhouette while AWAKE NY and ASICS cobranding sits along the tongue, toe and heel.

Bodega x New Balance 997S “No Days Off”

Release Date: April 04, 2019
Lowest Price: $650 USD

Boston-based retailer Bodega was tapped by New Balance to put a spin on the brand’s 997S silhouette. The Bodega x New Balance 997S “No Days Off” touts a neoprene bootie complemented by grey suede overlays and a mesh forefoot. ABZORB and ENCAP provide tech-forward cushioning, while pops of color in orange, green and purple give the runner a clean lifestyle touch.

adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 “Magnet”

Release Date: September 09, 2019
Lowest Price: $320 USD

The adidas YEEZY BOOST 700 “Magnet” is one of the most sought after YEEZY drops of the last few months. With the signature white neoprene midsole sitting below a build of suede and leather construction, the reflective accents remain at the heel and can be seen in full in low light. This iteration keeps the same color scheme and gum sole as the OG YEEZY BOOST 700 “Wave Runner,” featuring a grey gradient on the upper and more emphasized orange accents on the midsole.

adidas YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 “Black”

Release Date: June 07, 2019
Lowest Price: $315 USD

The adidas YEEZY BOOST 350 V2 “Black” provides enthusiasts with an all-black offering of one of the most recognizable shoes in popular culture. The monochromatic shoe features the black colorway across the entirety of the model, from the Primeknit upper to the signature BOOST-assisted midsole/outsole.

Head to GOAT’s website to cop the most popular sneakers of Q3 and download the GOAT app to stay up-to-date on all the latest releases.