Do you want to look as cool as a ninja? Dress to impress in black from head-to-toe? Perhaps Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe is your revered hero? I got you covered.
Black sneakers are super in style right now, with high-profile brands releasing a ton of black sneakers every other month. Almost every time an all-black sneaker releases from Nike or Adidas, it instantly sells out.
There were a few hyped up collaborations this year, including Nike x Supreme and Adidas x Haven. Both of which featured the “triple black” look, meaning all-black. This style of sneaker is clearly alluring to the masses.
With its clean-cut look and pairs-well-with-everything colour, it comes as no surprise that “triple black” is the new black. So if you’re ready to get your ninja on, here are 10 pitch-black sneakers that were released this 2017:
1. Supreme x Nike Air More Uptempo
A classic old-school basketball sneaker, the Nike Air More Uptempo was originally worn by Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen, back in 1996.
The instantly recognisable “AIR” branding on the entire laterals of the shoe, coupled with Nike’s iconic Air technology made the sneaker an instant hit among 90s basketball fans.
Now in 2017, of course Supreme had to get their hands on the model to get the hype back up. The collaboration brought about three colourways of the shoe, but the black one is my personal favourite.
Instead of the “AIR” branding, it’s replaced with a “SUPREME” branding, letting everybody know that what you’re rocking is a pair of Nike Supremes.
Chunky and loud (even in all-black), the Supreme x Nike Air More Uptempo is a head-turner.
Retail Price: S$259 (190USD)
Current Market Price: ~S$840
2. Adidas Consortium x The Good Will Out NMD CS1
Adidas Consortium is known to release some of the best collaboration sneakers. The Adidas Consortium x The Good Will Out NMD CS1 is another crazy release by Adidas.
Riding on the trend of blacked out sneakers, the sock-like shoe is made from Adidas’ groundbreaking Primeknit and Boost technology. Stretchy, comfy, and easy to put on, this shoe basically complements your lifestyle.
The original CS1 (short for City Sock) released in 2016 to great fanfare. This black consortium pair featured a few tweaks though, with a rugged outsole for durability and leather insoles to assure you that you bought a quality product.
The upper of the shoe comprised three panels of subtly different knit patterns, which is a nice detail for sneakerheads like me to appreciate.
Retail Price: S$300 (220USD)
Current Market Price: ~S$350
3. Adidas Consortium x Haven Ultra Boost
Now, this is a pair I personally own, and I absolutely love it. This is a strong contender on my list for sneaker of the year.
Primeknit, Boost, reflective laces, leather tongue and heel cage; all these details make the minimalistic shoe stand out like it’s the king of darkness.
Haven is a Canadian sneaker boutique, and so the shoe was inspired by the monsoon season of Vancouver. The colour of dark clouds and grey skies translates onto the shoe, with weather-sealed taping along the sides to prevent water from seeping in.
The Adidas Consortium x Haven Ultra Boost is a must-have collab.
Retail Price: S$273 (200USD)
Current Market Price: ~S$480
4. Y-3 Triple Black Pure Boost
For those of you who don’t know Y-3, it’s basically the high-end realm of Adidas. Helmed by respected Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto, Y-3 has been a staple of streetwear for the past decade.
Always innovative and creative, Y-3 has created several sneaker silhouettes that have gained a cult following. The Qasa High is one, and the Pure Boost is another one.
Decked in all-black from heel to toe, the Y-3 Triple Black Pure Boost is mainly constructed with mesh for breathability. The tongue of the shoe is also made of soft leather for extra comfort and a touch of luxury.
Retail Price: S$436 (320USD)
Current Market Price: ~S$430
5. Supreme x Nike Air Humara
Here we go again, another Supreme collaboration with Nike. Two giants of the streetwear scene teaming up to give you the Supreme x Nike Air Humara.
I can confidently say that before this collaboration, no one probably knew about the Air Humara. It’s an all-terrain trail shoe that came out back in 1998.
The design of the shoe is pretty wild; you either like it or you don’t. But that doesn’t matter. Why? Because it’s Supreme, so you know people are going to snag it up.
The shoe has reflective materials to make sure you shine in the night, forcing all hypebeasts to take notice of what’s on your feet.
Retail Price: S$232 (170USD)
Current Market Price: ~S$310
6. Balenciaga Speed Trainer Triple Black
The most expensive sneaker on the list goes to Balenciaga. A luxury fashion house founded in Spain in 1919, clearly the brand has had a foot in the fashion world for a very long time now.
Demna Gvasalia, the Creative Director of Balenciaga, is also the head designer of streetwear heavyweight, Vetements. That’s why this sneaker has a sense of style that appeals to the general public.
The sock-like construction of the shoe is very simple; it literally fits and feels like a sock, and that’s the trend right now. What’s special is the sole unit, which is apparently a great shock absorber. The Balenciaga logo is stamped on the side as a minimal finishing touch.
Got cash to blow? Go for this!
Retail Price: S$947 (695USD)
Current Market Price: ~S$1225
7. Adidas NMD R1 Japan Triple Black
This sneaker is part of the “Japan Boost” pack from Adidas, featuring another pair in white. But we’re going to focus on the black pair here.
It has been awhile since the original NMD was released back in 2015. There have been many iterations of the immensely popular sneaker, and there’s even a sequel to it already, called the NMD R2.
Just when we thought that the NMD hype was going to slow down, Adidas went ahead and dropped this bomb on us.
As with most triple black sneakers, these sold out almost instantly. The shoe is similar to other NMDs but with a little twist; the iconic “Lego blocks” have Japanese inscriptions and the heel tab also has Japanese wordings.
Retail Price: S$245 (180USD)
Current Market Price: ~S$310
8. Nike Air Vapormax Triple Black
The Vapormax is Nike’s newest revolutionary sneaker, taking the classic Air Max to a whole new level.
When it was first released, Nike boasted that it’s the lightest Air Max sneaker ever made, and that the Air Max sole has the highest volume of air in it for that extra bounce.
The design is certainly avant-garde, kind of a high-fashion look if you ask me. If you’ve always liked the shoe but thought you couldn’t pull it off, consider this all-black pair because it tones down the eccentricity of it.
Retail Price: S$259 (190USD)
Current Market Price: ~S$305
9. Adidas Nemeziz Tango 17+ Ultra Boost
What happens when you fuse two of Adidas’ latest inventions into one shoe? You get the Nemeziz Tango 17+ Ultra Boost.
The Nemeziz Tango 17+ is a football boot, but the style looks very street-ready. It looks cool, but you can’t possibly wear a football boot out on the streets right?
Swap out the cleats for a sole that’s unparalleled in comfort: the Ultra Boost. There you have it, the best of both worlds; style and comfort right at your fingertips (or should I say toe tips).
Retail Price: S$273 (200USD)
Current Market Price: ~S$335
10. Y-3 Ayero
The second Y-3 sneaker on the list, the Ayero is a new silhouette by Yohji Yamamoto and it really resonates well with me, especially in this murdered-out colourway.
The aesthetics are futuristic, with mesh and neoprene making up the upper of the shoe. The three-stripes branding was also creatively placed at the side of the midsole, giving it a rugged look but still keeping it classy.
It’s easily one of my favourite new designs from Y-3 and I’m sure it’ll look even better on feet.
Retail Price: S$477 (350USD)
Current Market Price: Around the same as retail price.
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What a miserable time I had while writing this list, because it just reminded me of how many amazing sneakers I can’t buy. Oh well, we can’t get them all, can we?
In any case, 2017 was a great year for the sneaker culture and it’ll be interesting to see what new trends will emerge in 2018. I’m excited, are you?
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