After many attempts, I think I finally found a Nike Dunk that has absolutely NO LEATHER on it.  I had to get shut down more than once on this… but I think I finally got it.  Here is the Nike SB Dunk Hi Denim.  It may not be for everyone, but they didn’t overdo it with colors.  It just looks like, well, a pair of jeans.  Denim covers the whole upper, but the laces and tongue are black, and like most dunks, the soles are white.  Not available yet, but keep an eye out!

Source: Nice Kicks

UPDATE: THIS SHOE HAS LEATHERRRR

This is like a Bigfoot sighting. No matter your opinion, the Nike Dunk is one of the most iconic and versatile sneakers ever.  Everyone has to have at least one.  And it’s not going away any time soon.  No matter how many different Dunks I’ve seen in stores or on the web, none of them can seem to leave out the leather.  How many times do we come across Nike Dunk “Canvas” with a leather swoosh?  But now have our wishes come true?  From the looks of it, the answer is yes: Nike SB’s new release includes a Dunk Hi made of all non-leather (not sure exactly what it is from this picture) in a gray/brown colorway. There’s also a Dunk Mid in this lineup but they didn’t include the picture.  Available soon, like in a week or something!  Keep your eyes peeled!

Source: Nice Kicks.  Check it for other Nike SB upcoming releases.  No other vegan models though.

The Nike Airmax 2010 is the top running shoe offered by Nike (with a price that reflects that description).  The upper is all synthetic, with mesh combined with Flywire technology for a lightweight and strong build.  The main event is the Air Max technology.  For those familiar with Nike’s Air Max shoes, or if you take a brief visual inspection, you’ll know that your feet will be sitting entirely on airbags for a nice cushy ride.  This kind of running shoe seems to be a stark contrast to some other new Nikes, such as the Free, which eschews the fancier features and aims for simplicity.  I guess as a runner it’s really your preference.  As a non-runner, I can’t speak to the performance, but both styles looks dope to me.

Pictured here is a new colorway, white/black/orange.  There are several others as well.  Available at Finish Line (Mens & Womens).

Source: Nice Kicks.  Click below for more pics!

Den ganzen Beitrag lesen…

The NBA playoffs are here, and despite the fact that my beloved New Jersey Nets just barely made the cut, I have that awesome NBA on NBC John Tesh song stuck in my head that reminds me of this magical time in the spring.  I never grew up following March Madness, but instead spent hours glued to the set, watching Jordan kill the Knicks, or Reggie Miller kill the Knicks.  Somehow all my memories involve the Knicks losing.

Anyway, I thought now was an appropriate time to post on this interesting model.  Kobe Bryant, probably the most controversial NBA player of the OO’s, made waves in the BBall shoe world by rocking lower and lower cut sneakers on the court.  For decades, the de facto type of shoe to ball in was a high top… anything less and you were asking for an ankle injury.  But for some reason, as soon as Kobe Bryant started wearing mid and eventually lows, it seems to be perfectly okay.  I’m not aware of any ankle injuries sustained by him.

I have to say that the Zoom Kobe V is a pretty damn cool shoe, even if its namesake is the biggest douche in the league and perhaps a perpetrator of sexual assault.  As I mentioned before, it is the lowest cut basketball shoe out today, as well as the lightest.  This thing has more technology in it than a space shuttle (which explains the price), but it doesn’t seem to have too many bells and whistles, like all the airbags and shit.  It’s also available in a bunch of cool colors, and yes, purple and gold for all you Lakers fans out there.  Also, there are a lot of different colorways being worn by Kobe and other players lately, and you can even make your own at Nike ID!

Best of all, of course I wouldn’t be posting this if this shoe were not vegetarian or vegan.  After some research, I found that the upper is entirely synthetic (click this link and search for ‘synthetic’).  Just peep the larger pics – ain’t nothin natural about those materials.  Also, as I have mentioned in previous posts, Nike does not use animals in their glues and cements.  Therefore, we should have a vegan shoe.  I am very cautious to say this about a basketball shoe named after Kobe Bryant, something is just weird about that, but the evidence is there.  I will email Nike to verify this and post an update.

There has been a shitload written on the marvels of this shoe.  If you’re interested, read this great Sole Collector article. Also, check out some of the new colorways being worn by the man himself as well as other pros, such as the Kid Hollywood and Photo Blue, if you’re that big of a nerd.

Available at Nike Store.  If you want it customized check out Nike ID.

Some more pics after the jump!

Den ganzen Beitrag lesen…

These shoes look pretty good for a runner. I don’t know if you’ve had the chance to try on Nike’s new LunarLite soles or Flywire technology, but the stuff is super comfy! After contacting Nike, I was able to get confirmation that these shoes are made of 100% synthetic materials. They are available at several stores including Zappos and Nike Store. Check out one of the men’s colorways after the jump.

-Birdfeed
Den ganzen Beitrag lesen…

These Nike SB Dunk Lows are named after Larry Perkins, a fictitious, “most under-rated skateboarder of all time” who used to make prank phone calls on behalf of Big Brother Magazine (my favorite back in the day!).  They feature black and grey/brown denim upper, and it’s reported that the swoosh is made of patent leather.  But upon closer inspection, we here at Vegan Kicks think it’s reasonable to assume that they’re actually vinyl or some other synthetic.  Depending on how hardcore you are, you might be willing to take a chance.  Other interesting stuff: a “furry” inner lining, and a tongue that gives a telephone ring when you squeeze it.

They will be released on March 20.  Check Premier for updates, they seem to be in the know.  Also, don’t forget they are quickstrikes so if you really want them you better get em fast!

These Nike Sweet Classics in black canvas with white sole are inspired by the Brazilian football team and their quest (yet again) to destroy the world in the World Cup this summer.  The splash print of a monkey screaming gives a unique design to the shoe but doesn’t overwhelm .  Also featured: a Brazil flag stitched on the tongue, monkey print on the insole.   See Sneaker Freaker for origins.

UPDATE: a reader pointed out to me that the heel panel where it says NIKE is made out of suede or leather.  It is definitely not canvas, and while it could be some synthetic material, I don’t think we should take the risk in assuming that it is.  Consider this a retraction… sorry everyone!

I’ve never seen the All Court before!  I am so used to the Blazer and Dunk.  These add a little twist on their classic bball shoe design.  Nike recently released a mid version of these in leather at 21 Mercer St. in New York, but now they’re releasing them in low navy canvas.   I actually prefer the canvas (aesthetically) to the leather ones.   I like the simplicity of the monochromatic colorway contrasted with the white rubber toecap and sole; it reminds me of the Jack Purcell Converse.  I could use a little bit more color on the laces or the eyelets but I’m just nitpicking.

Right now these are available at Shelta in Sweden (shout out to all my Swedish readers!  Thanks for your support!).  Hopefully they will be available in the states soon, possibly by the end of this month.

The Nike Air Max 90 is an excellent model to make as vegan, since it can be used for running, and it’s got classic style.  The upper is made of synthetic leather and mesh.  It comes in black/black or grey/white.  Personally I am hating the black colorway, it looks like a pair of old man shoes.  But as NiceKicks put it, wear it if you work somewhere that makes you wear black shoes.

I don’t think these are widely available on the web.  Don’t be fooled!  There is a black/black leather version of this, and it looks exactly the same.

For more pics of the grey.  For more pics of the black.

I can’t believe this is my first post on a Nike Dunk.  Maybe it’s because I’ve never seen canvas dunks.  Maybe I didn’t have faith in Nike to design and manufacture and exclusively vegan model of my formerly favorite kicks.  Or maybe it’s just because I’m really sick of seeing Dunks worn by everyone in every conceivable colorway.  But if there’s anything I’m learning about sneakers, it’s classics don’t go out of style.

So here is the the Dunk Low Pro SB Sandalwood.  As some of you know, the SB stands for skateboarding, and that spin-off has been churning out really cool Dunks and Blazers, as well as their own new designs, with regularity.  This Sandalwood model upper is mad out of a “burlap-like” hemp and the typical hard rubber like bottom found in most Dunks.  The color is, uh, sandalwood, a puke-like green.  What is more interesting is it is apparently made of a “veggie canvas” to make them more waterproof.  It’s probably a load of crap, but who knows?  Nike’s R&D budget is ridiculous, so I wouldn’t put that past them.  Jury is out on these, but I applaud Nike for giving a shout out to us.

Peep pics below

Available at Flight Club in LA.