Sneaker Friday Part 2 – AirMax 90 Infrareds

It’s that time again!  Welcome to another addition of Sneaker Friday’s with yours truly.  I know I only did one post this week but I have been visiting so many other sites it would make your head spin.

Last week on my very first sneaker Friday I posted about my love affair and life changing experience brought on by the Jordan 4’s.  This week I would like to introduce to you the AirMax 90 Infrared’s.

When Infrareds Hit the Scene

If I recall correctly these AirMax’s hit the scene more then 20 years ago when I was probably in the 6^th grade.  I was just really starting to get into sneakers and I saw them on a guy who was jogging.

I actually stopped him and asked him where he got the shoes and sadly he told me he had purchased the shoes in another state.

Being in SC meant that a lot of the colorway’s for certain shoes didn’t get pushed to my little side of the world.  The guy told me they were some of the most comfortable shoes he had ever worn.

Why I Like Them So

My mom was actually there when I stopped the guy and for the love of her she couldn’t see what I saw in those shoes.  She was like; “you are going to buy shoes with pink in them?  Why would you do that you are not a girl?”

That’s was the typical parent in South Carolina around the 90’s and Infrared’s(pink to my mom) was just not something a boy should be wearing.

But I knew better and have always just worn thing’s I like and could care less of what anyone else thought.  These shoes were a must have and I knew no one would be rocking them at my school.

I loved everything about them:  the style, colorway, and new they were comfortable because I had AirMax’s already.  Plus most of the max’s I had seen were all leather and this was the first I saw made of mesh.  They would be hell to clean but I needed them, or rather just had to have them.

The Search Was On

Back then the only way to find a pair of shoes was to actually go to local places or call stores in your area.  I had my mom drive me to the nearest malls and I asked several employees about the shoes.

Much to my displeasure none of them knew what the hell I was talking about.  I didn’t know the name of the color so like my mom I kept say the one with the pink.  That didn’t help at, boy I sure could have used a laptop or smartphone back then.

I must have look for those shoes for about six months and never got my hands on them.  Overtime I forgot about them and they were just never a focus with so many other shoes hitting the seen.

I Found My Lost Love

Fast-forward over the past twenty plus years and I was just talking to my lovely wife about wanting to get some new kicks.  I told her about the shoes and she was like why not look and see if someone has them.

Nowadays there is a huge market for bringing back shoes from when I was in elementary school.  I hit up my old shoe sites and much to my surprise they had been several releases that I missed.

Every place that I did find the shoe was selling them at a premium and I mean a huge one at that.  If I recall back then you could get them for about $100 and now you be lucky to pay $250 if you didn’t get them when the first hit the shelves.

Why Shoes Cost So Much

Now copping shoes and reselling them is a business.  People are buying 3 or more pairs and selling them.  With limited supply and such high demand kicks are going for 3-4 times market rate.

I wasn’t about to spend $200-$300 on some shoes that were only $120 at most retail.  I just know I could get them for cheaper. But that was early February 2012 and I just got tired of looking.

Conference in NYC

New York is known for vast things but those who know anything about sneakers know that there are a lot of sneaker heads in NYC.  I mean just walk around and you will see shoes in pawnshops, jewelry stores, you name it.

I must have seen about 20 pairs of sneakers that I could find anywhere while I was up in the Big Apple for the SMX conference.

Giving in – Getting the Infrareds

By the time I left New York I had purchased a pair of Infrareds from a store in Manhattan.  Honestly I just couldn’t take it anymore and just spent the money and got the shoes I had been wanting since 6^th grade.

A lot of people who know me look at me and question why in the heck would I spend so much money on a pair of shoes when they know me to be a saver.  Well be frank, I wanted too!

My wife is the only one who truly understands my affection and bond with those kicks.  She knew how long I had wanted them and in fact I called and asked if she thought I should get them.  Without hesitation she was like, are you kidding you have been looking for them for years!

Big On Finances and Savings

Much to say I am happy with my purchase and to be clear I am big on finances and saving money.  I also believe that saving and not enjoying some of your money could be a problem.

The money I spent on these shoes is small when you consider that every year a few of my friends and I make it a point to go on 2-3 trips together.  We planned to go to Amsterdam didn’t happen.  Wanted to go to Rio de Janeiro didn’t happen.  Heck we even planned to hit up the Dominican Republic or Vegas again and that didn’t happen.

Basically I had money to waste.  Every year I set aside money for my wife and myself to spend on having fun.  Well this year that money didn’t get spent like I planned so I copped me a fresh pair of AirMax 90 Infrared’s!

Readers have you ever wanted something that you just never ended up getting?  Was it because of cost or just the fact you couldn’t find it?  If you were to find it now would you be willing to pay a lot more for it? Why or why not?

Photo Credits by NiceKicks