I am a sneakerhead episode 170 - @Hansgruber_
Hi, I’m Nathan 30, from a small town in the south of England near Reading
Your Instagram feed seems to be mostly New Balance, is that your favourite brand?
New Balance is my favourite brand and is the bulk of my collection these days, the models, shape, material, and fit just work so well for me, within NB 577 and 1500’s are the model I like and have most of.
I do appreciate runners across all brands and but have trimmed down my Asics and Diadora collection due to space, but still have a few I would like to get.
I see. Do you remember the first pair of sneakers you bought?
So the first pair I remember getting a pair of white Jordan 11 when I was 7 in 1998 when on holiday in Florida. Past that I was all about football and football boots specifically the predator line and the accelerator model which I never got. Moving onto where the proper obsession started it was 2012/13 and there was a sneaker thread on an online car forum. The first pair that I really purchased was AM1 beeches of Rio but I could get in with how they fit and then soon after I started to look and NB and Asics more, and it was the 577 Autobahn pack from the goodwillout that got me looking
What's your favorite pair of sneakers in your current collection?
To narrow it down to one is impossible, so I’ll say about 3 pairs I could never part ways with:
M577GPI - NB x Sneakersnstuff
The earthy colours with the use of materials on these just make them feel special. Some of the other stories around this shoe and pack also add to it for me, a bright pink silky smooth lining that Erik had to source, and the fact that SNS had to make 504 pairs of these round 2 pack due to wanting a full white mid and outsole and this being the minimum run that Flimby would allow.
M1500BPW - NB x Solebox Purple Devil
This was one of the pair that initially made me fall in love with New Balance and it was a 3-year hunt to find these in my size, some of the excitement in trainer for me used to searching and having to find these rare pairs by searching many sites, and I have gone onto getting the whole purple devil pack. With the shoe that purple is just one of the best colours on a shoe, and personally, I love a gum out soled.
Patta x Diadora N9000 - Colonel Blues
This is a pair that when I missed out on the initial release, I never thought I would find them. Again the colourway for me is so essential for picking these as a favourite the blues/ neutral colours with the red accents is timeless, the branding Diadora allow on the heel I like and finally, these have one of the best sets of laces out of anything in my collection for me it just ties the whole look together.
What's your opinion on the sneaker community today where everything is sold out within a few minutes?
That’s a very open question I think I could write a few essays on the topic!!
In the current climate, everything is quite hard to gauge, releases are as frequent as ever and the demand is huge, pairs selling in minutes isn’t something new, its the volume at which it happens now is so much higher. It has brought sneakers to the mainstream. To me it can feel a little materialistic, as a lot of people follow trends on buying trainers rather than what they like and discovering a style, in turn, I believe people now try for more as your odd of getting pairs is lower than ever.
Personally, I’ve been having issues with getting US13’s lately they seem to sell out fast, or I have been finding the size runs have stopped at US12.
But the community has been good to me and have gained so many friends and am in a smaller Facebook group where people are always helping each other, and I can’t wait to be able to go back out and meet up and go to an event or 2.
I would say to people buy what you like and mix it up with the brands and styles you wear. Also, don’t take things too seriously as there is always another amazing pair releasing.
Make sure to follow Nathan on Instagram: