If I’m being honest, the release calendar did seem a little light. It all makes sense now: I had incomplete information. Rather than just pretend I didn’t see them, let’s take another look at the sneakers that are going to test my restraint over the next 30-ish days. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot of retro Jordans.
Air Jordan 4 “London” (9/12/26)
These are just so good. We haven’t seen a hairy suede Jordan 4 since when? The Canyon Purple in 2022? This is a colorway that we haven’t seen before on a silhouette that continues to hit release after release. Unfortunately for Americans (like me) this is a UK-only release. Time to call in a favor, I suppose. Say less, indeed.
Air Jordan 11 x Comme Des Garçons (TBD)
Anyone remember the CDG Foamposites from 2021? The traditional foam waves were reimagined as a ripple/zen garden/fingerprint mold pattern, which supposedly cost Nike $750K to cast. At $520 a pair, these were immediately celebrated by sneakerheads…and then promptly forgotten. I really like my black pair: you can beat the hell out of them and they still look brand new. I remember wearing them to an especially snowy Shmoocon and having no regrets.
Anyway, here’s CDG bringing the same monochromic vibe to an Air Jordan 11. Dressed up in premium leather and costing $250, these are probably going to hit with some people but chances are, we’ll move on pretty quickly. If I sound like a hater, I’m sorry but I just feel like they’re a little too similar to existing, less expensive pairs. I’ll probably sit these out. Probably.
New Balance Fall/Winter 2026 – Drop One (9/3/26)
I love New Balance. I love how understated they are, the quality materials, and the fact that I’ve never (ever) worn an uncomfortable pair. I always pair attention to the Made in the USA (MiUSA) drops because what’s not to love? Classic silhouettes, premium materials, and new seasonal colors. The two pairs that make up drop one are no exception: a “grey violet” 990v4 and a “morel” 993 (it’s yellow). These look great but if I’ve got one gripe: I don’t think these are great fall colors. They feel like spring colors. Either way, they do look pretty great and if I’m planning my Easter fit, maybe I’m giving these a closer look.
Nike Air Force 1 Low x Terror Squad “University Red” (9/9/26)
This is a perfect sneaker. That’s it. Run, don’t walk.
Adidas Jellyfish “Timber” (9/5/26)
I appreciate that the Jellyfish line is getting into its weird colorway era. I also appreciate that the Jellyfish line has entered its expanded availability era. The white/white pair was good, the Crystal Sand colorway was even better, and now we’ve got this “Timber” pair dropping on September 5th. Personally, I am skipping these (how many Jellyfish does one person need?) but if you haven’t had the Jellyfish experience yet, I recommend it. It’s a unique footwear experience.
Nike x Hyperice “Hyperslide” (9/29/26)
This is Nike’s second collaboration with Hyperice. The first collab was a boot that cost $799. I imagine that the slide, supposedly retailing for $250, will be more popular. The slide will heat and massage your feet which I suppose could be nice after a long run or a game. It can reach 117 F (47 C) and has three levels of vibration. I could definitely see myself wearing these and while $250 is a bit expensive for a slide, I know how my feet feel after a baseball game and I feel like these could help.
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