Keeping an eye on the coolest shoe releases is just a part of the gig when you work at Boss Hunting. From the cleanest kicks on the block to the fastest runners on the start line and everything in between – we’ve got you covered. So if you want to stay across the best of what’s out there, here are the BH team’s favourite shoe releases from the last month.
Dior & Birkenstock
Birkenstock’s clout has been rising over the last couple of years, and if you need evidence of their meteoric rise in popularity, you need only look at their latest collaborator: Dior. In a collaboration that few saw coming, Birkenstock was tapped to create the footwear for Dior’s Autumn/Winter 2022 runway show at Paris Fashion Week. The collaboration focused on the Milano Sandal and Boston Clog silhouettes, adding floral embroidery and utilitarian claps to the comfortable sandals.
RELATED: BH Approved: The Best Sneaker Releases From November 2021
New Balance 550 Monochrome
Less isn’t always more, but when it comes to New Balance’s new 550 silhouette, there’s a lot to love about less. Inspired by the New Balance P550 sneaker from 1989, the style was revived in 2020 in collaboration with Aimé Leon Dore. While the initial releases featured an array of different block colours, New Balance has finally released an all-white version of the 550, which could challenge as an Air Force 1 killer.
On Running Clouldultra Nite
Some folks live and die by their morning run, but for the runners who prefer an evening session, the team at On Running have just released the Clouldultra Nite. Capitalising on the brand’s well-loved midsole and outsole technology, this latest release takes that winning formula and tweaks a couple of design elements, adding a reflective panel that wraps around the heel of the shoe. In the darkness, the reflective panel appears bright white, contrasting against the murdered-out aesthetic of the rest of the runner.
Under Armour Curry Flow 9 ‘Street Pack’ x Sesame Street
In partnership with Under Armour, the Curry Brand has released a new collection of seven sneakers, with each shoe inspired by a member of the Sesame Street crew. Bringing all of the key Muppets to the courts, the most everyday member of the new collection brings to life Count von Count, with a shiny tongue tab that references the Count’s iconic cape. Just because they look like Sesame Street doesn’t mean you’ll be playing like a muppet in them, however, as they feature the fine-tuned UA Flow traction pattern which helps with stability while promoting natural foot movement.
HOKA ONE ONE Kawana
In its first release for 2022, HOKA ONE ONE has added to its diverse range of road running shoes with the new Kawana. Inspired by the famous beach break at the Gold Coast, the Kawana is available in two colourways, which are black with a white midsole and cream with a yellow/green midsole. Featuring a Swallowtail geometry, the midsole of the shoe tapers to two points at the rear, allowing for smoother heel strikes as you run.
Adidas x Parley 4DFWD
Long-term Adidas partner Parley For The Oceans has linked with the footwear brand to create an exciting new version of the futuristic 4DFWD silhouette. Offering a cream, light green and black colourway, that uses sustainable materials throughout, the eye-catching 3D-printed lattice midsole has also been constructed using repurposed materials. It’s exciting that Adidas is working towards a sustainable future, especially a future that looks this good.
Ikepod Sneakerpod Birdland
In one of the most unexpected releases of this month, watch brand Ikepod has taken a step out of their typical lane to launch their first pair of sneakers, aptly named the Sneakerpod Birdland. Despite the brand being best known for its UFO-shaped wristwatches (originally designed by Marc Newson, prior to him creating the Apple Watch), thee Birdland is also compellingly designed, with nods to the brand’s watches as well as sneaker culture more broadly. Limited to 200 pieces, we’re keen to see what comes next.
Tom Sachs x Nike “General Purpose Shoe”
Tom Sachs and Nike have a rich collaborative history together, and this month we saw the upcoming General Purpose Shoe for the first time. As the name suggests, the minimalist silhouette looks to be designed as a casual, everyday shoe, complete with suede and mesh uppers and a studded outsole. With royal blue highlights and a gum-tone midsole, these are sure to be very popular when they hit shelves later this year.
New Balance XC-72 “Lunar New Year”
For 2022, New Balance has deployed the relatively recently released XC-72 silhouette to celebrate Chinese New Year, announcing the “Lunar New Year” last week. Featuring dark suede upper sections that match the wraparound charcoal outsole, the real draw is the black and red tiger stripes down the centre of the shoe.
