A Second Shot at the UNDEFEATED x Air Jordan 4 Headlines This Week’s Best Footwear Drops

by

As August winds down and we head towards the final quarter of the year, a plethora of exciting sneaker releases are still in store for us this week from renowned brands like Nike, adidas, New Balance, Jordan Brand, ASICS, and PUMA. Last week, our attention was captivated by several notable headlines. To start off, we had the opportunity to interview J.L-A.L founder Jean-Luc Ambridge Lavelle and HOKA’s senior director of collaborations, Thomas Cykana, about their recent collaboration on two contemporary interpretations of the Mafate X.

As a dedicated fan, I excitedly shift gears to discuss today’s sports apparel updates! Nike Basketball has just unveiled the Kobe 3 Protro and its sleek low-top counterpart. On top of that, they’ve welcomed Caitlin Clark into their roster as a signature athlete. This means we can expect to see her unique logo in upcoming collaborations, with her debut shoe slated for a 2026 release. Additionally, we got a sneak peek at Patta’s innovative spin on the Air Max Dn8, along with an Air Jordan 1-inspired version of the Air Jordan 40!

In other areas of the shoe market, Salehe Bembury keeps revealing his fresh footwear brand, showcasing an array of striking designs. This productive designer has also hinted at a second colorway for the New Balance 1000. Not stopping there, New Balance made an impact with its ABZORB 2000, featuring new styles in “Blue Ice/Grey,” “Dark Grey,” and a collaboration with Aminé. JJJJound created a buzz with the debut of its “Realtree Camo”-colored Classic Clog. Lastly, the sneaker loafer trend persists with new creations from Vans and KEEN.

Having brought you up-to-date on the latest happenings in the sneaker world, let’s delve into this week’s premier shoe releases. Our journey begins with a classic Nike design. Once you’ve explored all 10 launches, remember to visit HBX to see which models are currently for sale.

Nike Astrograbber “Aluminum,” “Fir,” & “Soft Yellow”

Launch Date: 26th of August
Launch Price: $135 USD
Where to Purchase: SNKRS
Reasons to Buy: Nike partnered with Emily Adams Bode Aujla’s brand last year to reintroduce the Astrograbber, a vintage American football shoe from the ’70s. This collaboration led to another series of Astrograbbers branded by Bode in 2023. The latest launch this week presents unique colorways such as “Aluminum” blue, “Fir” green, and “Soft Yellow”, offering vibrant designs that deviate from the previous marketing campaigns.

Cav Empt x Nike Air Max Dn8 “Pure Platinum”

Launch Date: August 27
Launch Price: $210 USD
Where to Purchase: SNKRS App
Why You Might Want To Buy: If you missed the Japan-exclusive launch of Cav Empt’s second collaboration with Nike since 2019, one of the three Air Max Dn8s is now available globally through the SNKRS platform. The “Pure Platinum” edition sports a gray finish across the sneaker, and it stands out due to the digital camouflage texture covering not just the upper but also the unique sole unit. The Cav Empt branding can be found on the tongue and sockliner graphics.

Brain Dead x adidas Japan Lo

Launch Date: August 28
Launch Price: $140 USD
Where to Purchase: adidas
Why You Might Want to Buy: Brain Dead’s unique design aesthetic has shown its ability to breathe freshness into adidas collaborations, as evidenced by their joint efforts on numerous sneakers over the past few years. This week, they are adding to this collection with a set of three Japan Los. The stylish shoe is ablaze in appearance, with fiery accents covering the toe and heel areas. Colorways include black and blue, brown and yellow, as well as a gray, olive, and black version that adopts a boot-like shape.

New Balance MADE in USA 990v6 & 992 “Dark Camo”

Launch Date: August 28
Launch Price: $200 USD
Where to Purchase: New Balance
Why You Might Want to Buy: The Teddy Santis-led MADE in USA division at New Balance is starting its Fall/Winter 2025 collection with two “Dark Camo”-colored sneakers perfect for the autumn season. The first one is a fresh interpretation of the 990v6, which combines the dark camouflage green with shades of beige, off-white, navy, and gray. The second sneaker is the 992, which primarily uses olive green, with only subtle additions of gray and beige to complete its design.

UNDEFEATED x Air Jordan 4

Launch Date: August 28th
Launch Price: $230 USD
Where to Purchase: SNKRS
Why You Might Want to Buy: One of the year’s most eagerly awaited sneakers has made a comeback following a limited release last month. The first ever collaboration between Jordan Brand and UNDEFEATED, the Air Jordan 4, is back with a modern touch for 2025, marking 20 years since its initial launch as one of the most exclusive and valuable sneakers to date. The Nike Air branding replaces the Jumpman logo at the heel while the “Rare Air”-branded tongue features a Velcro fastening system that allows for interchangeable patches.

Gino Iannucci x ASICS Leggerezza FB

Release Details:
The release date is set for August 29.
The price will be $105 USD.
You can find it at selected skate shops.
Here’s why you might want to get it:
ASICS Skateboarding, a new venture by the Japanese brand, features Gino Iannucci as one of its key faces. This week, Iannucci is debuting his first collaborative shoe with the brand, which is a reinterpretation of the Leggerezza FB. The design takes inspiration from ASICS’ Injector Arrezzo I, a football cleat from 1989, and was initially presented by COMME des GARCONS HOMME DEUX earlier this year. Now, it boasts durable, double-stitched leather uppers that combine black with white and white with gold hues.

Nike KD 18 “Rise”

Launch Date: August 29
Launch Price: $155 USD
Where to Purchase: SNKRS
Why You Should Consider Buying: NBA superstar Kevin Durant is ready for an exciting season with the Houston Rockets, bringing his exceptional shooting skills to a team that had trouble scoring in crunch time last year. This time around, he’ll be wearing a “Rise” colorway of his Nike KD 18 sneakers, which emulate the vibrant orange and off-white hues reminiscent of the University of Texas.

PUMA MB.05 “World Tour”

Launch Date: 29th of August
Launch Price: $125 USD
Where to Purchase: From the brand, PUMA
Why You Might Want to Buy: LaMelo Ball, in his first five seasons in the NBA, has shown he’s a force to be reckoned with. Yet, he hasn’t tasted postseason success with a Charlotte Hornets team that has historically struggled to move past being a lottery team. His fifth signature shoe with PUMA could potentially propel him to success this season, given its ability to reflect his vibrant personality in sneaker form. The PUMA MB.05 is making its debut in a “World Tour” pink and silver colorway that embodies Ball’s rockstar vibe.

Awake NY x Air Jordan 5 “Black/Racer Blue”

Launch Date: August 30
Launch Price: $230 USD
Purchase Location: SNKRS
Reason to Purchase: The highly anticipated Air Jordan 5 from Awake NY, a brand hailing from New York City, is set to release on the SNKRS platform this week. Featuring the “A” motif on the midfoot netting and a logo lock-up on the reflective tongue, as well as an “NY” callout at the right shoe’s lateral heel, this sneaker is not to be missed.

Air Jordan 5 “Luminous Green”

Launch Date: August 30th
Retail Price: $205 USD
Where to Purchase: SNKRS
Why You Might Want to Buy: If Awake NY’s black and blue version of the Air Jordan 5 doesn’t appeal to you or if you’ve already secured a pair, Jordan Brand is offering another Air Jordan 5 this week. This release continues the model’s 35th anniversary celebration and features a women’s-exclusive “Luminous Green” colorway. The design blends a neutral “Sail” tone with its signature green hue, all sitting atop a black midsole and a reflective tongue.

Read More

2025-08-26 17:56