BEST NEW BALANCE OF 2019: PICKUPS (PRE-2019)

The hit list, hunting for, or sniping are all references I’ve heard in terms of tracking down that one classic pair or even recent pair you couldn’t get your hands on. Each year my ‘hit list’ tends to decrease quite a bit thankfully, and this year is a perfect example of that. Here are my Top 3 pickups for 2019:

3rd: Hanon 990HBW
Sometimes I question where my collection would be without TeamNB…or if I’d even have the drive I do now if I was never was accepted. This is another gem that I acquired through my TMNB brother Kainoa aka @noooaah, but wasn’t my only HBW of 2019. In the beginning of the year I purchased a well-worn pair from our teammate Jose aka _noway_jose that are a bit tight on me (sz10.5). Later, Kainoa hit me me up to tell me that his 11.5 would soon be for sale and lo and behold they’re now mine!

The HBW was released in 05’, limited to 198 pairs and came with a certificate of authenticity from Hanon.

2nd: Super Team 33 998LLV ‘Luggage Collection’
A lot of time when we think ‘leather’, the first thing to come to mind is Horween, which is probably the highest grade of leather we’ve seen on a NB. The 998LLV was the first 998 to be solely made in the USA since the original 998, and features an all leather upper that is probably the softest leather I’ve ever felt on a pair of shoes. The leather theme behind the collection is supposed to be inspired by vintage styled traveling trunks, and if the rumor holds true…there were 800 pairs made worldwide that were only sold at 33 select accounts. Never would I have thought that 11 years later I’d purchase these in VNDS condition for the same price as the original retail price: $215.

1st: Solebox x Being Hunted 575SEW ‘Military’
Everyone has that 1 pair that got away right? Mine was a DS pair of the Solebox x Being Hunted 575 ‘military’. The 575SEW is 1 of 60, and features a plethora of material: sheepskin, linen, cotton, and different leathers; not to mention repurposed German military uniform fabric.

For months…maybe even a year I saw the pair sitting on Klekt, but slightly out of my range. Over time I would check on the pair and notice the price was going gradually lower. When I finally had the funds I went back just to find out they were gone. Come to find out, my buddy Daniel aka @limpa_vias of Brazil picked them up, but am I’m still sad I missed out…it’s a bitter sweet haha.

I searched high and low until someone in Taiwan posted them for sale in a sz10. Yes, a 10 is definitely not my normal size, but I’ve always heard that this pair ran exceptionally large so I gambled and bought them. After receiving them in-hand and putting them on-foot, they feel like a 10.5 that I can deal with. I’m more so happy just to have completed the pack so that the civilian and military can now be together.