KYW's Back To School guide 📚 — Ballin on a budget for the school year
Keeping your kids fly and your pockets full!
Goooood morning, family! Welcome back to the Kicks You Wear. Thank you so much for rocking with me today — I appreciate you. Hope you had a fantastic weekend.
Mailbag soon! The last Friday of the month is coming up this week! Remember to drop your questions for our monthly mailbag into the mailbox. You can do that right here!
Let’s jump right into today’s fun. Back to school shopping!
It’s back to school time!
It’s that time of year again, folks! Parents everywhere are smiling ear to ear because they’ve finally the house to themselves for a few hours again. It’s not that you don’t love your kiddos — you just need a break sometimes. We know the vibes.
But your kids have a reputation to uphold. If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you’re fly. And if you’ve got kids and you’re reading this, I’m assuming they’re fly, too, because they clearly take after you. And that’s just how the Kicks You Wear family does it.
Allow me to do my part in helping keep your babies fresh today. Welcome to KYW’s second annual back-to-school sneaker guide.
The same rules still apply.
Rule 1: Nothing goes over $100. Kids are expensive! So are sneakers. We don’t need both being expensive all at one time.
Rule 2: No Jordans or Yeezys. Especially for the little kids. They won’t be able to wear them again next year so what’s the point?
Rule 3: No silhouette appears on the list more than once. Otherwise, this would just be an Air Force 1 list.
With that being said, let’s dig in.
For the Little Kids
Adidas Stan Smith ($35 on sale): This joint is hard to pass up. It’s clean, it’s on sale, and it’s going to last. If you’d like to opt for the Black colorway, that’s $56.
Puma x The Smurfs RS-X ($85): These aren’t the Lamelos, but they’re some pretty cool shoes in a nice colorway that feels unique. Plus, who doesn’t love the Smurfs? Granted, I don’t know if kids know who the Smurfs are these days. But still. Wow, I’m old.
Nike Air Max 90 LTR ($80 + 20 percent off code): It’s the Air Max 90. You can’t go wrong with a classic sneaker like this one. Plus, that 20 percent off code makes the a bit cheaper.
Adidas NMD 360 ($44.99 on sale): The NMD is comfortable, flexible and should be a pretty great playground shoe. Especially at the price these joints are at.
For the Big Kids
The Air Force 1 ($90): The Ice White Air Force 1 will always and forever be a staple no matter how far away from 1982 we get. There’s also another colorway on Nike available for 18 percent off at $72.
Adidas Ozweego ($39.99 on sale): This is not a Yeezy, but most of those kids on the playground aren’t going to know that. They’ll think these shoes are so cool and so will your baby.
Nike Dunk Low ($90): Lots of people believe the Dunk is dead, but don’t believe the hype. These are still it, y’all. And your kids will wear them into the ground.
Puma Suede Classic ($60): These joints are incredibly clean for a pair of big kids’ shoes. I’d honestly be mildly worried about them getting ruined during lunch or something. But, hey, man. Young sneakerheads have got to learn these lessons at some point. At $60, that’s not bad.
For the teens
Blazer Jumbo ($49 on sale): These joints for $49 is just a price you cannot beat pretty much anywhere else. This shoe is so fly and such a steal at this price.
Asics EX89 ($77 on sale): This isn’t a Nike Dunk or an Adidas Forum, but the EX89 captures that 80s basketball spirit just as well as either of those other two sneakers do. These are regularly $120, so to find them at $77 is a pretty solid steal.
Nike Cortez ($90): This is a style I think a lot of people are sleeping on these days, but the Cortez is a classic sneaker that has had a shelf life of more than 50 years at this point. It’s survived this long for a reason. Pick it up.
New Balance 580 ($89.99 on sale): It’s not one of NB’s most popular Made in USA models, but the 580 is a really good shoe that offers a lot of comfort and style at the same time. These regularly retail for $120.
Nike SB Ishod ($94.97 on sale): This was my first sneaker purchase of 2022 and I do not regret it. It took a few weeks to break in, but it’s one of the most comfy shoes I have. And it’s very stylish — especially for a non-Dunk SB model. The best part is it can take a beating. It’s worth your time.
New Balance 610 ($79.99 on sale): Y’all know how I’m giving it up with the 610 at this point. This was my favorite sneaker of the summer. I couldn’t stop wearing it. That says all you need to know about these joints.
By the way: Nike has a student discount available on their site for students ages 16 and up. Take advantage of that, y’all.
The non-sneaker sneaker list
Yes, I’ve included Crocs in this. You’re welcome. Sigh.
Crocs ($34.99-$49..99, on sale): I totally forgot the kids love these now for whatever reason. So I found a couple of colors on sale for $35. The rest are going for regular price.
Salehe Bembury Crocs Slides ($85): I would’ve dropped the Crocs here, but I couldn’t include a pair on the list twice. These slides are a nice substitute, though. At this price, these slides are expensive. But they’re comfy, though, so maybe it’s worth it.
Adidas Adilette slides 2022 ($48): Speaking of slides, these Adilette joints that people were going crazy over are now down to just $48. Not a bad time to grab a pair.
What’s droppin, bruh?
Amine x New Balance 610 “The Mooz” — Tuesday, August 22
Nike Shox TL — Tuesday, August 22
Kobe 8 Protro “Halo” — Wednesday, August 23
Nike Air Max 2 CB 94 — Friday, August 25
Hal Studios x Asics Gel-1130 “Glacier” (global release) — Friday, August 25
That’s all, folks! Any feedback or suggestions on this B2S guide are more than welcome. Hopefully, this was helpful!
Remember to tap into the mailbox this week! Really looking forward to your questions and comments, folks!
Let’s chat again on Friday, fam. Peace and love. Be easy, be safe, be kind. And we out.
-Sykes 💯