KYW's Back to School Guide ๐ โ Turning heads in the hallways for under $100
I can't believe the summer is almost over already!
Good morning, folks! Thank you so much for reading the Kicks You Wear today. I appreciate you stopping by!
Crushed the 5k! That was fun. Thank you all for all the well-wishes, gang. It means a lot. Iโve definitely got to do another one. Are any D.C. runners reading today? Let me know if youโve got any runs coming up. Iโd love to try and participate.
Anyway, enough about me. You know what youโre here for. It's time for some steals and deals. Letโs get cooking on some back-to-school kicks.
Itโs time to get back in the classroom
Can you believe the summer is almost over already? Crazy. It feels like things just started heating up yesterday. Sigh. I could use another month or two if only to delay the chilly weather that awaits us.
School will start up around my area in a couple of weeks. For some of you, the kids are going back already. So now is as good a time as ever to put together a KYW back-to-school sneaker guide for all the parents who want their kids to step into the classroom as fresh as possible. So letโs pick out some shoes!
Before we get into the picks, letโs lay some ground rules:
Rule 1: Nothing goes over $100. We can keep the kiddos fashionable while keeping some money in your pocket.
Rule 2: No Jordans. They probably wonโt be able to wear them again next year.
Rule 3: No silhouette appears more than once. Otherwise, Iโd list every pair of discounted Dunks here.
Alright. Letโs dive in.
Stepping into Daycare with the toddlers
Nike Swoosh 1 ($46.50 on sale): This is a neat lil shoe for those babies just beginning to take their first steps.
Nike Dunk Low ($35.23 on sale): This is a good pickup for those who care about style with their babies. That $35 mark for a Dunk is a steal.
Adidas Superstar ($34.98): The same can be said about this Superstar here. Itโs a classic Adidas silhouette at a really good price.
New Balance New-B ($31.99): This is one of those pairs that isnโt the most fashionable thing in the world, but who cares? Theyโll work fine and are cost-effective.
New Balance 990v4 ($49.98): This is a DTLR exclusive pair that I would literally shrink myself down just to wear. These are IT.
Pre-K kickinโ it
Nike Air Max 1 Easy-On ($50.73 w/ FALL25): This is one of those shoes that could last your baby all year long. Itโs a beater and is very easy to put on. This will do numbers on the playground.
Puma Suede Classic (43.99): Suede is a dangerous game with kids at this age, but that price is solid.
New Balance 2002R ($71.99 thru Aug 19): If youโre interested in the quality of your kidโs sneakers, this is the way to go. Itโs on the high end for this age range, but New Balance makes quality.
Asics Gel-Quantum 90 ($29.95): Thatโs a jaw-dropping price for a pair of Asics. Iโd jump on this one.
Adidas Ozmillen ($44.99): This shoe might be a bit clunky, but it looks nice and should provide your baby with a ton of cushion. They look pretty cool, too.
Big Steppin with the Big Kids
Under Armour Curry 3Z7 (59.97): The Curry brand makes nice, quality sneakers โ especially for those kids who love gym class. The stability in these shoes will be extremely helpful.
Ja 1 ($48.73 w/ FALL25): Seeing a Ja 1 at that price is jaw-dropping. The Ja 2 is coming out soon, but this shoe didnโt get the love it deserved. Iโm sure your little one will love these, though. Theyโre fly.
Adidas AE 1 ($90): This is the most popular basketball shoe weโve seen in years. Itโs in that upper echelon in price range, but your kid will love you for this. Anthony Edwards is so cool
Salehe Bembury x Crocs Pollex Clog $40: Crocs are still a thing, much to my chagrin. And these are Salehe Crocs. At this price, thatโs a major steal.
Puma 180 ($53.99): The Puma 180 has the same shape as the LaMelo Ball โLaFranceโ shoes (yes, thatโs a smuggle) but is cheaper. Itโs not a silhouette youโll see out there often, but it looks dope.
A lil variety for your Teens
Vans Knu Skool Suede ($64.95): These Vans are cushiony, comfortable and affordable. I know Vans isnโt the hottest thing in the streets right now, but these look dope.
Adidas Handball Spezial ($84): Adidas' terrace trend continues with these joints. The Handball Spezial is fly, comfy and straightforward. The objective during your teen years is simply not to get roasted. Nothing is un-roastable, but these are really good.
Nike P-6000 ($82.50 on sale): Nikeโs P-6000 is cheaper than the Vomero 5 but is still a rock-solid mesh shoe that works well with the mid-2000s trend weโre seeing. This is a good pick-up.
Salomon XT Pathway ($91): This may be the most obscure model that we see here in this guide today, but itโs a good one. Salomonโs look dope. Plus, Iโm sure your kid will be the only one in school with these on while everyone else is wearing Js.
Adidas Spiritain 2000 ($64.96 on sale): That mesh trend isnโt going away. These Adidas fit right in with it and are a pair that most people simply arenโt going to have. Theyโre fly.
Whatโs droppinโ, bruh
A Ma Maniere x Air Jordan 3 โW.Y.W.Sโ โ Tuesday, August 20
Nike Air Terra Humara โMystic Navyโ โ Tuesday, August 20
New Balance 1000 โAstro Dustโ โ Wednesday, August 21
Nike Clogposite โChromeโ โ Thursday, August 22
Nike Air Foamposite One โDMVโ โ Friday, August 23
Air Jordan 4 โWhite Thunderโ โ Saturday, August 24
Thatโs a wrap, folks! Thanks so much for reading KYW today. I hope found todayโs guide useful! Send your kids back to their teachers in style. Iโm sure some of you will find a way to slide a lil somethinโ in the cart for yourself. Iโve done my job either way!
If you have any tips, questions or comments, reach me via email at mikedsykes@gmail.com or send me a message here via Substack.
Peace and love. Be safe, be easy, be kind. We out.
-Sykes ๐ฏ