The sneaker culture has become a billion dollar industry, far removed from the days of simplistic colorways and risk-free designs. While designers look to create the next big shoe, retros are a major entity of the market, as buyers want to recapture the feeling of the initial pair or grab a shoe they couldn't initially afford or missed out on. Sneaker gods Nike, Reebok and Adidas have done a great job of listening to buyers and recreating quality classic shoes, but there are some classics that are long overdue for a remake. Here are 10 forgotten sneakers that need to reappear on store shelves.
1. Flightposite III
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Debuting in 2001, the Nike Flightposite III is one of the most bizarre designs for a sneaker ever - and that's saying plenty. The bubbles that adorn the sides of the shoe resemble a bumblebee, rendering it nearly impossible not to be seen from a block away. The shoe was worn by various players, including Penny Hardaway, but were made popular by former Knicks star Allan Houston when he was lighting teams up with his silky jumper.
2. Mossafied
2003 was a great year for Randy Moss, scoring his greatest statistical season and releasing this forgotten sneaker that he used to blow past wanna-be defenders on the Minnesota Vikings turf field. Reminiscent of a dalmatian, the shoe featured a suede toe and an overall slick design helped them fly off shelves. There has yet to be a retro, despite constant attention on sneaker blog sites.
3. CB94 (Royal Blue)
2004 saw the retro of Charles Barkley's timeless CB94 sneaker, and with it the introduction of these bad boy's. The Royal Blue colorway was a hit upon release before disappearing for 12 years with no retro in sight. Extremely hard to find on the internet, with so many colorways of the shoe being released, why not bring back these?
4. Air Darwin
The signature shoe of NBA Hall of Famer and circus act Dennis Rodman, the Air Darwin reflects a time when Rodman was just breaking out of his shell. Before he committed bizarre acts like marrying hisself and helping solidify the Chicago Bulls 1990's dynasty, Rodman release these gyms in 1994. The shoe saw a retro in 2005, but with more than a decade passing, it's time for another go around.
5. Air Zoom Jason Kidd II
NBA Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd dished plenty of dimes in the '90s, and he did it in style. Although the Air Zoom Flight 95 is his most popular show, it is his second shoe that featured a shoe within a shoe - one of the '90s many sneaker innovations.
6. NYK Air Max Penny 1
Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway is remembered just as much for his NBA career as he is for his legendary sneaker collection. 2005 saw the release of the timeless Penny 1 in a New York Knicks colorway, and they didn't last very long on shelves.
7. Reebok Avant Garde
Worn mainly by college teams and 3x NBA champion guard Mario Elie, the Avant Garde slipped under the radar due to lack of superstar endorsement. The eye-catching design would suit well with this generation, where the more outlandish a shoe is, the better it sells.
8. Air Muscle Max
The Muscle Max has garnered more attention on internet blogs and forums then it did when released in 1996. The demand has been so great, that their is a Facebook group dedicated solely to the cross trainer.
9. Air Barrage
This 1995 release was sported on turf by several NFL stars, but none more notable than running back Marshall Faulk. The large "AIR" on the side would become a Nike staple, later popularized by the Scottie Pippen signature collection.
10. Gary Payton IV
When it comes to signature sneaker collection's, NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton can compete with the best of 'em. The fourth entry in his collection is one of the most underrated sneakers of all-time, debuting at a time when companies were experimenting with chrome on shoes.
