Grails: The Craze of Exclusive Sneakers - Ubinami- Sneakers & Lifestyle

7 min read

The term “grails” is thrown around loosely and typically does not hold as much weight as it seemed to in the past. Every sneaker collectors most wanted list consists of semi to extremely sought after kicks that go beyond the physical. Anyone who remembers their first pair of exclusive sneakers or a hot release that could not be secured. Lists vary due to numerous factors. Nobody has the same exact taste or grails as anyone else.

Top Five Grails

This personal list is never fully set in stone. Grails are meant to hold significance in multiple aspects, not just for a sole reason. The following sneakers are part of my grail list as of now and may change for any reason at any time.

Nike Air Yeezy 2 Red October

One of the most sought after and well-constructed Yeezys of all time. Even before Adidas teamed up with Ye, Nike put out some bangers throughout their stint together. The Red Octobers have only gone up in value and demand ever since they released. Nike Yeezys have tested to be built with quality materials; many pairs are still holding up very well almost ten years after the original release date in 2014.

This pair of sneakers is significant to me for various reasons. One in particular is the fact that they released on my birthday in 2014 (although I did not know until after they dropped). However, I later got more invested in sneakers and found out about the Red Octobers. Some of Kanye’s best shoes to ever release were during the pre-Adidas era. Louis Vuitton and Nike worked with West over several years to create some recognizable and highly coveted sneakers.

New Balance 992 Joe Freshgoods Don’t Be Mad Anatomy of a Heart/ No Emotions Are Emotions

Without a doubt, one of the most desired New Balance collaborations as of late and possibly of all time, Joe Freshgoods (JFG) and the Boston-based brand did not disappoint with this collaboration. Now, I only have a few pairs of New Balance in my personal collection. For a New Balance to be on my grails list has to mean it is something special.

This pair could easily be a Valentine’s Day classic; any type of sneaker with multiple uses of premium materials gets instantly better with the variation.

Nike Air Force 1 Low LeBron James PE

Air Forces typically aren’t my style, but there are always exceptions. Almost any Player Exclusive (PE) can be considered a grail for countless sneakerheads. Some PEs are myth-like as they are so rare and extremely limited. Most player exclusive are limited to single-digit pairs. Enthusiasts everywhere dream of obtaining a pair that only a select number of people have.

Originally released in 2005, the LeBron James PE is dressed in premium white and brown leather on the upper. The right lateral heel showcases an engraved design that is inspires by Ohio’s state lines. On the left lateral heel, an intricate LeBron James branding stands out effortlessly.

Air Jordan 1 High Chicago 1985 (The Holiest of Grails)

A timeless sneaker. A monumental pair of shoes. Anyone who appreciates Jordans knows how much influence the silhouette exudes. Other Jordan models are often overshadowed.

Anyone with an original pair of the Chicago 1s either knows they are potentially sitting on a pile of cash or has no clue about the pair’s true worth. The 1985 pairs are aged to perfection (naturally- no shots toward the ‘reimagined’ trend). Someone can argue that 99% of sneakers from the 80s don’t hold much monetary or sentimental value.

Air Jordan 1 High Chicago 1985- The Holiest of Grails

This particular pair is often worth the price of a reliable car. The intangible value is priceless due to the fact that the Chicagos paved the way for Jordan Brand as we know it today. The Air Jordan 1 Chicago 1985 will forever be a classic for sneaker collectors and casual fans alike.

Nike LeBron 10 What the MVP

In 2013, Nike released this limited pair of LeBrons to celebrate James’ 2013 NBA MVP, his fourth time winning the award. Nike made sure to release something special for a monumental feat of winning four MVP awards, a feat achieved by four other players besides James. That list includes Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Jordan. Nike was pretty much obligated to pull something special off for James and they did not disappoint.

“What the” colorways were popping in the late 2000s/early 2010s as Nike basketball had the sneaker game on lock. The What the MVPs combined several elements from noticeable LeBron 10 colorways like the Area 72, Prism, and BHM. With a combination of classic colorways, the demand is high as ever for this pari of LeBrons. However, rumors say there are well less than 1,000 pairs in circulation. Nike basketball and LeBron James fans all over the world have been keeping their eyes on this grail.

Grails- Invaluable Yet Priceless Sneakers

Grails are meant to be invaluable for personal reasons. Price does not and will never constitute the worthiness of a grail. Someone’s grail can be another’s beater pair. Ultimately, subjectivity reigns supreme in fashion, especially within the sneaker world.

Personal grails often change as particular choices and tastes evolve over time. Nobody who thinks for themselves has the same exact grails for identical reasons as anyone else. Never let someone else define for you what you like and don’t like.

Drop some of your personal grails in the comments!