Best Sneaker/Footwear Releases April 2020 Week 1

With the first quarter of 2020 behind us, and quite a bit of uncertainty ahead of us, sportswear brands are hunkering down and bracing for a turbulent summer for the industry. Nevertheless, with inventory beginning to bottleneck, there’s still a varied slate of drops set to hit (digital) shelves between now and Saturday. Before we get into what this week’s got in store for us however, let’s take a quick look back at the last seven days.

Sneaker lovers around the world are relegated to their homes, so we checked in with employees of three world-renowned retailers — RSVP Gallery, Bodega and size? — to see how they’re faring. We also compared Entrupy and StockX’s authentication systems to answer an ever-growing question: who can do a better job of spotting fake sneakers, machines or humans? And it’s never a bad time for a good pair of boots, so a salute was issued to the “people’s shoe,” Dr. Martens’ ubiquitous 1460.

There was plenty of news to be had on the business front. New Balance shifted its Massachusetts and Maine factories from making shoes to making facemasks, gowns and foot coverings, while Under Armour cranked out masks as well and Brooks pledged 10,000 pairs of free shoes to medical professionals. On a dire note, adidas is seeking €1 billion euros in state aid due to the continued closure of its retail stores.

From a Nike standpoint, it was all about KD and JB. Kevin Durant’s KD 13 was officially unveiled in a half-dozen makeups ranging from wild to mild, some of which you’ll see on this week’s list. Meanwhile, Jordan Brand revealed its full Summer 2020 retro collection.

Although a lot has changed since 2015, one thing that hasn’t is the general public’s affection for the COMME des GARÇONS PLAY x Converse Chuck 70, which appeared in 3 vibrant, summer-ready colorways. It wasn’t just Converse on the collaborative front either: Jerry Lorenzo announced that the friends & family style of his Nike Air Fear of God Raid would release this summer as part of another Nike Basketball capsule.

One final note before we dive into this week’s releases: due to the continued spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, there may be release delays in the coming days. Last week saw a brief postponement of the Air Jordan 1 “Court Purple” US drop as well as pushed-back dates for the Air Jordan 6 “Hare” and Casablanca x New Balance 327, so be sure to stay on your toes — and wash your hands. Check out this week’s 11 best releases below, and hit up our Drops page for a full list of arrivals.

Nike KD 13 “Planet of Hoops” & “Black/White” (International Release)

Release Date: April 6
Release Price: $160 USD (Each)
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS CN
Why You Should Cop: Basketball is a global game, so the inaugural release of Kevin Durant’s new Nike KD 13 will occur overseas, with the colorful “Planet of Hoops” and the simple-yet-effective “Black/White” releasing in Asia and Europe before arriving stateside. The former offers hand-scrawled graphics while the latter uses technical grid patterns, but each offers an ultra-advanced Zoom Air cushioning setup.

Pop Trading Co x Camper Collection

Release Date: April 6
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: Camper
Why You Should Cop: Chunky, puffy early ’00s skate footwear brings back fond memories for sneakerheads and skate rats alike, so Pop Trading Co and Camper looked to the early aughts for inspiration on a new two-shoe collection. With one style for skating (the Runner XL) and one for lampin’ (the Chassis Chukka), the offerings draw on the two brand’s shared memories for a powerful and bold nostalgia play.

Air Jordan 7 “Hare 2.0”

Release Date: April 8
Release Price: $250 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS and Foot Locker
Why You Should Cop: Hare Jordan and Air Jordan are meeting once again on the Air Jordan 7 “Hare 2.0.” Also called the “Neutral Grey,” this fur-equipped silhouette is a rabbit’s foot in shoe form, and a clever nod to the beloved Air Jordan 7 “Hare” from 1993 — so much so that it even has an OG “Hare” style code debossed on its side.

Bodega x Saucony Grid Azura 2000 “Ever Ready”

Release Date: April 8
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: Bodega
Why You Should Cop: It’s been 20 years since the Saucony Grid Azura was first designed, and Bodega is acknowledging the strife and progress of the two decades since then with this collaborative “Ever Ready” colorway. Heavy meaning has to be backed up by good design, but the “Ever Ready” achieves that by way of a layered, heavily detailed upper and pops of bright accenting hues.

Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% “Valerian Blue”

Release Date: April 9
Release Price: $250 USD
Where to Buy: Nike
Why You Should Cop: Although social distancing and self quarantine have many around the globe rightfully regulated to their houses, it’s still OK to step outside for a solo run. Thankfully, you can do that in speedy style with the ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%’s new “Valerian Blue” iteration. With a record-setting combo of a carbon fiber plate and ZoomX cushioning, this is Nike’s fastest mass market running shoe — and it’s dressed in an appealing mix of dark blue and volt green to boot.

Commonwealth x K-Swiss Classic 66

Release Date: April 9
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: Commonwealth
Why You Should Cop: They say you don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but Commonwealth and K-Swiss have reinvented “the wheel” of sneakers — an all-white low top — to great effect on their Classic 66 collaboration. No two panels are the same, as the shoe offers a medley of white and sail tones constructed of leathers, suedes, nubucks and more. In short, the devil is decidedly in the details here.

Air Jordan 1 Mid “Multi-Color”

Release Date: April 9
Release Price: $125 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS and Foot Locker
Why You Should Cop: An apt follow-up to 2019’s Blue the Great collaboration from Jordan Brand’s Fearless Ones collection, the Air Jordan 1 Mid “Multi-Color” uses warm hues, rich suedes and smooth nubucks for a vibrant look. Seemingly straight out of the ’90s these colorful mid-cuts are a ladies style, but will come in an extended size run so the fellas can get their shine on too.

adidas YEEZY 700 V3 “Alvah”

Release Date: April 11
Release Price: $200 USD
Where to Buy: YEEZY Supply
Why You Should Cop: “Alvah” is Hebrew for “His Highness,” and Kanye West is looking to reign over this week’s drops with his such-dubbed YEEZY 700 V3. The “Alvah” uses a striped black mesh upper under a TPU exoskeleton for a look that’s simultaneously familiar and avant-garde, completed by a sleek midsole devoid of BOOST cushioning.

Nike KD 13 “Hype”

Release Date: April 10
Release Price: $160 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Made for basketball but featuring a print that looks straight off a Versace runway, the Nike KD 13 “Hype” offers a style that belies its inspiration. You might think that its opulent gold-chain-and-butterfly graphic is inspired by high fashion houses, but it’s instead a nod to Kevin Durant’s pregame playlist, which consists of everything from Southern rap to soul classics.

Reebok Question Mid “Black Toe”

Release Date: April 10
Release Price: $140 USD
Where to Buy: Reebok and Foot Locker
Why You Should Cop: A new take on the most famous colorway of Allen Iverson’s most popular sneaker, Reebok’s Question Mid “Black Toe” presents a championship-ready look with its mix of stark and bold accents. Much like AI himself, the shoe is multifaceted too: with wear, the black layer on the toebox rubs off to reveal a regal gold base.

Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Court Purple” (US Release)

Release Date: April 11
Release Price: $170 USD
Where to Buy: Nike SNKRS and Foot Locker
Why You Should Cop: The monarchial hues on the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Court Purple” were so nice, Nike just had to drop ‘em twice. Originally scheduled for an April 4 release, the US arrival of the “Court Purple” was delayed a week but good things come to those who wait, and it’s hitting the States this weekend.

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