Kick Spotlight: Evan F.

With the 3rd installment of Kick Spotlight I bring you Evan F. from Tribune, KS. Evan and I met through a mutual sneaker collector that used to share his time between Kansas City and Western Kansas (his spotlight is still to come). 

Being from a small town in the "middle of nowhere," Evan faces different challenges than what some of us other 'heads face. So without further adieu, Kick Spotlight: Evan F.

Profile:

Name: Evan F.
Age: 30
Size: 11
Instagram: @efirner
Twitter: @efirner
Location: Tribune, KS

What is the first shoe that you remember buying, or that started if all for you?

Jordan "Concord" XI

I never copped them, but without a doubt, the Jordan 11 Concord when it came out in '97. My parents weren't interested in paying $130+ on my 7th grade basketball shoes, so I wasn't able to get them for Basketball. 

Jordan "Cherry" XII

The first Jordan’s on my actual feet happened two years later: the Jordan 12 white/ red, or now we call them, the 12 Cherries. I grabbed them on sale through eastbay.com for $100 plus shipping. My mother used to call them and do phone orders. I used them for freshman basketball!

What’s your favorite part of the sneaker culture?

The best part of the culture is the true friends you have met that help you on release days. I’m an extreme Western Kansas sneakerhead. It’s extremely hard to get Jordans. I get them online through nike.com, or I don’t get them at all.
Also, I really enjoy the challenge of trying to cop the kicks online. It gets harder and harder with supplies getting the LIMITED label. Websites change their formats to combat bots. I really enjoy predicting what their next new design will be. 

What’s your least favorite part of the sneaker culture?

Gotta get to Footlocker!!!

Campouts can be fun when it’s in the middle of the summer. However, in the dead of winter it is not safe. They should still allow camping but not when temperatures drops so low it isn’t safe anymore. I have camped out a few times but safety is important. 

Also, excessive reselling prices. Flightclub are you kidding me, almost $4K for a Paranorman Foamposite?!?! I’m not going to hide it. I resell shoes often and regularly. I resell to help feed my sneaker habit. I sell them at a price that is fair to me the seller and you the buyer. Not $275 for a general release Jordan. 

How many shoes would you say you own?

Small selection from Evan's collection

I have nearly 30 pairs that are deadstock and 10-15 that I rock. I know what most of you are thinking you need to rock all of your kicks. Several of them are simply a collection piece to me. When a shoe is valued at $800 and I wear them. They depreciate in value by at least 30 percent. So, I should waste $240 wearing them only a few times? I don’t think that’s a sounds investment. Basically I don’t wear kicks that are worth more than $300.

What’s your favorite sneaker brand and why?

A year ago it would have been Jordan hands down! However, I’m moving towards Asics or New Balance. New Balances are Made in America and are extremely comfortable. Jordan’s for me personally are becoming a collector’s item. My favorite brand is still Nike. 

What are your top 3 sneakers in your collection?

Evan's Deadstock Doernbecher Collection

Jordan 3-5 Doernbechers all Deadstock.

What are the top 2 sneakers you wish you had most?

Nike "Paranorman" Foamposite One

The PARANORMAN Foamposite because I won the contest and didn’t get my size!!! The design on those foams are unreal! 

The Nike Air Mags are a close second.

What’s the number 1 sneaker you’d like to see re-released?

Jordan "Columbia" XI

I like “re-releases” because it’s exciting. Come on now IG and Twitter went nuts when Nike announced they would re-release 5 different Doernbecher shoes! I’m going to say the Jordan 11 Columbias because everyone wants those to re-release and I’m in that group.

What’s your most memorable campout or buying experience?

Jordan "Bred" IV

Two of my good friends and I campout out for the Bred 4s! It was Black Friday and people asked us what we were waiting for? We told them a pair of Jordans. We would change the story throughout the night. First ten people get a $5 gift card. You know stories that make you laugh. It was nearly below freezing you have to laugh to stay warm. 

What made it exciting was I ran into my college roommate. He only camped for an hour and copped the last pair in his size. SMH 

What’s the next shoe that you have your eye on?

Nike Foamposite One "Doernbecher"

Without a doubt the Doernbecher Foamposite!!! The Jordan Doernbecher of the collection takes and obvious backseat for the first time!

Any parting words?

Buy what you like and don’t stock as many pairs as I do! 30 Deadstock pairs are way too many pairs to keep in that condition. Keep a top 5 DS and rock the rest of them. 

I encourage the resellers reading to donate some of the proceeds to a charity. 

Help a friend that you know really I mean really wants a certain pair of shoes for cost plus shipping. 

Shoutouts?

Shoutout to everyone that I have received help from with releases (Todd & Q)! Also, FunkMasterKicks for noticing my passion for shoes. Thanks Mom and Dad for my first pair of Jordans!