The ultimate sneaker lexicon: everything you need to know from A - Z

Aglets

Aglets are at the end of the laces. They ensure that the laces do not fray. They are usually made of plastic and have the name of the brand on them. They are also available in metal. In German they are officially called “Stift”, but this is rarely used.

Beaters

A beater is a sneaker that you always wear. They are usually leather shoes that are super comfortable, go with everything and are not that expensive. They are a shoe for every everyday situation and they can get dirty.

Bot

A bot is short for robot and is a computer program that can perform tasks automatically. It is often used by resellers during sneaker releases to buy a limited edition sneaker as quickly as possible. Most online shops try to block bots. That's why you often have to confirm that you are a human by solving a picture puzzle or clicking extra.

Bred

Bred is the abbreviation for Michael Jordan's legendary "Black & Red" colorway. One of the first Jordan 1 High designs came in the Bred colorway and is still the Holy Grail of many sneakerheads today.

Collaboration

A collab is the short form for the German word collaboration. It is the creative collaboration between two brands or partners. These can be big sneaker brands together with artists, designers or even sneaker shops. We at Asphaltgold also often work with other brands.

Condition

Condition refers to the condition of the sneaker. This is what is asked if you want to resell a sneaker. It is often rated on a scale of 10. But terms are also used that scale the condition:

• DS means “deadstock”, it is a completely new, unworn sneaker that is usually offered in an OG box.

• VNDS means “Very Near Deadstock”. The sneaker has been worn very little and shows no signs of wear.

• NDS means “Near Deadstock”. This sneaker was also worn very rarely and has little to no signs of wear.

Opinions about the condition are subjective and often differ. That's why it's important to photograph the sneaker including the box in good light. Then potential buyers can get an idea for themselves. Above all, make sure to photograph and communicate every defect and every sign of wear to avoid later annoyance.

Coppen

“Copping” means buying a sneaker. After buying a sneaker, you often see pictures on social media with the caption “copped”.

Cop or Drop

The question “Cop or Drop” is used to find out whether you want to “cop” a new sneaker release, i.e. buy it, or whether you want to “drop” it, i.e. skip it because you don’t think it’s that great. So if someone from the sneaker scene asks you “Cop or Drop”, your opinion on the shoe is needed.

Custom

A custom sneaker is a personalized shoe. Even the big brands like Nike and Adidas now offer customization tools online. You can also have artists modify a custom sneaker for you, usually with coloring, sole swaps or new applications. Many people also "customize" their sneakers themselves at home. A popular method for coloring the upper is coffee.

CW (colorway)

The abbreviation “CW” refers to the colorway of a sneaker. Translated into English, this means the color palette or color scheme. There are famous colorways on certain silhouettes that are particularly popular. For example, the Jordan 1 High in the “Chicago” colorway or the Adidas ZX 8000 in “Aqua”. The most popular colorways are often the OG colorways, i.e. the colors that were used when a sneaker was first released, or sought-after collab colorways. The popular CWs often come back to the (virtual) shelves of shops as re-releases or retros.

deadstock (ds)

Deadstock describes the condition of a sneaker. The term is used when selling sneakers. It is the best quality feature because deadstock means that the sneaker is brand new, unworn and undamaged. Strictly speaking, deadstock means that the sneaker has never been taken out of its box. Translated, the word means “dead stock”. In other words, a sneaker from the warehouse.

Dubrae/ Lace Lock

A dubrae or lace lock is the (usually metallic) application that is placed in the middle of the shoelaces. Although it also serves to decorate the shoe, the actual purpose of a dubrae is to keep the shoelaces in the middle.

The history of the dubrae is quite funny. The term was coined in 1994 by Nike designer Damon Clegg. He introduced the small sign in his design for an ACG boot. He had no name for the element and so he called it "doobrie" - "thingamajig" in Scottish slang. Nick had borrowed the term from his college roommate. However, those present understood "doobrie" as a technical term. That's why it is often written "Dubré" as if it were a French word. But it is Glaswegian slang. Since 2006, the dubrae has been seen on every Air Force 1 Retro. But other brands such as Adidas, New Balance and Asics are now also using dubraes.

Early Access/Exclusive Access

If you are a loyal fan of a brand and use their app frequently, you may be given Early Access/Exclusive Access as a gift. This means you have the chance to buy a limited edition sneaker before anyone else.

F&F (Friends and Family)

F&F sneakers are friends and family versions. F&F sneakers are not available for sale. They are exclusive special editions of sneakers. Exclusive collaborations often also include an F&F version for the team involved or are given as a gift to individuals. These versions can be resold for a lot of money. However, this is not well received because an F&F sneaker is always special and was a gift. And of course, you don't want a huge amount of money to be made from a gift.

Fake/Replica

The most common term for counterfeit shoes is “fake sneakers”. The terms “fufu and replica” are also used.

General Release (GR)

A general release, often abbreviated as “GR”, is a non-limited sneaker that is released repeatedly. The best example of this is the Air Force 1 from Nike. A general release is also called an “inline release”.

Heat

“Heat” refers to sought-after sneakers that are very difficult to get and only with a lot of luck. They also usually have a very high market value.

Holy Grail

In the sneaker world, the Holy Grail means THE shoe. The one shoe that is everything to you. The one shoe that you have been looking for in your size for years or decades, or for a good price. Or that you will never get because there are only a very limited number of them. You could also call the sneaker your favorite sneaker, but that wouldn't do it justice. For many people, the Nike Air Mag, for example, is a grail.

hookup

A hookup is the help of another sneakerhead to pick up or buy a sneaker for you from a shop you can't get to. They bring it to you or ship it to you if you're too far away. In German, it can best be equated with a favor.

Hot Drop

A hot drop is a hot release. A sneaker that is in high demand and not easy to get. The question “Hot or Not?” is often asked in this context, similar to “Cop or Drop?”.

Hypebeast

Hypebeasts are people who always wear the latest (often limited) sneakers and the hottest apparel. They are always on the lookout for the newest piece. They only buy what is currently being hotly discussed and celebrated.

Jumpman

The Jumpman is the logo of Michael Jordan sneakers. It shows the silhouette of a person jumping and chasing the ball. Alongside the Nike “Swoosh” and the Adidas “Trefoil”, the Jumpman is the most famous logo in the world of sneakers. The Jumpman can only be found on Air Jordan sneakers.

Lacing

The term “lacing” refers to the way the laces are tied. There are many ways to tie your laces and almost no sneakerhead uses the classic “factory lacing”. This refers to the lacing that comes straight from the factory. Most people thread the laces through the hole from below, with the lace that is on top always on the inside of the shoe.

Launch

A launch is the same as a release. The launch date is the day on which the sneaker appears.

Leak

A leak is the (un)intentional appearance of photos of a sneaker. This happens relatively often. Therefore, one can assume that one or two leaks are intended or tolerated by the brands.

LEGIT CHECK

You should do a “legit check” when you buy a sneaker online. Some resale platforms offer a legit check from professionals. There are also online communities that try to check the authenticity of a sneaker using photos.

LPU (Latest Pick-Up)

LPU means “Latest Pick-Up”, which means the most recent shoe purchase you made. On the internet, the term is often abbreviated to LPU, so every sneakerhead knows in a nutshell what the latest addition to your sneaker collection is.

Mesh

Translated, “mesh” means “net” in German. Mesh refers to a certain material on the upper of a sneaker. It is a very thin fabric with very thin polyester or nylon threads.

Low, Mid, High

The terms “low”, “mid” and “high” refer to the length of the sneaker’s shaft. Some silhouettes come in all variations. The most famous example is the Air Jordan 1, which comes in “low”, “mid” and “high”. The most popular is the Jordan 1 High.

Midsole

Midsole is the middle sole of the sneaker. The entire sole usually consists of three parts: insole, midsole and outsole. The midsole is the most important sole that provides cushioning. The Air Bubbles of the Nike Air Max are also located in the midsole.

GS (Grade School)

“GS” indicates whether a sneaker is only available in grade school sizes. “Grade School” means elementary school (7-15 years) and indicates that the sneaker only comes in sizes EU 35.5 - EU 39. Since the sizes can also be worn by adults with smaller feet, GS releases are also interesting in the sneaker world. There is also the addition “PS”, which stands for preschool and sizes EU 27.5 - EU 35, and “TD”, which stands for toddler and sizes EU 17 - EU 27.

OG ox

The “OG Box” refers to the original box of the sneakers. Especially when reselling sneakers, it is important to indicate whether the OG Box is present and what condition it is in. So it is worth keeping the box if you plan to resell your shoes at some point.

OG Sneakers/OG Release

“OG sneakers” refers to sneakers that were first on the market. For example, the Air Max 1 from 1987 in the colorway “University Red”. An OG release is therefore a re-release of an original colorway from earlier. The releases often enjoy enormous demand, sell out quickly and usually cost more in resale than you want to pay.

On Feet

With the addition “On-Feet” you can find sneakers that can be seen worn on the foot. We often use on-feet pictures for sneakers so that you can get a feel for what the shoe looks like. With the hashtag #WOMFT, sneakerheads like to show their sneakers on-feet.

Outsole

The outsole is the bottom sole with the profile. The part that actually touches the ground. It often comes in a different color than the midsole.

PE (Player Exclusives)

"PE" sneakers are rare. The addition stands for "Player Exclusives". They are designed especially for professional athletes and there are usually no more than a handful of pairs that do not go on general sale unless someone resells their own pair.

Pinroll

“Pinroll” is a technique for wearing your trousers. You fold the trouser legs tightly around your legs and turn them over two or three times. This way you can see the sneakers perfectly. The “pinroll” is not worn very often anymore. Here and there you see old-school sneakerheads who stick to the trend.

Plug

A “plug” or “sneaker plug” is someone who can get you sneakers. Either because they have a source (works in a store) or because they have contacts. Plugs you know will sell you the shoe for the retail price, but there are also people who act as resellers and resell the sneakers for a higher price.

PS (Primary School)

You can tell whether a sneaker is only available in PS sizes by the addition “PS”. The addition stands for Primary School. The shoes are then only available in sizes EU 27.5 - EU 35. There is also the addition “GS”, which stands for Grade School and sizes EU 35.5 - EU 39 and “TD”, which stands for Toddler and sizes EU 17 - EU 27.

QS (Quickstrike)

Here and there, there are still sneakers that are marked with the addition “QS”. This actually used to mean exclusive releases that were dropped without announcement and in limited quantities. Nowadays, the release dates are usually known in advance.

It is also interesting that only sneaker stores that have Quickstrike status can sell exclusive releases. Nike decides which shop gets this status.

Raffle

A "raffle" is a kind of competition. A slightly different kind of competition, because you win the right to buy the sneaker. Raffles are organized by sneaker stores to ensure a fair distribution of limited edition sneakers. And: to spread out the traffic on their online shops. When a sneaker is released via a raffle, you have to register for it, provide the size, your address and the payment method. On a set date (usually the release date of the sneaker) a draw is then held to determine who wins the shoe.

Release

A release refers to the day on which the sneakers are released. There are exclusive, limited releases or general releases that appear in large numbers without much advertising.

Resell

“Reselling” refers to the reselling of sneakers. The market for this is now very large, as there are more and more platforms (StockX, eBay, Grailed, etc.) that make it easier to resell sneakers. Some sneakerheads are full-time “resellers”. They buy lots of limited edition sneakers (often via bots) and resell them for a much higher price. This happens via online platforms or in person. Resellers are also part of the sneaker world, but are often frowned upon because they buy sneakers from under the noses of real fans who want to buy a sneaker at the normal price.

Restock/Re-Release

A re-release means the renewed sale of a particular model. Popular sneakers, such as the Jordan 1 High Chicago, are re-released every few years so that you have the chance to buy a coveted and sold-out sneaker again.

A restock refers to sneakers that are coming online again. The Air Force 1 is often sold out, but often comes back into the shops via “restock”.

Retro

A "retro" is very similar to a re-release. When a sneaker is re-released and labeled as a retro, it means that it is very similar to its predecessor. There are also re-releases that differ slightly from the original sneaker, either because the shape is different or the sole has been modified.

sample

A sample is a prototype of a sneaker. Before a sneaker goes into production, samples are created. These patterns can be used to decide whether certain parts of the shoe still need to be changed. But there are also legendary sneakers of which there are only samples because they never went into production. A famous example is the Freddy Kruger Dunk, which was never allowed to be produced. However, some samples made it out of the factory and are now sold for five-figure sums. Sneaker designs are often "leaked" on social media platforms with the first images of the samples.

Scammer

Scammers are fraudsters. They try to sell you a fake shoe as an original. Or they demand money from you and you never get the shoe. There are many scammers in the sneaker scene. That's why you should always be careful when buying shoes privately.

SE (Special Edition)

“SE” stands for Special Edition. Some manufacturers use the term to describe special sneakers.

Shock Drop / Surprise Drop

Shock Drop or Surprise Drop is the name given to sneakers that appear without much advance notice or before the release date. At Nike, Shock Drops are also called “Quickstrike”.

Size Run (SR)

In German, the size run refers to the size chart of a sneaker. A size run for men starts at size EU 40. A size run for women starts at EU 35.5.

Sneakerhead

Sneakerheads are people who are very interested in sneakers, are therefore very knowledgeable about them or simply collect a lot of sneakers. You could also say sneaker fans, but sneakerheads just sounds better.

SoleSwap

A sole swap means exchanging a sole. The original sole is removed and replaced with a new sole. Sneakerheads often do this when an old sole is broken or because they no longer like the original sole but definitely want to keep the shoe.

Stacked

The term “stacked” means that your pants fall over your sneakers. The opposite of “pinroll”.

Suede

“Suede” is another word for suede or suede leather. It describes all types of leather with a rough surface.

Toddler (TD)

You can tell whether a sneaker is only available in TD sizes by the addition “TD”. This addition stands for toddler, i.e. babies. The shoes are then only available in sizes EU 17 - EU 27. There is also the addition “GS”, which stands for Grade School and sizes EU 35.5 - EU 39 and “PS”, which stands for Primary School and sizes EU 27.5 - EU 35.

Toe Box

Toe box is the English word for toe cap, i.e. the part that covers the toes at the front of the sneaker. There are different designs of toe boxes and the term is often used to describe the design of a sneaker.

TTS (True to Size)

TTS means “True To Size”. You can use this abbreviation if you want to say that the sneaker fits exactly as the size stated. This is done because there are some sneakers that run smaller or larger.

TTS (True to Size)

TTS means “True To Size”. You can use this abbreviation if you want to say that the sneaker fits exactly as the size stated. This is done because there are some sneakers that run smaller or larger.

Upper

The “upper” refers to the base of the sneaker, i.e. the entire part above the sole.

Unboxing

“Unboxing” means “unpacking”. There are many people, especially influencers, who show the unboxing of their sneakers. You can see all the details of the shoe and what else might be in the box.

W or L?

The question “W or L?” is asked about coveted and limited releases. It is called “Win ​​or Lose”. If you got a sneaker that was hard to get, you can answer the question with “W”. If you came away empty-handed, you write “L”.

WOMFT (What's On My Feet Today)

“WOMFT” stands for “What's On My Feet Today”. The term is often used as an abbreviation in hashtags to show many interested people which sneakers you wore that day.

WTB (Want To Buy)

“WTB” stands for “Want to Buy”, which is a quick way to say that you want to buy a sneaker. The abbreviation is often used in communities to indicate whether you want to buy, sell or trade a sneaker.

WTT (Want To Trade)

“WTT” stands for “Want to Trade”, which is a quick way to say that you want to trade a sneaker. The abbreviation is often used in communities to indicate whether you want to buy, sell or trade a sneaker.

TS (Want To Sell)

“WTS” stands for “Want to Sell”, which is a quick way to say that you want to sell a sneaker. The abbreviation is often used in communities to indicate whether you want to buy, sell or trade a sneaker.