Pear arrived today and my initial impressions in contrast of the 2019's to the 2012's.
2019 criticisms:
1. Patent leather is flimsier and of lower grade material (tried on and creased just from that... whereas the 2012's have been donned several dozen times with minimal damage.
2. The lateral heel-cup sewed jumpman has less threading and pales in comparison to 2012 (texture is flatter whereas last retro has a protruding, 3D-like bump.
3. Red sole is fukkin' dull as hell... almost like a muted varsity red. WTF.
What i do like aboot them 2012's.
1. High patent cut and overall taller profile... and white grids are a dope touch.
2. Definement of the upper's nylon area... it's indented, the lines and cuts/trims are precise and acute. Very refined in detail.
3. Leather is more plush... think Audi seats.
Bad outweigh the good for this shoe.
The marketing scheme of the "remastered" program must be just for the aesthetics, cuz it def ain' for the quality.
Prefer the 2012 Black cement 4's to this years.
Also prefer the 2014 Infrared 6's to this years.
If you wear your shoes as often as I do, and wear the aforementioned as often as i do, you'll know EXACTLY what i'm referring to.
The 2019 releases, while cut and profile are there, close to og in that format... the substandard materials is truly the killjoy/puts it in second place to its retro predecessor.
I feel like the previous renditions were great for wearing frequently/tank-like in build quality and materials.
These "remastered" retros are shrine status. I don't want to wear them. They are that ho-hum overall. Sucks cuz they look great. But that's where the buckshot stops.
This is an honest and personal take on it.
As much as I love the black cement 4's, they did a much better job on the white cement 4's from 2016. That was a high tier retro done remarkably right.
And the green gatorade 6's and social status 6's from this year also trump the infrareds from all star break.
My conclusion is that they know the og's releases will always sell like hot cakes, so less emphasis placed on quality with the remaster attachment is just a gimmick.
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