Despite the “dad shoes” trend being a thing, if you were kinda disappointed by the Yeezy Wave Runner 700’s, you are not alone. Sneakerheads across the globe have expressed their disapproval of Kanye’s dad shoe design (and price). Some went as far as saying that it should have dropped at Wal-Mart.
Rise of the Dad Shoes
I can’t deny that some people are actually into this “dad shoe” style, especially since it’s been trending all summer 2017. Luxury brands from Gucci, Givenchy and Balenciaga, to brands like Adidas, New Balance, and Nike have been embracing the clunky, chunky, colorful shoes. In fact, Kanye has been sporting the Wave Runner 700’s since as early as January.
But in August, when Kanye complied with fashion trends and unexpectedly dropped the Yeezy Wave Runner 700 for pre-order on Yeezy Supply, people were hesitant. The shoe didn’t immediately sell out until later in the night a couple of hours after it went online. The sneakerhead community was confused AF and took their mixed feelings to the internet, where they could confirm their sanity with like-minded individuals.
Price Matters!
The Wave Runner 700 was released for pre-order at a heafty retail price of $300. People who were adapted to previous Yeezy Boost designs couldn’t wrap their heads around the Yeezy Wave Runner. Especially that you’d have to pay $300 for a shoe that you wouldn’t actually own until November 1st, 2017.
Understandably, the cost carefully considers the BOOST technology, the trend and of course the fact that it’s Kanye’s creation. Despite that, sneakerheads decided that the retail price was too high for shoes that looked like they could be sold at Wal-Mart: “Would we cop a pair? Absolutely. Only if they were selling at Wal-Mart for $69.99. And that’s just being fair to the Men, Women & Children of America.”
Is it Worth It?
Remember when the Yeezy 750s in grey and white came out, and everyone was kinda hating on them? They now resell for a way higher price, some are selling for more than $3,000. Maybe resellers are hoping the same could happen to the Yeezy Wave Runner 700. But according to Highsnobiety’s video, reselling this shoe will just get harder and harder as time goes by. So if someone is willing to pay up to $600 for them, just sell’em!
A Different Target Audience Altogether
Since its partnership with Adidas, the Yeezy sneaker brand became known for it’s sleek and futuristic design, unique colorways, and aesthetic appeal. For the majority of the sneakerhead community, who loved the trademark design, the Wave Runner 700 is a turnoff.
But I’ll admit, some people have been pulling off the dad shoe trend in enviable style. But the trend will die out sooner or later. And wearers of the Yeezy 350s or 350 V2 will probably die before getting spotted in Yeezy Wave Runners.
This Yeezy Supply shoe was meant for the other kind of sneaker lovers. The ones that CAN rock dad shoes like the Yeezy Wave Runner, and feel no shame. The brave ones like Kanye himself!
And to top it all off, they’ll be wearing that BOOST material in the insoles, so they’ll be comfy in their ugly shoes all day long. But for this spectrum of the sneakerhead community, these shoes deserve no hype.
Final Thoughts
To wrap it all up, the shoe is deemed a brick with not much hope on the resale market. If you have them, be a hype beast and wear them, but reselling them won’t make you much. That’s just how it seems at this point, but who knows what will happen come November.