Ayo, Bo knows this, and Bo knows that, but does Bo know how obsessed I was with sneakers that had straps? Yeah, you’re right, he probably wouldn’t care. But for the record, I was very obsessed as a child.

Maybe it’s because I was an annoying kid that didn’t realize how annoying Velcro actually was. It didn’t matter, though. Straps looked and felt futuristic to me. I didn’t make the straitjacket connection till right now, though.

Either way, I balked at laces and prepared to bid adieu to the days of knotting strings with inconvenient loops. Straps were the greatest and most logical component to sneakers, in my mind. I couldn’t wait for the day Velcro shoes and straps became standard. Turns out I’ll know all about those when I’m old and perusing baskets at the supermarket.

Some things never change, though. I still like straps, but prefer not to tighten them over my feet. I’m not Bo Jackson, so I don’t need the lateral support for strenuous training. Closest I get to athletic work is navigating stadium dungeons to venture from locker room to locker room so I can interview professional athletes. That, and maneuvering around subway platforms during rush hour. I tighten the shoes up for that.

Nonetheless, the black laces that come with these shoes were perfectly fine; I just wanted a more significant POP factor, so I looped up the black speckle laces from Fully Laced and added to the black-and-white harmony.

*****

If you’re like me and can’t put a price on a long-cherished style or design, then make sure you put a price on shoe quality. There’s no nice way to say this, but this version of the Air Trainer Max ’91 does not feel like a $100 shoe. Make sure you don’t pay anything close to that. You’ll do fine if you linger around the $60-$70 mark.

The materials simply don’t meet the present day’s standards. They’re soft and light, but the fabrics used were likely ideal in 1991 when the Air Trainer Max was state of the art. They feel flimsy today. The neoprene innards and accents contribute to how light the shoes are, but neoprene has a tendency to bulk up your socks and heat your feet. Make sure you wear thin socks.

Enjoy.