👀 Sneaker of the Week: New Balance 204L

🔥 The Weekly Lace-Up: the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4’s groundbreaking return, MLB-inspired Air Jordan 2 PE heat, and Crocs x NFL collabs for every team

📸 Kick Flick: WWE’s Bronson Reed hits the ring in the Nike Air Tech Challenge II “Poison Green”

Each week, we’ll select one standout pair, be it a classic, sleeper, new drop, or something with a story worth telling. Plus, Chase will give his verdict.

This week, we’ve tapped…

Today, we’ll be exploring the New Balance 204L.

Pour one out for the “dad shoe” wave. There’s a new sneaker trend, and it’s anything but chunky. Slim sneakers—sometimes dubbed “ballerina” shoes, soccer shoes, racing shoes, or just plain old low-profile kicks—are all the rage right now. And some of the game’s heavyweights, including Nike, adidas, and PUMA, are fueling the hype behind the movement.

Add New Balance to that list. The heritage footwear brand recently dropped a buzzy new silhouette called the New Balance 204L, and it’s gaining serious traction among die-hard sneaker collectors and casual fans alike.

Like the Nike Total 90 III, PUMA Speedcat OG, adidas Samba, and other models driving the trend, the 204L features, you guessed it, a low-cut profile and a slim sole. Adding to the appeal, its debut “Mushroom” colorway bears a strong resemblance to Miu Miu’s 2024 New Balance 530 collab, thanks to its layered khaki/tan suede construction. Squint and you might have a hard time telling them apart, save for a few subtle differences.

The 204L is New Balance’s official entry into the conversation, and it speaks volumes. Its first rollout—a collaboration with longtime partner Kith—dropped in three bold, summer-ready colorways and has already sold out on Kith’s webstore. LA-based fashion brand Mnml even went so far as to call the 204L the sneaker of 2026, and a wave of creatives across social media are singing its praises.

While chunky, Y2K-inspired designs like the New Balance 1906R and 2002R, along with the ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 and Gel-1130, are still very much in the mix, it feels like the tide is turning. Slim shoes are having a moment, and they might just be here to stay.

What. A. Shoe. Personally, I’m loving the slim shoe trend. It’s a welcome break from the dad shoe era that had a firm grip on sneaker culture for years, dating back to the Balenciaga Triple S and adidas Yeezy Boost 350 in the mid-2010s. Slim sneakers are a clean, modern way to switch up your rotation, and they pair perfectly with the ultra-baggy pants that we’re all wearing at the moment, too.

Two decades after first captivating the sneaker world, the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 is finally making its official return on August 28th via Nike’s SNKRS app. Long regarded as a mythical grail in sneaker culture, its comeback has been met with major anticipation across the community. Design-wise, the 2025 edition stays faithful to the original, with only subtle updates like “Nike Air” branding on the heel and a “Nike” logo on the outsole. Beyond that, Undefeated says the design remains true to the OG. Given the Undefeated x Jordan 4’s legacy and demand, expect this release to vanish from SNKRS within minutes. Buy them now →

Since reuniting with Nike a few years back, Deion Sanders has seen several of his most iconic silhouettes return in true-to-original form—branding and all—much to the delight of collectors. Next up is Coach Prime’s Nike Air Diamond Turf “Emerald,” making its first-ever comeback with OG details intact on August 29th.

The 2025 edition of the “Emerald” colorway stays faithful to the 1993 original, reviving key details like the patterned tongue and classic tongue branding absent from both the 2010 and 2017 retros. Additional updates include gold “Nike Air” embroidery on the heel and an overall shape that mirrors the OG’s proportions, further cementing this release as the most authentic retro yet. Buy them now →

Historically, Major League Baseball players haven’t always had the freedom to express their personal style on the field. But in recent years, the league has eased uniform restrictions, giving athletes the opportunity to showcase bold sneakers, colorful cleats, and unique accessories that reflect their individual personalities. This shift has allowed brands and their athletes to get creative with on-field footwear, as seen with the unreleased Air Jordan 2 PE "MLB," which brings a baseball-inspired twist to the beloved silhouette.

Inspired by Louisville Slugger bats, the Jordan 2 PE “MLB” was created in 2024 for just ten Jordan Brand-sponsored players, including Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, Jazz Chisholm, and more. The sneaker features a tan, wood-grain-inspired pattern on the side panels and a custom tongue emblem nodding to the bat’s iconic oval logo. Other key details referencing Louisville Slugger include a red tag with “Louisville, KY” near the eyelets and collar, as well as “1884” and “1984” text on the heels, all tying back to the brand’s heritage.

Unfortunately for collectors, the Jordan 2 PE “MLB” isn’t slated for a retail release. But as we’ve seen with other former Player Exclusive Air Jordan colorways, a wider release could still be possible in the future.

Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, Crocs and the National Football League have announced a multi-year licensing partnership, bringing the two iconic brands together. The first wave of products from the collaboration includes 14 versions of the Crocs Classic Clog, each dedicated to some of the league’s most popular franchises. Among the teams featured are the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Dallas Cowboys. While the NFL has confirmed that all 32 teams will eventually receive their own official footwear and accessories, this initial drop sets the stage for what’s to come.

In typical fashion, the Crocs design team didn’t phone it in when concepting the collaboration. Each clog arrives in team colors and is accessorized with franchise-specific details. The Minnesota Vikings variation, for instance, features horn attachments on the sides and a modulated ankle strap styled as a braid, paying homage to the team’s Norse heritage. The Miami Dolphins' edition sports a protruding fin on the forefoot, while the Las Vegas Raiders' version comes with a rugged black chain wrapped around the collar, nodding to the franchise’s hard-nosed identity.

As of now, no official release date for the NFL x Crocs Classic Clog has been confirmed. Some retailers, however, have pointed to September 18th as the potential launch date for the first wave. With the 2025 NFL season kicking off on September 4th between the Cowboys and Eagles, it wouldn’t be surprising if the rumored date proves accurate. All 32 teams are expected to be represented in Crocs form by the end of the season.

Bronson Reed has been making waves in WWE, first by delivering his devastating Sunami finisher to stars like Seth “Freakin’” Rollins, Braun Strowman, and Sheamus, and more recently by aligning with Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman to form the powerhouse faction “The Vision.” But Reed isn’t just making statements with his in-ring dominance. On a recent episode of Monday Night RAW, the colossal superstar stepped out in the Nike Air Tech Challenge II “Poison Green,” a colorway of the beloved retro tennis model highlighted by bold neon accents.

Why is this notable? The “Poison Green” hasn’t seen a release since 2014, making it a rare sight on foot. With Nike recently reviving the Air Tech Challenge II through buzzy drops like the “Hot Lava,” “Racer Pink,” and “Tart” colorways, Reed’s appearance in the pair could be more than a flex—it may hint at a 2025 return of the “Poison Green.”

Adding more fuel to the fire, Reed has also been embroiled in a storyline with Roman Reigns that blends sneaker culture directly into the squared circle. In recent weeks, the Aussie powerhouse has been stealing the “Tribal Chief’s” Air Jordans—first a Jordan Spi’zike Low, then an Air Jordan 1 Mid—and flaunting them around his neck as part of a makeshift “shoelafala,” a clever play on Reigns’ traditional ula fala necklace.

Combined with his recent Nike Air Tech Challenge II “Poison Green” sighting, Reed is carving out a unique lane as WWE’s unexpected sneaker king, mixing his heavy-hitting dominance with headline-grabbing sneaker moments.