Sneaker Glossary —
Every Term Explained

Shoes you wear hard without worrying about condition. Usually older or cheap pairs used for manual work, rain, or any situation where you don't want to risk your good shoes.

A shoe that failed to sell at retail price and dropped below retail on the resale market. Usually a hyped shoe that was overproduced or lost cultural relevance.

The specific color combination of a sneaker. The same silhouette (e.g. Jordan 1 High) can have hundreds of different colorways.

To successfully purchase a sneaker, especially a limited release. Opposite of "miss."

Brand new, unworn sneakers in original condition with box and all accessories. The highest condition grade on resale platforms. Sometimes abbreviated DS.

A sneaker release — the date and time a shoe becomes available to buy. High-demand drops often sell out in seconds.

Short for Deadstock — brand new, unworn condition. See Deadstock above.

A legal lookalike shoe inspired by a popular design but not a counterfeit. Often from fast fashion brands copying luxury or hype designs.

To buy a sneaker and resell it for profit. The act of reselling. A successful flip means you sold for more than you paid after fees.

Counterfeit sneakers made to look like authentic pairs. Selling fakes is illegal. Platforms like StockX and GOAT authenticate every pair to prevent fakes.

A shoe available broadly at retail — not limited, not exclusive. GR shoes are easy to find at retail price and usually don't hold resale value well.

A sneaker that is extremely rare, highly sought after, and personally significant. Your grail is the shoe you'd pay anything to own.

The cultural excitement and demand around a sneaker release. A hyped shoe sells out quickly and commands resale premiums.

Someone who buys sneakers and streetwear primarily for status and hype rather than personal taste. Sometimes used negatively, sometimes reclaimed as a badge of honor.

Losing — failing to cop a sneaker in a raffle or release. Also used for a bad resale trade or a shoe that bricks below retail.

The 3D form that a shoe is built around. The shape of the last determines the width, toe box shape, and overall fit of the shoe. Different models use different lasts even within the same brand.

The original colorway or version of a shoe when it first released. OG colorways typically command higher resale prices than later versions or retros.

Photos or videos of a shoe being worn, showing how it looks in real life compared to studio product shots.

Sneakers made exclusively for professional athletes — not available for public purchase. PEs occasionally leak or get auctioned for charity and command massive prices.

A version of a shoe made with higher-quality materials than the standard release. Premium versions typically cost more at retail and command higher resale prices.

Buying sneakers to sell to other buyers, usually at a profit. The sneaker resale market is worth over $6 billion globally.

A re-release of a classic sneaker model from a previous era. Most Jordan models sold today are Retros — re-releases of designs from the 80s and 90s.

The overall shape and design of a shoe model. The Jordan 1 is a silhouette. Different colorways are variations of the same silhouette.

A shoe that's undervalued right now but expected to increase in resale value. Smart buyers look for sleepers before hype hits.

The degradation of a shoe's midsole foam over time, especially in sneakers stored improperly. Affects older shoes stored in humidity. The foam crumbles and the sole separates.

Sneakers available below their typical market value. Finding steals on eBay or local marketplaces is a key skill in resale.

Shoes worn once or twice and in near-perfect condition. Second highest condition grade after DS. Box may or may not be included.

Winning — successfully copping a shoe in a raffle or release, or making a good resale flip.

Condition grade for shoes with noticeable wear but still in good shape. Lower than VNDS on most resale platforms.