Forget the "Rare Gold" releases of the world. Here we're dealing with sub-100 runs, super limited edition boots that are even more exclusive than the people who get their hands on them.
While a limited run of a few thousand boots might make some sit up and take notice, releases that drop in quantities of one hundred and under mark a worldwide panic, a panic that triggers weeks of anticipation, a morning of refresh button bashing and emotions of relief or misery depending on your result of being part of, or missing out on, that exclusive club.
We're talking about "S"-Limited. Super limited editions… 100 pairs or less, rarer than a Roy Keane smile, rarer than Samuel Eto'o's birthday, you've got more chance of getting hit by lightning watching England win the World Cup on penalties than bagging a pair of these.
While a brand could just choose any boot to shove into this category by limiting their production numbers, the ever-learning fan base needs there to be some pomp and circumstance around these “S”-Limited beauties. There must be a story for the colourway, there must be an event for the launch and sale, a real meaning, which the collectors can buy into and own a piece of history rather than just a boxed up product.
In recent memory, we've seen PUMA drop the Alexander McQueen (only 100 released), the evoSPEED Hublot (60 Blk/Silver & 40 Blk/Gold), and only 6 pairs of the Balotelli Stampa. Each of the PUMA releases has a story, they have a connection to either historic moments, historic brands, or a player that makes historically extreme choices. Boots that PUMA, by giving them a story and making them so exclusive, created history. The epitome of super limited releases.
In contrast to PUMA, adidas took advantage of their biggest stars and their biggest boot to create their super limited boots. Six pairs of gold F50 adizeros to commemorate James Rodriguez's six goals to clinch the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot and 27 pairs to showcase Messi's birthday. How great of a player must you be to get a 27 boot release to commemorate your birthday? Yaya Toure didn't even get a cake.
Adidas know how to take advantage of big moments, but the boots that left everyone’s mouths watering were the nostalgia-soaked Predator Instinct Tongue and Instinct Eyes. The Predator Tongue holds sway in more boot minds than almost any other aspect of any other boot... and adidas brought it back as the main event for their adidas barrage of 2014. Couple it with the Instinct Eyes, and adidas kicked off the Pred 20th anniversary with a beautiful bang.
For Nike, it's been all about pushing their prized asset into Special Edition boots that commemorate CR7’s biggest achievements. While some of us may never even see one of these boots in real life, we would love to see Nike do something special for something beside the Portuguese wonder. Still, the Swoosh does seem to save some of their most show-stopping numbers for whenever they launch a boot in limited quantities.
If CR7 is any inclination, we should definitely look for some sub-100 boot launches for the future face of Nike when it comes to Neymar... there can be no doubt that the young Brazilian is Nike’s planned replacement for the massive gap that Ronaldo will leave when he retires (around the age of 40, with 8 Ballon d'Ors and 12 signature underwear ranges).
It's a world even more exclusive than the people who are able to bring these bad boys home. The super limited releases achieve things in the equipment world that nothing else ever comes close to... while some may get a high price tag upon launch, only super limited releases see their value sometimes multiply by ten as soon as the boot has sold out.
There aren't many boots that instantly breed the same jealousy, the same discussion, the same passion, or the same fuel for imagination like these super limited releases. Whether you snag them, hold them, or even just look longingly at a computer screen... these boots create their own story... what other piece of equipment can do that?
