Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun slang A person who owns multiple pairs of shoes as a form of collection and fashion.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

sneaker +‎ -head. The birth of sneakerhead culture came in the late 1980s and can be attributed to two major sources: basketball and hip hop music.

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Examples

  • Eastbay Sneakerhead Jordan Hagedorn (Yes, his business card actually reads "sneakerhead" - how bugged is that?) provided an introspective look back at the company's November '95 catalog today over on

    Sneaker Files 2009

  • Mr. Parker's broad interests have been key to developing this newer side of Nike's consumer proposition: the more style-conscious world of so-called sneakerhead culture that revels in cool design and keeps the brand relevant for young consumers world-wide who aren't sports junkies.

    To Sharpen Nike's Edge, 2007

  • Shrine rack is a one of a kind - made with the 'sneakerhead' in mind - rack to flaunt your most valuable pair of kicks!

    Yanko Design 2008

  • Shrine rack is a one of a kind - made with the 'sneakerhead' in mind - rack to flaunt your most valuable pair of kicks!

    Yanko Design 2008

  • I would scour ebay/mom & pop stores for rare vintage finds that only a true sneakerhead would appreciate.

    crullers and psychiatric advice, $50 2009

  • Second, I am a sneakerhead and have been collecting for some time and I appreciate the importance of the foamposites as an iconic sneaker, but I would not add them to my collection.

    Top 10 Ugliest Kicks Of The Past 20 Years | YepYep - Your Daily Waste Of Time 2009

  • And I got to use the phrase “sneakerhead central”!

    La Coquette: 2005

  • The next Air Jordan VI set to drop and create a sneakerhead frenzy is the

    Sneaker Files SpursMetsJets619 2010

  • These ones are available in stores now, so if you are a female or have a sneakerhead girlfriend you can grab a pair of these now.

    Sole Redemption 2010

  • Every sneakerhead has his or her stories about getting a steal on a pair of sneakers on an auction or losing them at the last possible minute.

    NiceKicks.com - Online Magazine for sneaker news, history, & culture 2010

Comments

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  • sneakerhead, n.

    The Guardian, 13 August 2016:

    The global trainer (or sneaker, for the Americans) resale market is estimated to be worth bn. What sends “sneakerheads” – those who collect or trade shoes – into a frenzy is trading in limited edition footwear from major sports brands paired with celebrities such as Eminem and Kanye West. The potential for hobbyists to make money is fuelled by websites such as StockX and K’lekt, whose trading platforms have helped improve liquidity and price transparency in the opaque secondary market.

    October 8, 2016