The hottest resale sneakers by state
Americans seem to be divided along every political, economic, and social line these days, and now, it seems, we are even divided over sneakers. Yahoo Finance and GOAT Group, the online sneaker marketplace that owns New York City’s Flight Club, took a look at the most popular sneakers on the U.S. resale market in each state, and no two states agreed.
So lace up your kicks to join us on a journey around the country to see the hottest kick in each state of the union.
Adidas, Nike, Jordan — and a surprise
Adidas (ADDYY), Nike (NKE), and Nike-owned Jordan brand dominate the list. An Adidas offering was the top choice in 26 states and the District of Columbia, while Nike/Jordan branded sneakers were the most purchased via GOAT in 22 states.
There were only two states where Adidas wasn’t the most sold shoe on the resale market, and they were both in the Northeast: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania preferred Van (VFC) models. You might notice the top shoe in Mississippi is a Converse, but Nike bought Converse in 2003, so that win counts for the swoosh brand.
Some states’ top choices can be thrown into the “no brainer” category. The fact that North Carolina’s top shoe — the Air Jordan IX— sports the University of North Carolina’s colorway shouldn’t shock anyone. “His Airness” Michael Jordan is not only from the state, but he also brought the UNC Tar Heels an NCAA National Championship in 1982.
The top choice for Ohio — the Jordan 12 “Gym Red” — also needs little explanation, since the shoe pairs perfectly with the scarlet jersey of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
However, Utah’s top shoe, the Jordan XI, was a bit of surprise, as it was near-universally panned among sneakerheads. Many saw the non-patent leather version of the iconic Jordan XI (arguably the most iconic basketball shoe of all-time) as an abomination, yet it makes its mark on the map.
America runs on Jordans and Yeezys
In total, 17 different shoe models made the list, but the one you see the most is the Air Jordan brand which made 15 appearances on our list. Adidas Yeezy was not far behind. Yeezy-branded kicks, the signature line of Kanye West, was the top choice in 12 states, plus Washington, D.C. It seems West’s musicianship, showmanship, and controversial essence translate into massive popularity within the resale sneaker community.
The U.S. accounts for $21.2 billion of the $100 billion global sneaker market. With the amount of hype around sneakers and sneaker culture, it should come as no surprise that a robust secondary market has emerged. The sneaker resale market has exploded over the past few years and is now estimated by Cowen that the sneaker resale market could hit $6 billion by 2025.
Reggie Wade is a writer for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @ReggieWade.
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