Another Shot at the Union LA x fragment design x Air Jordan 1 Headlines This Week’s Best Footwear Drops
The month of February is coming to a close, and footwear brands are proving that they are already in midseason form. This week, Converse, New Balance, Jordan Brand, Nike, Vans, PUMA, adidas, and ASICS all battled it out to claim a spot in our round-up of the best drops. Before we dive into the top 10 launches, let’s look back at which headlines caught our eye across the past seven days, starting with our most recent footwear feature.We went to NBA All-Star Weekend, not to watch the superstars assemble on the court, but to attend activations, interview athletes, cop sneakers, and more. Read all about it in our latest event round-up.As for the traditional news, Jacquemus revealed three new collaborative colorways of the Nike Moon Shoe. We were also treated to looks at Patta’s upcoming Air Max 1 Waves “Hyper Crimson” and two Air Max Plus colorways by HOMECOMING Festival. Tom Sachs revealed a black leather iteration of the General Purpose Shoe and word on the street is that CPFM is bringing back its Nike Flea 1 model this holiday season.Pivoting elsewhere, the Virgil Abloh Archive™ x Air Jordan 1 High OG “Alaska” is now expected to drop in a month. Awake NY also previewed its own take on the Air Jordan 6. For New Balance, its MADE in USA line offered a complete Spring/Summer 2026 preview, as did norda. Rounding out the week, a Naruto Shippuden x Converse Japan collection popped up.With all of the key headlines revisited, let’s look ahead at which pairs you should consider copping this week. Afterwards, be sure to check out HBX to see which pairs you can purchase today.Converse SHAI 001 Lux “Truffle”Release Date: February 26Release Price: $170 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Converse Hoops made noise at NBA All-Star Weekend 2025 by revealing the Converse SHAI 001. One year later, the crew returned to basketball’s biggest week to showcase the SHAI 001 Lux. Debuting in a “Truffle” brown, the shoe utilizes a premium nubuck leather across its zipper-enclosed upper. Per usual, it offers a monochromatic makeover that stays true to chocolate brown throughout.New Balance MADE in USA 990v4 & 992 “Olive”Release Date: February 26Release Price: $185 USD to $200 USDWhere to Buy: New BalanceWhy You Should Cop: Teddy Santis and the rest of the New Balance MADE in USA team have an extensive footwear lineup being readied for Spring/Summer 2026. Previewed previously, its first drop is en route this week. Both the 990v4 and 992 are embracing olive-colored palettes. The former integrates an off-white base whereas the latter toggles between the two, as well as a soft brown hue.Union LA x fragment design x Air Jordan 1 High OG “Varsity Red”Release Date: February 27Release Price: $205 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: One of the most anticipated sneaker campaigns of the year continues this week. Union LA and fragment design’s Air Jordan 1 High OG is set to drop via Nike SNKRS in its “Black and Varsity Red” composition. Building atop one of the sneaker world’s most beloved canvases, fragment’s thunderbolt logo graces the lateral heel while Union LA’s Frankenstein’d collar treatment is back, splitting up the blue and red notes.Stranger Things x Nike Air Foamposite One “Vecna”Release Date: February 27Release Price: $250 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: While the TV series may have ended, Stranger Things lives on as new collaborative kicks with Nike are on the way. This time around, the hit franchise sees one of its antagonists take center stage, with a “Vecna”-themed Air Foamposite One. The colorway channels his haunting aura through red mist and fog graphics across the upper. Glow-in-the-dark detailing pops and flipped branding elements connect the sneaker to previous pairs from the two.Palace x Vans Low 2Release Date: February 27Release Price: TBCWhere to Buy: PalaceWhy You Should Cop: The skate shoe of the year is here. At least according to Palace, that is. The British brand is back with another Vans collaboration, in continuation of its spring 2026 rollout. Staying true to its skate roots, Palace has created an all-new silhouette with Vans. Dubbed the Low 2, it features DuraCap underlays and is backed by PopCush insoles for impact protection. Three colorways of wheat yellow, black, and white nod to the two via heel and tongue branding.LeBron James x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Voltage Green”Release Date: February 27Release Price: $200 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: LeBron James is bringing his crown to the Nike Air Force 1 Low. His LeBron 23 features a crown motif via the lateral tooling. Now, a similar look has been accomplished on each side of the AF1. The standout shape also hosts a GOAT icon in place of the typical “AIR” callout. Meanwhile, the “Voltage Green” upper embraces a lenticular look with LBJ branding at the tongue and heel. Supporting the sneaker is a Zoom Air unit at the heel and a drop-in foam midsole.JiyongKim x PUMA VS1Release Date: February 28Release Price: TBCWhere to Buy: JiyongKimWhy You Should Cop: JiyongKim’s first sneaker collaboration is set to debut this week. The South Korean label previewed a project with PUMA during Paris Fashion Week in January. Now, its two colorways of the VS1 sneaker are finally here. JiyongKim’s signature sun-bleaching technique has been utilized once again, this time with the fabric that adorns the shoe’s upper. Frayed edges and contrast stitching further sets the pair apart, with co-branding only appearing at the footbed.Air Jordan 5 “Wolf Grey”Release Date: February 28Release Price: $220 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: For the first time, the Air Jordan 5 “Wolf Grey” is back. Introduced in 2011, the colorway has ascended the ranks as one of the most sought-after non-OG Air Jordan 5 releases to date. A smooth grey upper is accented by silver detailing at the midsole, “23” hit, tongue, Jumpman branding, and laces. Meanwhile, an icy translucent outsole contributes the shoe’s only moment of color.Politics x adidas Adizero Goukana “Roadkill”Release Date: February 28Release Price: $160 USDWhere to Buy: Sneaker PoliticsWhy You Should Cop: Politics is serving up another sneaker this week, this time tapping adidas and its new Adizero Goukana silhouette. Dubbed the “Roadkill,” this fresh take on the runner nods to the highways of West Texas. Sesame-toned suede and gray nubuck overlays that nod to armadillo shells team up with pink and nude tones at the base. As always, the shoe is backed by Lightstrike cushioning, ensuring comfort with each step.Thom Browne x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 14Release Date: March 2Release Price: $450 USDWhere to Buy: Thom BrowneWhy You Should Cop: The age of the ASICS GEL-KAYANO 14 is not over. Adding to its all-star list of collaborators, Thom Browne has assembled three high-end renditions of the runner. Debuting on the Fall/Winter 2026 runway, the design comes in three separate monochromatic renditions that lean on black, gray, and white. Piping accents are said to be an homage to Browne’s precise tipping. Meanwhile, the cross-stitch finish nods to both brands.Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast
