Starter Sneaker Collection: Shoes to Add and How to Maintain Them

If you’re a sneakerhead, there isn’t much in life that is more important than your favorite footwear. Sneaker care isn’t always the easiest to maintain, especially when we get different priorities or obligations. When life starts dragging you or your sneakers through the mud, you need to keep that sneaker collection as good as new!

You don’t want your sneakers to end up looking like this. They did sell for $1850, but we doubt you’ll get the same price for your work-worn old pairs!

We’re looking at the best way to keep your sneakers happy and healthy. As a bonus, if your sneakers are already starting to look like a Balenciaga imitation, we’ve got three new pairs to liven up the collection!

What Does Your Starter Sneaker Collection Have?

Before we get started on the maintenance, let’s take care of those bonus shoes first. We’ve got a mixed bag of recommendations. We have something for the old-school sneaker fan, something new, and something a little “out there.”

1. The Must-have Sneaker for Your Collection

Maybe we should have mixed things up and left this until last, but it’s too hard not to put it first. If you already think your sneaker collection is worthy of respect, you’ll know what’s coming next.

Yep, that’s right. It’s the Air Jordan 1. The enduring legacy of this shoe began back in 1984. Since then, it has become something far more. It’s not just a shoe anymore. It’s an entire brand that has spawned premium-priced shoes for years.

As the name might imply, the Air Jordan 1 was the first iteration of this legendary shoe. It’s as popular today as it was then but comes in a lot more variety. The cost is worth it, as you have to have a pair of these in any self-respecting collection.

2. The Pop Culture Phenomenon

We’re talking almost as much about the shoe here as the designer. You might have already guessed where we’re going with this one. It’s Kanye West’s very own shoe, the Yeezy.

This collab between Kanye and Adidas has been a raging success since its 2015 inception. Since then, we’ve seen plenty of new Yeezy shoes brought to market, all as successful as the last.

Some of them might require a unique taste, but there’s sure to be at least one pair of these sneakers that speak to you.

3. Something a Little Bit More Out There

We said that we’re going “out there” with this one. You might not have thought we meant literally, but we did! Next, we’ve got the trail runner for your starter sneaker collection.

These sneaker boots are perfect for the outdoor enthusiast planning a trek through mother nature’s realm. They might seem like an odd addition to your collection, but it’s necessary if you don’t want to ruin your other pairs! Just like marching band shoes are a must-have for school band members, having specific footwear for getting dirty is important.

Even though the sneakers you’ve already got might be capable of tackling an urban environment, you don’t want to expose them to hazards like mud and dirt!

Speaking of how dirty somebody could manage to make their sneakers, that brings us to the next part of our guide. How do we keep them nice and clean once we’ve turned that shining white into a muddy mess?

Keep Your Mini Sneaker Collection Looking Its Best

If you’ve got a million-dollar sneaker collection like this gentleman, you’ll probably need a dedicated sneaker cleaning service to get through them all. If not, though, these tips should help.

Try to Use Smart Storage for Your Starter Sneaker Collection

Finding decent storage space can be difficult if you’ve got an enormous starter sneaker collection. Don’t throw the sneakers into a closet somewhere, even if they’re in their original boxes.

Try to have them in a dedicated storage unit somewhere with low humidity. There are plenty of stackable display cases for sneakers that eliminate all the issues born of incorrect storage.

Daily Maintenance and Care of Your Mini Sneaker Collection

Ensuring your sneakers stay pristine means doing some daily upkeep if you wear them. For example, try to stuff them with newspapers after wearing them, as it will pull out any damaging moisture stuck in the shoe.

Consider doing some preventative work by giving them a quick coat of shoe protector, too. It will extend the lifespan of high-maintenance shoes by an unbelievable amount.

Giving White Shoes Their Shine Back

Cleaning white shoes can be one of the most painstaking tasks for sneaker owners. Please resist the temptation to throw them in a washing machine whatever you do. If they are scuffed and dirty, it’s nothing that a white shoe cleaner won’t fix.

You’ll need to apply some elbow grease and patience too, but if you do some research on the best sneaker cleaner for your pair, they’ll be shining in no time.

Kicking Back With Your Newly-Cleaned Kicks

You’ve ordered three new pairs to round out your sneaker collection. You’ve stored your sneakers in a way that will preserve them for the longest period. Last but not least, you’ve cleaned up any that were looking worse for wear.

You’re officially ready to kick back and relax. We’d recommend taking those fresh-looking sneakers off if you want to chill, but we understand if you’d rather admire your handiwork.

If you’d like something to do afterward, why not check out more of the blog? We have all sorts of other articles that might interest you, so keep reading!

Do you have any ideas on how to start a sneaker collection for cheap?