J. Crew x Nike Killshot 2

The first time I saw the iconic Nike Killshot, I thought to myself, “What a killer pair of shoes!” Something about the clean lines and simple look drew me in. Naturally, I searched for them online and, to my dismay, learned that they were no longer available.

The Killshot was first introduced in the 1970’s and has since achieved cult status. Menswear and sneaker enthusiasts have long admired these shoes, creating a high demand. Its a versatile shoe that has even inspired an album of looks dedicated to it. With its looks coupled with the limited supply, these tennis shoes leave many men longing for the elusive pair to add to their collection. J.Crew revived these retro-styled shoes in 2009 but it has been years since they were sold by the clothing retailer. So when news came of the March 1st re-release from J.Crew themselves, I knew I had to take advantage of this opportunity. To further showcase the following for these shoes, there was even a special pre-sale event on February 25th in New York and Los Angeles.

Fast forward to today, March 1st — aka release day. I woke up this morning to find out that the shoes had already completely sold out online through J.Crew’s website. My only hope was to check a local store and hope they had any left in stock. I called one of the nearby stores and they gave me the bad news that all the J.Crews in the area had sold out of the Killshots. My heart sank. I thought I lost my opportunity once again to join the lucky ones who managed to acquire a pair. Later that night, I took a stab in the dark and called a different J.Crew to inquire about the shoes and the sales associate seemed grim. “We have a very limited quantity,” she answered, “but I can check for you.”She asked what size I was looking for and I replied with 9 or 9.5. When she got back on the phone she said, “I just sold my last 9.5…but I do have one 9 left.” It felt like a miracle! I asked her to set it aside for me and I rushed into my car and drove the 30-minute commute over.

J.Crew was closing in less than an hour so I was pressed for time. To make matters worse, the store was located in a shopping area that I had never been in so I had no idea where to strategically park and search for the J.Crew. I arrived within 10 minutes from closing time pumped with adrenaline and anxious if the size would fit my feet. I usually wear a 9.5 but luckily the 9 fit perfectly. The sales associate informed me that the Killshots ran a little larger so it was a good thing I got a half-size smaller. After I took the shoes on a test drive around the store, I knew I had my new pair of Killshots locked in. With the disgruntled comments of not-so-lucky men on J.Crew’s Instagram fresh in my mind, I walked out of the store feeling a sense of accomplishment.

I’ve never been a sneakerhead, but with today’s purchase of the iconic Killshot 2 I think I’ve officially joined the club.