Starbury Two Sneak Peek

By Craig Kwasniewski

Set to release on April 1st at a Neil and Bob's Steve and Barry's near you, the Starbury 2's. Just like the Starbury One's, they will retail for a stunning $14.98. I've done my share of Starbury One jokes, but the concept of a top NBA player endorsing low-cost shoes is brilliant. Stephon Marbury not only maintains his street cred, but also helps improve his mainstream image. And the kicks continue to fly off the shelves:

Steve & Barry's President Andy Todd told ABC News that the chain sold out two month's inventory in just three days when the sneakers debuted last August. Seven months after the sneakers' debut, Todd said, they continue to sell well.

The 2's look nice, they kinda remind me of the Wade 1.0's (minus the flopping). For $14.98, I'll buy a few pairs, but this time I'll make sure to use insoles. One last thing, couldn't the Starbury people release the shoes on March 31st instead of April 1st just to avoid the expected rash of April Fools jokes from sportstalk radio? Come on!

Anyway, here's a few pics of one of the colorways (check out starbury.com for other versions):

Editor's note: Click here to view the unboxing of the Stabury Two's I bought on April 1st.

Comments

[az]

omg, those are hideous.

[basketbawful]

My brain tells me those shoes look awful. My heart tells me they look awesome. And even though the Starbury 1s ruined my feet, I'll probably buy these...man, I'm a sucker.

[LRJ]

They look like ABA sneaks -a retro shoe from the 70's.

[arewhysee]

I have never actually seen these (or the ones) in person. They appear to have the same soles no thicker than wrestling shoes. Is this the case? If so, should the Knicks should not allow Starbury to play with these shoes as they may affect his performance.

[Brian]

Very patriotic.

[Craig]

From my experiences in the Starbury One's, you'll need some inserts for cushioning. I blew out my back w/o them. Still, the One's held up after a few hours on asphalt.

[Sunil]

Actual shoemakers have examined the starburys and the $100 plus nike bball sneakers and have concluded that they are essentially the same thing.
basketbawful, im assuming your feet were already messed up.
and craig, i'm going to have to conclude that you were going to blow your back out with or without the starburys.

Really, I can't believe people can be so close-minded. It's like all of a sudden the whole country and nat'l media has turned into junior high school. a place where people get made fun of because of their shoes.

Is nike giving you a cut of their outrageous profits ? no ? then why do you defend them so much ? because they make cool commercials ? well, i guess you should enjoy those commercials because they are making about 1000% profit on each shoe you buy from them.
So, i guess you should pat yourself on the back for funding those cool commercials oh and the twelve yachts that the 14 different board members own, oh and the 12 cents the children who nike employs to make their $150 kicks.

good job everybody!

[basketbawful]

Yeesh, Suri...you're a pretty angry guy.

First off, I'd like to see the study results by "actual shoemakers" that has determined the Starburys are "essentially the same" as $100 Nike shoes.

Secondly, I don't care. No two Nike shoes are the same. In fact, if you check out the box of many Nike shoes, you'll notice a coding system that tells you whether the shoes provide arch support, or cushioning, are meant for wide or narrow soles, etc. This is because all feet are different.

I'm an overpronator, so I need arch support and a certain amount of cushioning. Many Nike shoes do not provide this. The Starburys certainly do not provide this. And after a night of hard basketball in them, my feet were sore, as were my back and shoulders. Which is what happens when an overpronator uses shoes that do not provide the proper support.

I also missed Craig saying, "I hate Starburys, Nike is better!" What, is he not allowed to give an honest opinion of the relative quality of a shoe on his blog? Come on.

[Craig]

Simple question for Sunil, have you tried out the Starbury's? You seem to get on the whole economic elements but you never actually compare the quality from a personal perspective. Try on a pair, play hoops for a few days and get back to me how they perform.

I play hoops twice a week and run three other times, so I consider myself in pretty good shape and my body is exposed to many potential nagging injuries all the time. It was after wearing the Starburys that I threw out my back (and missed a day of work). When I'm playing hoops in the Adidas Crazy-8s I don't experience any back pain.

You really need to look closely and compare Nike/Adidas with the Starbury’s… they’re not even close to the same level of quality. The Starbury One marketing campaign may give the impression that they going head-to-head with the big boys, but really their competition is other low cost shoes like the Shaq’s and Magic Johnson’s.

I think the idea of a player with legitimate street cred endorsing low-cost kicks is brilliant. Read the previous posts and you’ll notice that I’m not making fun of the shoes, but rather I’m making fun of Starbury himself.

Which is very easy to do.

[junior]

People think that because something is priced high it obviously must be better. but if you actually looked at the shoe they are basically tyhe same as all the other nike shoes. (whens the last nike show that was good that wasnt retro anyway)...But as they say in marketting the consumer isnt that bright

[norris]

i think they look like a wearable circus

[Szpytek]

I also play basketball 4 times a week.These shoes are no different than the t-maks i bought or the wades i played with. they are good shoes imo.

[hu jass]

i think they should sell them for atleast 45 dollers and if u dont like it then u can kiss my black ass

[EAshley]

Both of my sons,one is five and the other is twelve, as well as I each own a pair of the Starbury 1 tennis shoes and have not had any problems with them. Neither one of my kids have had any complaints regarding these tennis shoes as they are not really caught up in the peer pressure nonsense and I don't buy them $100 pairs of shoes of any kind.Both of my sons wore these shoes for their respective youth basketball leagues this past year for the entire season and still wear them to play in today.One gets great joy when one sees a youth in $15.00 tennis shoes outplaying youth at every practice and game who are wearing $100 dollar tennis shoes.I wear mine for an adult basketball league and I also wear them when I do my weight training which on leg day I often lift weights that exceed well over 300 pounds and good shoes are important.Also in regards to the structure of the shoe 20/20 did a segment when the Starbury shoes were coming out and did a comparison of different tennis shoes and it showed that the Starburys were similar in structure and materials to the higher priced tennis shoes.Also if one looks at the quality of tennis shoes the majority of individuals that I come in contact with are wearing knockoff Jordans anyway so where does the quality issue come in? It seems as if most of the individuals who are commenting on many of these boards in regards to the Starbury shoes are talking about the "guys" making fun of this or the "guys" making fun of that. One really never hears about "feminine" ladies worried about what tennis shoes a man wears. The only people who seem to be impressed by expensive tennis shoes are guys trying to impress other guys.Are you trying to look pretty for the guys or are you trying to find something that suits a purpose and keeps money in your pocket for other things?

[EAshley]

P.S. Neither one of them, nor have I been laughed at.

[RSE]

THE SHOES HOLD UP GREAT AND R INEXSPENSIVE PLUS THEY LOOK HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EAshley]

I have also had individuals who posess "real" expensive sneakers come up to me and ask me what I am doing in order to afford such nice sneakers, and that it must be nice to be able to afford such nice sneakers and when I tell them that they only cost $15.00 they think that I am joking or being humble.I even had some elderly people(retirees) come up to me and comment about my sneakers and I told them where I got them from and for how much and they stated that they wanted to get some for their grand kids.I get more attention and comments wearing these sneakers than when I wear my other "name brand" sneakers. The point is that it just goes to show you that the people who are actually able to afford $200 sneakers, and other luxuries, have no problem with the shoes at all, it is the individuals who cannot really afford them, and who the campaign is geared towards, to be spending $200 on a pair of shoes who have the problem. That is probably why these individuals possess money.

[B]

I own the Black Starburys, and it's the best 15 I ever spent...great grip, great comfort, and terrific support....i hoop indoors, i dont kno if that plays a part, but i love them, and imma get the next ones also

[Nic]

I bought the blacks and the whites today.

I checked out the Ones, pretty cheap...like they were just thrown together. I put them on and considered wearing them to walk in but certainly not to play.

These are much better, I didn't play in them today(didn't play at all) but I will tomorrow. Putting them on today I was really impressed. And that pic is of the most colorful shoe...but the whites and blacks are VERY impressive to look at, and had that support the Ones lacked.

[E-MAN]

MAN,PEOPLE STILL HATIN EVEN WHEN STEPH IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR PEOPLE, BESIDE RAPING PEOPLE'S POCKETS JUST FOR SOME SNEAKERS, MAN IF YALL WAS IN THE HOOD OR STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT, YOU SHOULD RESPECT HIM, BESIDES YOU UPSTATE NEW YORK, THINKING YALL BETTER THAN EVERYBODY, YALL DONT KNOW HOW IT IS TO STRUGGLE, SO YALL NEED TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH WITH SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING POSTIVE TO THE COMMUNITY.

[E-MAN]

MAN,PEOPLE STILL HATIN EVEN WHEN STEPH IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR PEOPLE, BESIDE RAPING PEOPLE'S POCKETS JUST FOR SOME SNEAKERS, MAN IF YALL WAS IN THE HOOD OR STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT, YOU SHOULD RESPECT HIM, BESIDES YOU UPSTATE NEW YORK, THINKING YALL BETTER THAN EVERYBODY, YALL DONT KNOW HOW IT IS TO STRUGGLE, SO YALL NEED TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH WITH SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING POSTIVE TO THE COMMUNITY.

[doobahdoo]

The *bry2's just came out with arch support and cushioning

How can anyone here say they don't play well?

Maybe the Starbury 1's suck-it for overpronator's like myself, but I am willing to try the 2's with their arch support and extra cushioning.

cmon!
its 15 bucks!

If you got enough cash to blow on 100$ kicks, then why are you sweatin 15$ kicks?

I agree with the hood - Y'all a bunch O snobs!

Stop whinin and start playin!!

[nick]

they dont have any thing for jumpin high in them

[nick]

those shoes dont have bounce hard to get on.but 15$ is too expensive lol

[allen]

sunil is a pretty stupid guy, i bought 2 pairs of starbury and they r great. i wear jordans all my life and the starbury happens to feel just as good and happen to cost like 7 times cheaper, so u can just shut yur stupid smart mouth up man