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The 10 Stages of Sneaker Addiction

Representation of sneaker addiction
Created by Grok X (AI Generated)

Sneaker addiction doesn’t hit you like a truck. It’s not a dramatic moment where you suddenly wake up surrounded by shoe boxes and a maxed-out credit card. No, it’s much sneakier than that. It creeps in quietly, one innocent “just one more pair” at a time, one late-night refresh on SNKRS, one “I’ll wear them eventually” excuse after another. Before you know it, your wardrobe is 60% sneakers, your savings account is nicknamed “Sneaker Fund,” and your mates are asking if you’ve got a problem (spoiler: yes, but it’s a cool problem).

Here’s the brutally honest roadmap most of us have followed (or are still following) to understand the full scale of this glorious obsession. If any of these stages feel a little too real… don’t worry, You’re not alone. You’re just deep in the game.


  1. Denial “They’re just shoes.” You buy your first “nice” pair because you deserve to treat yourself, you liked the look of them, and you swear it’s a one-off.

  2. Curiosity You research the pair you just bought and realise it was a good purchase. You dive deeper, learning how cool this all is, and start watching sneaker YouTubers “just for fun”. You then accidentally open StockX. You tell yourself you’re “researching”.

  3. The First Grail You hit on something hyped that you really want! The package arrives. You open it. Time stops. You realise life has a new meaning.

  4. Justification “It’s an investment.” “I’ll wear them eventually.” “My old pair is falling apart anyway.” You start telling your partner, mates, and parents these exact lies while your sneakers are proudly displayed on the wall in a clear box or invisible shoe holder.

  5. The Collection Phase One pair turns into five. Then ten. You buy shoe trees, crease shields, a shelf. Your wardrobe is now 60% sneakers, 40% clothes.

  6. The Burner Account Era You create a second Instagram just for sneakers so your main doesn’t look desperate. You watch the sneaker industry go by, checking out releases and raffles.

  7. The Emotional Rollercoaster You cry over Ls. You scream over Ws. You have a savings account called “Sneaker Fund”.

  8. The Rationalisation Peak You start selling sneakers to buy different sneakers, or maybe you’ve even considered selling a kidney (not really… yet) for a pair.

  9. Acceptance You look around your room. Shoe boxes everywhere. You whisper “I have a problem”… then immediately make excuses.

  10. Full Addiction (The Glow-Up) You accept it. You embrace it. It becomes a part of who you are and you learn that everyone loves it because it’s in a way a very cool hobby. You become the friend everyone asks for advice. You start following the trend, reading cool posts on Loose Laces and following their sneaker releases and all their socials (and maybe a few other slightly less cooler sneaker-focused groups).

 

Sneakers are in no way a bad thing that needs justifying. There are people who collect watches, clothes, stilettos, coins, maps – and collecting sneakers is more than okay to accept as something that brings joy. They look cool, stylish, a subtle flex that turns heads, and you can overhear people saying “Look at his sneakers” while shopping. It all feels good. The only time it’s bad is when you prioritize sneakers over your wellbeing. Otherwise? GO FOR IT!


Which stage are you in right now? Be honest with yourself.


Stay addicted, stay fresh, Loose Laces

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