Sneakerheads and the allure of comfy footwear

From high-tops to polished leather,NobleBains' can't kick his obsession with sneakers.

Since he started collecting the comfy footwear, he amassed200 pairs of the comfy footwear.

But just your average loafer won't satisfy this self-proclaimed 'sneakerhead.'

"What it means to actually be a quote-unquote 'sneakerhead' is just to appreciate every style," said the 27-year old.

Bainsis part of a growing culture of sneaker collectors in Edmonton.Many of them are friends,after spending hours lining up for the latest releases of special-edition shoes. That's howBainsand Ke Wang met.

Wang, 23, began collecting sneakers about 10 years ago.

"I think I got it from the passion about basketball," he says, recallinghowhaving the latest gear was a must. "I remember my parents usually bought me a pair of basketball shoes once a year during Chinese New Year."

Now, Wang has more than 100 pairs of sneakers.

Collection worth over $35,000

The habit isn't easy on the checkbook, says 22-year-old Robin Nanad, who estimates his sneaker collection to be worth between$35,000 and$40,000.

Nanad is downsizing his collection in order to pay for his final year of studyat the University of Alberta.

Collecting sneakers isn't just about the buying the latest model or eye-catching pattern, he says.

"Some have different colorways," Nanad says, referencing models that come out in different colour schemes."Sometimes those colorways have a really significant background."

Take the Jordan Black-Cement III, for example.

"It's one of the original Jordans. Back with the Jordan IIcame out, (basketball star Michael)Jordan almost left the Jordan brand, but as soon as the (Black-Cement III) came out, it actually saved him," Nanad says. "Every shoe has a different history to it."

Patrick Zubiri, who manages the store Foosh on Whyte Avenue, says in the past three years sneaker sales have really taken off.

"Celebritiesare getting on to the fact that there are sneakers out there," Zubiri says. "Girls are now realizing that they don't have to wear flats or boots anymore,they can wear sneakers."

Sneakerhead Jessica Van Zanten is happy to ditch her heels, to lace up instead.

"You can be a little girly, but you can also be a bit of a tomboyso it's a good in between."