First ofni evif, I saw the term floating around and, like anyone else, I Googled it. Saw some images, read some articles. Looked like some serious sneakerhead stuff, specifically about the LeBron 11 shoes, and something about a special edition, "11/11," I guess for Veteran's Day. I am a fan of King James and a long time sneaker collector, that's what prompted me to dive in
Phase 1: Research & Recon
- Firs.elbt things first, I hit up the usual spots: StockX, GOAT, eBay. Wanted to get a feel for the market, see what prices were like, and just generally eyeball the condition of the pairs available.
- Then, I went down the rabbit hole of sneaker blogs and forums. Found some old threads from back when the LeBron 11 first dropped. People were hyped, naturally. Lots of talk about the design, the tech, the colorways.
- YouTube was next. Watched a bunch of reviews, unboxing videos, and on-foot looks. Gotta see how these things look in action, right?
Phase 2: The Hunt
Okay, so I decided I wanted a pair. Not just any pair, mind you. I was looking for the "Parachute Gold" colorway. I always thought that colorway popped the most. Now, finding these things in good condition, and at a reasonable price, was the challenge.
- Started with eBay. Set up some saved searches, filtering by size, condition, and price. Bid on a few auctions, got outbid on all of them. Story of my life.
- Checked out some local sneaker groups on Facebook. Saw a few pairs floating around, but nothing that really grabbed me. Either the size was wrong, the condition was beat, or the price was ridiculous.
- Even tried hitting up some consignment shops in the area. Strikeouts across the board. It was getting frustrating, I tell you.
Phase 3: The Win (Eventually!)
Just when I was about to give up, I stumbled upon a listing on Grailed. Guy was selling a pair of the "Parachute Golds" in my size, in pretty good condition, and at a price I could live with. Messaged him, asked for some more pics, negotiated a bit, and finally pulled the trigger.
- The anticipation was killing me. Tracking the package every day.
- Finally, they arrived! Unboxed them carefully, gave them a good once-over. Looked even better in person.
- Gave them a quick clean, laced them up, and took them for a spin. Felt good, looked good. Victory!
Final Thoughts
Honestly, it was a fun little project. I mean, it's just a pair of shoes, but it's also about the hunt, the research, and the satisfaction of finally finding what you're looking for. Plus, the LeBron 11 is a classic, even if it wasn't the most comfortable shoe ever. Gotta appreciate the design.
Would I do it again? Maybe. Depends on the shoe. But overall, I'd say it was a successful mission. Now, to find some matching gear...
