JJJJound and PUMA Leap Into This Week's Best Footwear Drops

We're rapidly approaching the midpoint of October and the excitement surrounding the sports world is peaking once again. Between nail-biting action in the MLB Playoffs, make or break games in American football, and the upcoming start of the NBA season, there's nonstop action to keep up with. Meanwhile, the sneaker industry is doing its best to match this energy as Nike, Columbia, New Balance, PUMA, Clarks, Jordan Brand, HOKA, and ASICS have all prepared exciting drops to consider copping.

Per usual, we're going to start with a quick recap of what went down last week, starting with a release date for the long-awaited debut of the Nike GT Future. We also took a complete look at a new "Houseflies" colorway of the Air Max 95 and put together another fragment design x Union LA x Air Jordan 1 High OG "Black/White" preview. Meanwhile, new rumor reports included a new Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG "Pink Pack," a "London"-themed Air Jordan 4, and an upcoming Pokémon x adidas collection.

Designer collaborations took center stage with a Jil Sander x PUMA launch combining with an Acne Studios x Timberland preview, more LOEWE x On and MM6 Maison Margiela x Salomon. Salomon also revealed that its collaboration with Feid on the XT-Pathway 2 is dropping later this month. Rounding out the week, Salehe Bembury made history as he launched his independent footwear brand, SPUNGE, and its first sneaker: the Osmosis.

With all of the past week's key headlines revisited, let's move on to what to expect from this week. Once you finish working through all 10 drops, head over to HBX to shop styles that are available today.

Nike Air Max 95 Yardrunners Collection

Release Date: October 14
Release Price: $200 USD
Where to Buy: SNKRS
Why You Should Cop: Nike is back with another Yardrunners collection dedicated to HBCUs. This time around, it has teamed up with Florida A&M University, Morehouse College, Norfolk State University, and Spelman College. Each school has its own collaborative Air Max 95 on the way, with each look packed with thematic detailing and school color schemes. Key notes include FAMU’s chant, Morehouse’s school motto, Norfolk’s rally cry, and a Spelman Hymn reference spread across their respective uppers.

Columbia Bugaboot 1

Release Date: October 14 and 15
Release Price: $250 USD
Where to Buy: Columbia
Why You Should Cop: In addition to the regular slew of sneaker launches, Columbia is mixing things up with the return of a 1993 classic: the Bugaboot. This blast from the past was introduced over three decades ago as the brand’s first foray into footwear and was made by none other than legendary designer Peter Moore. Now, it’s been revamped with the latest in Columbia technology while maintaining the same ‘90s design language. The rubber duckboot, which is limited to just 1,993 pairs, is made to keep out rain while combining with leather for ruggedness.

New Balance ABZORB 2000 “Pearl Grey” & “Rose Sugar”

Release Date: October 15
Release Price: $170 USD
Where to Buy: New Balance
Why You Should Cop: New Balance shook up its footwear rotation this year with the introduction of several new silhouettes, including its most contemporary look to date: the ABZORB 2000. We’ve seen the shoe take on many forms since, with two more on the way this week. First, “Pearl Grey” offers a purple-grey gradient at the sleek upper while “Rose Sugar” favors a similar treatment in pink.

Levi’s x NIGO x Nike Air Force 3 Low

Release Date: October 16
Release Price: $150 USD
Where to Buy: Levi’s
Why You Should Cop: NIGO and Nike have worked together closely on the revival of the Air Force 3 Low. The two reintroduced the sneaker last year and are back with two more colorways, this time tapping Levi’s for a special denim treatment. Stonewashed uppers of “Olive Grey” and “Enigma Stone” offer vintage-inspired detailing. Meanwhile, the Levi’s Red Tab rests on the right shoe and co-branding is located at the sockliner and heel.

JJJJound x PUMA Speedcat & Suede

Release Date: October 16
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: JJJJound
Why You Should Cop: JJJJound and PUMA are back at it for Fall/Winter 2025. The duo most recently worked on the Mostro sneaker and have now prepared not one, but two silhouettes together. The Speedcat embraces leather uppers of brown and black while the Suede sneaker takes on navy with off-white and black. All three feature subtle branding elements, from tonal Formstrips to JJJJound wordmarks at the heel and sockliner.

POST ARCHIVE FACTION (PAF) x Clarks WallabeeBT PAF

Release Date: October 17
Release Price: $190 USD
Where to Buy: PAF and Clarks
Why You Should Cop: POST ARCHIVE FACTION (PAF) is back this week with yet another footwear collaboration. Teased back in January during Fashion Week, PAF has joined Clarks for their first campaign, introducing the WallabeeBT PAF. This new take on the iconic shoe sees it embrace PAF’s ultramodern aesthetic as three luxe, monochromatic renditions of the Wallabee have been rendered in beige, black, and gray.

Infinite Archives x Air Jordan 17 Low

Release Date: October 17
Release Price: $255 USD
Where to Buy: Select Retailers
Why You Should Cop: Easy Otabor's Infinite Archives is back in the mix this week as one of its several Air Jordan 17 Lows is scheduled to undergo a wider launch. The shoe, which combines a "Beach" beige with "Metallic Silver" and "Black" detailing, offers a premium finish for the sleek shoe. "ia" branding is located at the right shoe's heel while a blue "ARCHIVES" tag can be spotted at the lateral collar and co-branding hits the sockliner.

HAVEN x HOKA Stinson EVO OG

Release Date: October 17
Release Price: TBC
Where to Buy: HAVEN
Why You Should Cop: HAVEN, while offering a highly-curated range of premium and functional menswear, has carved out its own place in the fashion industry thanks to its in-house label and collaborations. This week, the Canadian brand is dropping its HOKA Stinson EVO OG collaboration, which sees the runner upgraded with a new GORE-TEX Invisible Fit membrane for the first time. It also sports HAVEN’s “Tarmac” brown, a lugged rubber outsole, and HOKA’s beloved cushioning system.

New Balance 204L “Pearl Grey”

Release Date: October 17
Release Price: $120 USD
Where to Buy: New Balance
Why You Should Cop: Selecting standout sneakers can be a tricky process when dealing with novel looks. However, when the New Balance 204L first leaked, it was a surefire hit. Lo and behold, it keeps selling for the brand. Similar to the ABZORB 2000, it dons a new “Pearl Grey” finish this week. Unlike its sporty counterpart, this pair keeps it old school with a suede upper and monochromatic finish.

ASICS GEL-K1011 “Live Oak”

Release Date: October 18
Release Price: $170 USD
Where to Buy: Sneaker Politics
Why You Should Cop: ASICS has tapped Sneaker Politics for inspiration with its upcoming GEL-K1011 launch. The sneaker, which was introduced last year as a fusion of the GEL-KAYANO 5, 6, 10, and the GEL-CUMULUS 17, pays homage to Louisiana’s live oak trees, hence its “Live Oak” name. Its mixed material composition blends olive green notes with teal, brown, and a golden yellow hue.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast