Series: Original Reebok Pump, 20th Anniversary Edition

Price purchased: $125

Story:  These were on sale at a local shoe store back in 2009.  These were the retro (re-release) versions of the original Reebok Pump from 1989 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the shoe.  I think they had artists/brands create their own versions of this shoe for the anniversary as well, but they also released this original colourway (as well as the original black version).  There were 1989 of these shoes released as part of the 20th anniversary.  I think they’ve since had a 25th anniversary re-release as well.

What makes this shoe special for me (why I bought the 20th anniversary version) was that I actually owned the original pair back in the late 80’s/early 90’s.  I had just started playing basketball in grade school, and until this shoe, I pretty much didn’t care what I wore on my feet to play.  I had no clue about sneakers back then.  I think I had some ordinary Nikes and Adidas that I wore until they fell apart.  I really couldn’t care less.  This shoe sort of kick started my consciousness of sneakers.  My parents went shopping for winter gear at a ski shop called Firehall Sports and as usual, dragged me along.  Firehall had a few locations at the time and we were at the one by the waterfront in Toronto (it’s now gone).  Anyways, as they were trying on coats and stuff, I was wandering around the shop and saw these shoes with a huge sale sign on them.  Back then, there were no shoes with this sort of technology and shit just looked so cool with the huge rubber basketball on the tongue, pump mechanism, release valve in the back and air bubble type piece in the sole.  These looked like they could have come from Back to the Future.  I vaguely remember seeing some commercials or print adds of these and knew they were crazy expensive.  I saw a huge sale sign over the shoes and having just started playing basketball, started dreaming of the possibility of breaking necks with these at school.  Turns out these were on sale for half price.  At 50% off, they were still $100.  I really had no expectations since that was a lot of money for us back then.  I think the retail price of $200 for these back then was equivalent to probably $350+ now or so.  I’m not sure if I had the nerve to ask my Dad or not, but I think he could see that yearning in my eyes.  My Dad’s often viewed as being a cheap guy to friends and family, but in reality he’s quite the opposite.  He always watches his money and is happy to spend big if it’s quality and has value.  This shoe didn’t fit that description, but he’s also always been willing to spend big for me (within reason – there’s no fucking way this would go down if it was $200).  I think he thought about it and suffered a bit, but he ended up saying he would buy them for me.  I was absolutely stunned and in shock.  It was my first big splurge I recall my Dad dropping on me and it was totally unexpected.  He kept saying that it’s the most expensive pair of shoes he’s ever bought (even for himself) and I was only in my early teens.  I was so excited.  I kept wearing them at home. I stayed up all night just drawing pictures of the shoes and the box.  I think I even slept with them in my bed.

Whats funny about these things is that they were fucking HUGE!  Shit was like downhill ski boots and I think the only sizes available were too big for me – but we still bought em. I must have looked like a clown in white UGGs running around the school yard.  I think they practically came up to my knees.  I didn’t give two shits.  The shoes were still crazy cool and NO ONE had these shits.  I was so proud and wore them everywhere.  Even to this day, when I try on the 20th anniversary reissues, I still look like a clown.  It would be so funny to see what I looked like back then.  Anyways, this was the shoe that started it all for me and one of my first recollections of my Dad bending his rules to spoil me.