Whenever I buy new sneakers I think to myself, “Man, I’m so glad I got these.” But months after I’ll find myself wondering if I should’ve bought the sneakers in the first place. Do I still like them? Did I need them? Most importantly, were they worth the cost?

When one considers the cost of sneakers, a number of factors come into play. The first is just how much you can afford to spend on a pair of shoes.

One interesting thing to note regarding the cost of sneakers is how much the companies make. People assume that Nike, for example, makes a huge profit off of each pair of shoes, which is partly true. According to a February, 2019 article from sneakerfactory.com, “The real cost to make a $70.00 shoe is about $15.00.”

A majority of the time a pair of sneakers is bought there is a good chance the buyer is spending more than $60. According to sneakerfactory.net, the basic price for a sneaker is $70. This may seem like a reasonable price until you find out that it took less than $20 for the shoe to be made. That shows the producer makes an eye-opening profit.

Sneakers made for outdoor purposes should definitely be cheaper against indoor performance sneakers. There are multiple risks that affect  the condition of an outside shoe such as grass stains, weathering, or overwearing the shoe. Spending more than $140 on an outdoor shoe like track spikes or cleats seems like too much, but oftentimes a buyer goes for the signature shoe that is high-priced.

Sneaker designs can last for years and sometimes decades. Brands can easily recycle ideas and colorways, which many do regularly.  When a company decides to re-release a shoe years later for a higher price, the company is taking advantage of the consumer. In December 23, 2011, the Air Jordan 11 Retro “Concord” was released to the public for $180. Seven years later, minor customizations to the shoe were made, and the retail price shot up to $220. Major brands like Nike, who own the Air Jordan brand,Under Armour, and Adidas make simple changes to a shoe and increase the price, and sometimes lower quantity of the shoe to create demand. They end up with an abundance of profit and manipulate the consumer, who is all-too-often tied up in getting what they want or like rather than paying attention to what they are actually paying for.