Alright, so I finally got my hands on a pair of the black toe 14s. Been thinking about it for a while, you know? It wasn’t some crazy chase, just decided it was time. Found a pair, decent condition, nothing too beat up, nothing crazy expensive either. Just pulled the trigger online.
When the box showed up, I opened it right away. Standard stuff, the box, the paper. Pulled the shoes out. They looked pretty much like I remembered from pictures. That white leather on the sides, the black suede on the toe. Felt okay in hand, not super heavy, not flimsy either. The little Ferrari-style badge thing on the side is still kind of cool, even after all these years.
Putting them to the test
So, first thing I did was try them on. Slipped my feet in. Felt a bit stiff, honestly. Not uncomfortable, but definitely needed breaking in. Walked around the house for a bit. The fit was alright, pretty true to size for me. No pinching or anything weird. The cushioning felt… okay? Not like modern bouncy stuff, but decent enough for just walking around.
Took them out the next day. Just casual wear, running errands, that sort of thing. They definitely got a few looks, which is funny for an older model. Comfort was fine for a few hours. I wouldn’t want to stand in them all day long right out of the box, but they were getting better. The ventilation is actually not bad, those little holes on the side seem to do something.
What I noticed after wearing them a bit:
- They crease. Yeah, the white leather panels started showing creases pretty quick. Not terrible, but noticeable if you care about that stuff.
- The black suede on the toe picks up dust kinda easily. Needed a quick wipe down after being outside.
- They feel pretty stable on foot. Good grip from the sole.
It’s funny, getting these reminded me why I started liking sneakers in the first place. It wasn’t about hype or resale or any of that noise. It was just seeing something that looked cool, something connected to a player or a moment, and wanting to wear it. These 14s, they’re from that era. Solid design, feels like a substantial shoe.
Cleaning them isn’t too bad. A damp cloth on the leather, a suede brush for the toe. Nothing complicated. I’m not trying to keep them museum-perfect, just wearable. They’re shoes, right? Meant to be worn. Trying to keep things too perfect just adds stress I don’t need. Learned that the hard way with some other pairs years ago, fussing over every tiny scuff. Not worth it.
So yeah, the black toe 14s. Got ’em, wore ’em, they’re alright. A good-looking shoe with a bit of history. Glad I added them to the rotation. They just feel like a proper old-school basketball sneaker, even if I’m just walking to the store in them.
