Gifts for Sneakerheads Who Seem to Own Every Pair
The best gifts for sneakerheads are things they can't already own or wouldn't buy for themselves: a custom pair with something personal on it, a Christmas pair, or a design they haven't seen before. Guessing at a new release is risky, because they've probably made up their mind about it. If you'd rather not buy shoes, get something that looks after their collection.
Christmas Gifts for Sneakerheads
Christmas is a good excuse for a loud pair. Collectors tend to save their money for the releases they've been waiting on, and a pair dressed like Santa rarely makes that list. Our Christmas shoes and sneakers come as low tops, mid tops and high tops, in men's and women's sizes.
The Santa Suit has the most going on. It's a red shoe with a wide black belt and a gold buckle, black panels dotted with snow and a sleigh with reindeer along the collar. It comes as a Jamrock High, our high top, and a Jamrock Low, our low top. The high top has a tag on the tongue that reads MADE IN THE NORTH POLE, which is the kind of detail a sneakerhead will spot.
The red IrieTrod Low is a low top with white snowflakes across the sides and heel, and you choose white or black for the laces, lining and sole. For something with no red or green, the Snowman is a Rebel Sole, our mid top, in ice blue with a cracked frost print and a snowman's face on the tongue.
Sneakerhead Gift Ideas: A Custom Pair They Can't Already Own
A custom pair is the easy answer to "they already have it." Put their name or nickname on it, the year they started collecting or the colors of the city they grew up in, and it can't already be on their shelf.
Start by choosing a high top, mid top or low top. Describe your idea in the design box on the product page, and send reference pictures by replying to the order email. The mockups come to you, and nothing is made until you approve the final design, which keeps the surprise safe.
The price includes a design fee, which starts at $35 for a team design: a logo, name, number or date, or new colors on one of our existing designs, with up to 2 rounds of mockups. A new design built from your own idea costs more and gets up to 4 rounds. We can print your own school, club or rec team logo if you own it or have permission to use it. We can't print pro, college or league logos or other trademarks. If your idea includes one, we'll create an original look in the same spirit.
Unique Sneakers for Men and Women
Many sneakerheads like wearing something nobody else in the room has on. Our paint splatter pairs are a good place to start. The Black Splatter Jamrock High is a black shoe with red, green, gold and white paint across the toe, the sides and the collar, and white laces. The Paint Splatter Rebel Sole goes the other way: red, green, gold and black paint all over a white upper.
For a collection that's already loud, one plain color can be the better surprise. Our Marigold Yellow, Mint Green and Powder Blue Jamrock Highs have no graphics at all. And if they love reggae or Rasta culture, look at the Lion of Judah IrieTrod Low: a green toe, a gold side panel with a black crowned lion on it, and a red heel with JAH across it.
One thing to know: these are made to order rather than limited releases, so don't buy them for resale value.
Gifts for Shoe Lovers Who Aren't Collectors
Plenty of people love shoes without tracking a single release date. For them, go with a pair that says something about who they are. Our Country Flag Shoes work well for someone proud of where their family comes from, with flags like Haiti, Nigeria, the Philippines and Ghana.
City Themed Sneakers come in a city's colors for football and basketball fans. They're independent designs, not official team products, and they aren't affiliated with or licensed by any team or league.
If you're shopping for a man and want to add something to wear with the pair, our guide to Christmas outfits for men builds whole looks around our sneakers.
Gifts for Sneakerheads That Aren't Shoes
These are the safer choice, because they don't depend on their taste. We don't sell cleaning kits, display cases or shoe trees, but they're easy to find, and they came up again and again in the sneakerhead gift lists we read.
A Sneaker Cleaning Kit
A kit usually holds a brush, a cleaning solution and a cloth. Cleaning supplies get used up, so even someone who already owns a kit can use another.
A Sneaker Display Case
A display case or a drop-front box shows a pair off and keeps the dust away, and drop-front boxes stack. Check how much room they have before you buy a big one.
Shoe Trees and Crease Protectors
Shoe trees, often cedar, help a pair hold its shape between wears. Crease protectors sit inside the toe to limit creasing, and they're small enough for a stocking.
Extra Laces and a Shoe Storage Bag
Both of these come free with most of our Jamrock and IrieTrod Low pairs, while supplies last: usually at least 2 pairs of laces, plus a zip-top shoe storage bag. A few designs get a colored insole in place of the second pair of laces. Rebel Sole pairs come with one pair of laces in a regular shoe box.
Custom Basketball ShoesPut a name or number on a holiday pairShop now →
Black Splatter High TopsRed, green and gold paint on blackShop now →
All ShoesThe full footwear directoryShop now →
How to Find Out Their Shoe Size Without Asking
A sneakerhead's shelf gives it away. The label on a shoe box shows the size they usually buy, but fit can change from one shoe model to the next, so use that as a starting point. Then borrow a pair they actually wear, not one they keep unworn in the box, take the insole out and measure it from heel to toe. If it won't come out, try another pair.
Each shoe page has a size chart that lists the insole length in centimeters and inches. Choose the size with the length you measured, and if it falls between sizes, go with the larger one. On Jamrock and IrieTrod Low pairs you pick Men's or Women's with the STYLE option. Rebel Sole pairs list both together, for example 8 Men / 9.5 Women. We only make adult sizes, though teens who wear adult sizes can wear them.
If the Size Is Wrong
Most Jamrock and IrieTrod Low pairs come with one free size exchange per order, custom pairs on those models included. It covers one size up or one size down. You ask within 7 days of delivery, then send the original pair back unworn in its original packaging and pay the return postage. Rebel Sole pairs don't have it, and the Returns section on each product page tells you which applies.
Those 7 days start on the day it's delivered, not the day it gets unwrapped. A pair delivered on December 5 is past its window by Christmas. When the box arrives, compare its insole with the pair you measured before you wrap it, while you can still ask for the other size.
Every pair is made to order, so outside of that exchange we can't take returns for a change of mind or the wrong size, and that includes gifts. If a pair arrives damaged, defective or wrong, tell us within 14 days of delivery and we'll replace or refund it. If you find out the right size after you order, you can change the order within 24 hours of placing it. Still not sure? Email team@rebelonemart.com before you order and we'll help you choose.
When to Order for Christmas
Order early, and order a custom pair first. It needs the mockup rounds, then 5 to 14 business days to make after you approve the design, then 5 to 12 business days for US delivery. Pairs in our existing designs are made and shipped within 3 to 8 business days, then US delivery takes 5 to 12 business days, with tracking.
Holidays can stretch both steps, and we can't promise an exact delivery date once a package is with the carrier. We don't offer express shipping inside the US, so there's no way to make up the time later. International delivery can take longer. If you order more than one item, they can ship in separate packages and arrive on different days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you get a sneakerhead who has everything?
Get them something they can't already own or wouldn't buy for themselves, like a custom pair with their name or number on it, or a Christmas pair. If you'd rather avoid shoes, a cleaning kit gets used up, so it won't go to waste.
Should you buy shoes for a sneakerhead?
Only if you aren't guessing. Sneakerheads usually know which releases they want, and they may already own the one you pick. A custom pair or an unusual design gets around that, because it isn't a release they've been following.
What are good gifts for sneakerheads that aren't shoes?
A cleaning kit, a display case or drop-front box, shoe trees, crease protectors, spare laces, a storage bag or a book about sneakers.
How can I find out their shoe size without asking?
Borrow a pair they wear often, take the insole out and measure it from heel to toe. Then choose the size with that length on the size chart. The label on one of their shoe boxes gives you a starting point, but go by the length.
Can they exchange the size after Christmas?
Only if you're still within 7 days of delivery. Most Jamrock and IrieTrod Low pairs come with one free size exchange, but the window starts when the box arrives, not when it's opened. Check the size as soon as it arrives.
How long does a custom pair take?
The mockup rounds come first. The pair then takes 5 to 14 business days to make after you approve the design, and US delivery takes another 5 to 12 business days. Holidays can stretch both steps, so order it before anything else.
