Chasing the Blue Foams
Okay, let’s talk about these Penny Hardaway Foamposites, the blue ones. Man, getting a pair… that was something else back then. It wasn’t like today where you just click a button, well, sometimes. You actually had to look for them, you know? I remember seeing Penny rock them, and just thinking, “I gotta have those.” They looked like something from the future, seriously.
Finding my size was the first hurdle. Stores got like, three pairs, and they were gone instantly. I spent a good couple of weekends hitting up different malls, calling shops. Felt like a proper hunt. Finally found a place that had one pair left, wasn’t even my perfect size, maybe half a size bigger, but I grabbed them. Didn’t even care. The price tag hurt, not gonna lie. Definitely had to skip a few other things I wanted that month, but seeing that box, that blue… worth it at the time.
Breaking Them In (Or Trying To)
So, I got them home. First thing? Put them on immediately. They felt… weird. Stiff. Like wearing shiny blue bricks on your feet. Not comfy right out of the box, not at all. People say Foamposites mold to your feet, but it takes time. A lot of time. And maybe some pain.
Wore them out the next day. Felt kinda self-conscious, honestly. They are LOUD. That bright blue just screams “look at my feet!” Got a few nods from other sneaker guys, which felt good. But mostly, I was just aware I had these super expensive, kinda uncomfortable things on.
- First few wears: Definitely stiff. Got a blister, I think.
- Look: Amazing. Still think they look incredible. That seamless blue upper is iconic.
- Comfort evolution: They did get better. Not like, running shoe comfy, but bearable. More like a boot feel.
Living with the Blue Shells
Keeping them clean was a nightmare. That blue shows everything. Every scuff, every speck of dust. Wiped them down constantly. I was paranoid about messing them up, especially considering what I paid. They spent more time in the box than on my feet some weeks.
Funny thing is, I remember wearing them to a family BBQ once. My uncle, who knows nothing about shoes, just points and goes, “What are those plastic things? They look hot.” And he was right, they weren’t exactly breathable. Feet got pretty warm in there.
Over time, they got less wear. Other shoes came along, stuff that was just easier to throw on, more comfortable. The Foams became more of a special occasion thing, or just something to look at on the shelf. They still hold up, though. The build quality is solid, gotta give them that. No real sole separation or anything, just some scuffs here and there.
So, Yeah…
Looking back? Glad I got to experience them. The Blue Foamposite is a piece of sneaker history, tied to Penny Hardaway. It was a whole thing. Would I go through that hassle and cost again today? Probably not. My feet like comfort too much now, and honestly, the hype game is exhausting.
They’re still sitting in my closet. Take them out sometimes just to look at them. That blue is still something else. But wearing them? Nah, not so much anymore. They represent a certain time, a certain feeling. More of a memory on my shelf now, you know?