Condition & authenticity
- Deadstock / DS — brand new and unworn, in the original box, exactly as it left the store.
- VNDS (Very Near Deadstock) — worn once or twice, no visible flaws; basically like new.
- Beater — a pair you wear without worrying about wear and tear.
- Legit check — verifying a pair is genuine rather than a replica.
- Rep / replica / fake — an unauthorised copy. 'UA' ('unauthorised authentic') is just a marketing word for a fake.
- B-grade — a genuine pair with a minor factory flaw, sold cheaper.
Release types
- GR (General Release) — made in large numbers and widely available at retail.
- Limited — produced in small numbers; sells out fast.
- QS (Quickstrike) — a limited release sent to select stores with little notice.
- Collab — a shoe made with an outside brand, designer or artist.
- Retro — a re-release of an older model (most Jordan 1s are retros).
- OG — the original version or colourway of a model.
Sizing labels
Sneakers come in different size bands, usually shown by a suffix on the listing:
- GS (Grade School) — the larger kids' band; often cheaper, and fits many women and smaller-footed men.
- PS (Preschool) and TD (Toddler) — smaller kids' sizes.
- Men's / Women's / Unisex — most hyped silhouettes list in men's US sizing; women subtract 1.5 to convert.
Tip · GS pairs can be a smart buy: if a men's US 7 fits you, a GS 5.5Y is often the same shoe for less. Check the brand's GS-to-men's conversion before you order.
Buying, selling & hype
- Retail — the original store price set by the brand.
- Resell / aftermarket — buying and selling pairs after release, often above retail.
- Cop — to buy. 'W' (win) means you got the pair; 'L' (loss) means you missed out.
- Hype / heat — a pair that's in high demand or simply looks great.
- Grail — the dream pair you most want to own.
- Raffle — a lottery stores run to allocate limited pairs fairly.
- Restock — when a sold-out pair is made available again.
- StockX / GOAT — large resale marketplaces that authenticate pairs before they ship.
Parts of the shoe
- Colourway — the specific colour combination of a model (e.g. 'Bred' = black and red).
- Silhouette — the shoe's overall model or shape (Jordan 1, Dunk, Air Force 1).
- Upper — everything above the sole.
- Midsole / outsole — the cushioning layer, and the bottom tread that meets the ground.
- Heel tab — the small pull at the back of the collar.
- On-foot — how a shoe looks worn, as opposed to product photos.