Got a teal pair as a kid, after begging my parents for weeks. It meant no allowance for many months, but this was life or death. I made a big deal about pumping them up before playing b-ball, only to find that I still sucked at sports. I also grew out of them before I’d even paid off the shoes. $120 well spent!
I had a pair of “low tops” that I remember my parents paying $90 for. I loved them and wore them proudly until they started to wear out and eventually I outgrew them as well.
I had a pair of these at 4 years old. I remember my pops punished me for hiding the rent money in my dirty underwear😂😅 burnt my sneaker bottoms on the tortilla burner. Lmaooo that shit was burnt into my memory too
@@dan003 I remember, this was more than twenty years ago, that some punk kid in St. Louis, Missouri fled from the police during the night on foot. He had lights on his shoes so they were able to pick up the general trail where he was running and they were chasing him for a long time.
I was obsessed with my Reebok Pumps. I bought them in 1991 and everyone at school was envious. 20 years later, I was given the exact same design pair for Christmas, after they rereleased the early 1990s styles. I still have that pair now and love to bring them out for special occassions.
Yesterday was a small but noticeable day in my life. After trying for 20 years, (seriously, I'm amazed that Reebok hasn't collapsed by now. Nobody sells their shoes in stores) I finally got my hands on a pair of Pumps. They were too expensive back then but was able to grab a pair online for $90. I was pleasantly shocked that they still have the word "Hexalite" stitched on the shoes with their famous honeycomb air cushion windows on the bottom. I probably will wear them only on special occasions too. The Hexalite name still holds a place in my heart. It was the only model I had that came closest to the Pump designs. I loved those shoes because Reebok wasn't falsely claiming anything. They were and still are among the lightest sneakers I've owned. I remember walking all over Disney World in those and they were amazingly comfortable. I'm glad the Hexalite name isn't dead but I still worry about the future of Reebok. I was shocked that the massive German brand Addidas bought them out. The shoe box said "Imported from the Netherlands." I am holding on to my Pumps. I'll never sell them.
We were poor. I had a pair of Jordache pumps. Seven year old me still thought they were cool but still knew they were knock offs. Eventually I learned the valuable lesson that trends are stupid.
@@TurdJesus Yep, when the slip on Vans were popular in the 1990's as a summer shoe due to Skateboarding and BMX trick bikes taking off again with the early X-Games, I wore some Cheaper B.U.M shoes often in navy blue or on pair of black that were look alike to the Vans slip on model in the summer. My mom was going to get some shoes like this anyhow becuse at the apartment complex the playground for them, I was always dumping sand out of my shoes or sandals when playing on the ground.
A friend of mine, whose stepdad was a pilot, brought a pair for him from the US - living in Portugal, that was the only way you could get your feet in pair. They seemed like they came from another dimension! Love these Weird History episodes!
In early elementary school I watched a bored kid take apart and dissect his pumps while in class. He took out the air bladder and everything. I remember thinking; "My family can't afford these and he is just tearing his apart...wth." I did have a pair of the knockoff Spaulding Typhoon pumps, and loved them.
10/10 The awe-inspiring puns. The tone used for Nike, making it sound like a curse word. The superbly delivered jokes. Pumpology. _Perfect_ ✨👌 (I'm so glad I found this channel)
I bought a pair 1991 for $130. Back then...that was almost a whole paycheck. Really wasn't a comfortable shoe to wear. Mainly just a fashion statement. I paired them with my "muscle pants" which were a trend at the time.
I've been a huge fan ever since my mom bought me the twilight zone pumps in 1990. I've got just about every pump model ever made. The blacktop line is probably my favourite pumps. I love the nike pumps too. I have the 89 air pressure and the 90 command force.
My grandmother had a pair of penny loafers. You're supposed to put pennies in the shoe somewhere undr a flap, buckle or string. She got them brand new to wear on a date. When the date came to a close the guy she was seeing said "put out ot get out" so she walked home and it ruined her shoes. Long story short, that dude aint my grandfather.
Actually, Reebok had been the No1 selling shoe brand from 87-94. It's just that the pump sent sales through the roof. They sold more than nike and Adidas combined.
Oh my God I wanted airwalks so bad for so long and then when I finally got a pair my mother's got them for me for Christmas and I was an adult and they were so not cool anymore but I thanked her as if I would have when they were still cool and I was still her baby
Funny and informative retrospective look at my favourite sneaker. Also strange hearing about Reebok Pumps in past tense when I haven't stopped wearing them since 93. Anyone else feel the same?
The pump tech from Reebok was so advanced, that at the time, when Reebok was still making hockey equipment, even the skates had a form of the pump system for better ankle support
Some of the people playing a Statewide non school type hocky you had to be the right age for, South Dakota has this as its only form of the sport for Kids, one of the players used those shoes in 2000's possibly used but in very good condition shoe with new blades before switching to some Nike Bauer because they used Pabax platform on the bottom of one model like specific track shoes and were the stiffest of skates then and possibly ever, this guy liked skates that were super stiff despite being 135--140 pounds due to the fact of how he used and odd feet almost sideways type skate method that was more like cross country skiers or biathlon skiers on the steepest uphill portion of the skiing doing the side to side feet out like a V almost sideways at the steepest point. If he was not doing that he was feet inward but again almost sideways doing an inner shuffle for tight turn moves. This is why he needed really stiff skates, he even debated getting some goalie boot then putting regular skate blade on them but really only needed the bottom sections below the ankle stiff.
When I think of Reebok pumps, I think about me at 6 years old pumping them before every play in rinky dink basketball, and Dee Brown winning the Dunk Contest.
I always wanted a pair so bad as a kid. Unfortunately we were too poor to get em when I was little but thankfully Reebok makes retros because I can buy them now and make childhood me happy.
I remember between ages 8-11 a teammate on my basketball team had a pair with the CO2 canister that inflated the Pumps for you instead of manually. It wasn't until I workes at Reebok from 16-18 that I saw them up close. They were mainly for basketball and tennis when we had them and they were terrible. Fast forward to today, and I own a pair of Pumps with air throughout the entire shoe, not just the tongue. There's even a Street Fighter version. They are comfortable af. Solid video. Love all of my Reeboks. Classics, Club Cs, BBs, Pumps, Nanos.
@@JB-1138 I will always remember the sound of it. So awesome at the time. My teammate was a year older than I was so he was the older kid with the nice shoes.
I still think of these shoes when I hear the word "pump" in reference to footwear, even when referring to dress shoes. Makes for some goofy head visuals lol
Sonics high flyer Shawn Kemp actually never wears any iteration of Reebok Pump sneakers. He got his own signature Reebok shoe called the Kamikaze & Reignman series. Ditched the pump tech, and focused more on Reebok's version of air cushion on the sole, called Hexalite.
So, Jane Hathaway came up with the Pumps graphic design. Looks like "Miss Jane" finally had enough of her skinflint boss Mr. Drysdale and went on to a new career.😉
I vaguely remember these but I was very young when they were out. I did own a pair of LA Lights. That would be an interesting video! Those types of shoes are still popular!
I remember getting a pair of Pumps in grade 6 (1992) and cutting the tongue open to see how they worked. Mom was not impressed and I was subsequently grounded.
I nor my parents could afford them when they came out, they just couldn't justify spending so much on a pair of shoes that I'd outgrow in 6 months so I had to wait 30 years to finally get a pair. Now I own two pairs soon to be three. They were well worth the wait. Everyone who sees them freaks out. People my age instantly know what they are, people who are younger don't know but ask you what they are and even kids ask me what they are and I'm happy to give them the story. When they have it explained to them they think it's the coolest thing ever and want a pair of their own. They are certainly a head turner and grabs everyone's attention wherever you go. If they know you see them smile and give you a nod. The ones who don't look down as you are walking by and ask their friends if they know what they are. It's a unique feeling. I can't tell you how many times I've been stopped by strangers in a supermarket and had a good half hour conversation with them, even in the checkout queues I've had people looking down and taking photos of them, they really stand out amongst everyone else's footwear that's for sure.
Same here. waited 30 years for these to go on my feet. Now I've got 2 pairs and soon a third. Let's face it $370 (Modern money) for a pair of shoes that you'll outgrow in 6 months really isn't a good idea in a parents mind.
I remember in 6th grade getting a pair of these in black with the orange pump. These were already yesterdays pumps as people wanted the Nike pumps by then. What a gimmick.
I remember back when the Reebok Pumps were released. If I remember correctly they were extremely expensive. I had asked my parents if they'd get me a pair. My Dad's response was, "Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND?", "There's no way in hell I'm paying $150.⁰⁰ for a pair of tennis shoes!" So if I was going to get them, I'd have to pay for them myself. I eventually got a pair. Black Reebok Pumps, with an orange 🏀Basketball🏀 Pump. I paid $139.⁹⁹ or 145.⁹⁹, maybe even $149.⁹⁹? Were they worth it? Yes and no. They were comfortable 👟tennis👟👟shoes👟, but they weren't $150.⁰⁰+ comfortable....lol. They were a cool gimmick. A unique idea and it worked. Once the inside of the shoes became worn out and the mini air pockets or mini-balloons popped, it was over.
I had the black ones with the orange pump had my mom take me back to the mall to return them and got the David Robinson Nike pumps with the pump on the side of the shoe. Big mistake the Reebok Pumps were better
I remember the hype around the Pumps. I got a pair when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. It was such a novelty. The only part that pumped up was the tongue of the sneaker. If you pumped it up too much, you would ether cut off circulation to your feet or the device could pop. One kid in my class had a knock off brand. Needless to say, he was only half cool. They were okay sneakers; more than a gimmick than anything. And yes, the LA Gear Lights were the best!!
The full foot pumps were the best, imho. I liked the ones that pumped up the footbed too. The midfoot (tongue) only pumps were a bit lame, but still looked awesome.
I never knew what year those shoes came out but when I saw them growing up in the '90s I literally want one but since I couldn't get one I fell in love with Reebok and still wear em til this day. BTW: Juice & Above the Rim are THE CLASSICS OF ALL TIME.
These were SO popular. We didn’t have that kind of money when I was a kid, but I had a friend that got a pair & she let me try them on during gym. It was fun… but I didn’t think they worth it, even as a kid.
This is great! I'm kinda on a nostalgia trip when it comes to sneakers! And now I think this could be their own series! I really fell in love with sneakers with the Nike Air 180 and then the Max and many others after that. The Pumps where very cool, so where the Adidas Torsions and in The Netherlands (and maybe the rest of the world?) there was a huge trend with LA Gear's, especially with the matt-style tying of the laces. And I almost forgot the simple trend of the Converse. Was that the first sneaker to get in "fashion"? So, do more videos on sneakers!
I begged my dad for a pair in 1990 when I was 10 he asked how much they were, and when I told him the price he looked at me with the most serious look on his face and said "Son every pair of shoes I've ever owned doesn't equal that price" needless to say I never got a pair.
Somewhere along the line, I picked up some low top Pumps with a tennis ball as the pump. I was very into playing Tennis at the time and they quickly became my fvaorite shoe to play in.
I remember when these came out. I was working after school and spent a good bit of my money on shoes and cloths. I bought the tennis, basketball, and cross trainer ones. Had all three at same time. I loved them shoes. Probably my favorite shoes at that time.
