Adidas has been effective in recent years in translating classic tennis shoe styles like the Stan Smith for today’s sneaker fan. The problem for Adidas is that their roster of shoes in the 1980s and 1990s did not feature great running or training shoes. I think that Adidas has remedied that problem by combining classic colors with a new look in the Adidas Oregon Ultra. The Oregon Ultra itself is not a new shoe but the makeover freshens up a simple training shoe.

The design department at Adidas employed a mixture of light blue, gray, black and red without making the shoe appear too busy. Red accents on the gray Adidas stripes are a nice touch. I love the cross-hatched pattern on the sole which gives this newer shoe a classic look. The unobstructed use of white at the bottom of the Oregon Ultra is an eye-pleasing way to rest after looking at the various colors used. This shoe is featured as part of the Consortium pack which will be available through Adidas in the near future.

We saw a lot of interesting Air Force 1 releases in 2007, and though that number is slowing down this year, here’s another unique edition.

The Nike Air Force 1 Supreme Daisuke Matsuzaka is a collaboration between Nike and the Boston Red Sox pitcher.

The shoe, which some are dubbing the Inside Out “Dragon” features a combination of interesting textures and colors. Most of the shoe is covered with a white pony hair. The back of the shoe and around the laces features a scaly orange leather that resembles sequins or fish scales.

The dragon imprint on the insole and heel forms the shape of “18″, which is Matsuzaka’s number.

According to Sneaker News this shoe is available at Limited Edition for $379 SKD.

The Nike Air Max Light “AM 95″ – Grey/Neon Yellow is available at size-online. It sells for around  £84.99. This model was re-issued in 2007 for the first time in the UK. It was first released in the late 1980s. The Nike Air Max Light is an iconic shoe. Now, this model comes in a new colorway of Grey/Neon Yellow.

If you are a fan of PUMA’s, check out these kicks. A collaboration between PUMA and American Rag Cie, these shoes promise to turn heads.With the look of a boxing shoe and a lot of added flash, these kicks would be a nice addition to your collection. American Rag Cie is a Japanese brand and these shoes are available at their online store at Zozotown.

When you first look at these shoes, the first thing you notice is the color. The shiny silver on white look gives these shoes a fresh feel. With boxing-style hi tops, these shoes work whether you are wearing long pants or shorts. The PUMA name is on the side of the shoe and on the back. There is also a PUMA logo on the back.

I’m not fond of such shiny shoes. But if you are a fan of the metallic look, you might give these a try.

These shoes are limited to some American Rag Cie locations and it’s online shop. Via Freshness

Last month we told you about this collaboration between New Balance and Stussy x UNDFTD x Hectic. Together they created the New Balance MT580 3 The Hard Way pack, which includes three shoes. The shoe was inspired by the movie characters in the 1974 movie “Three The Hard Way.”

While these sneakers were available at some Japanese shops last month, you can now get them straight for UNDFTD at their online shop. These NB collaborations are priced at $188 per pair.

The bright yellow and black pair, dubbed “Freddie” is my favorite, because I have alwasy been a big fan of this color combination. However, the other two versions aren’t bad either.

The “Jimmie” features a dark metallic red/black and yellow colorway that is definitely unique. I like these shoes because the red is muted rather than bright. The third pair, “Kelley” is also subtle but has a little shine to it as well.

Check out these shoes, straight from undftd.com. You can also get a T-shirt commemorating the collaboration as well.

The SDM-Hi White Ties by JB Classics pictured above are limited to 480 pairs though I have a difficult time seeing these shoes moving quickly. The gum outsole is contrasted with an unorthodox mixture of colors on the bottom of the SDM-Hi to add a bit of flavor to these all-white shoes. The only way I can see the rainbow at the bottom of these shoes working is if the rest of the shoe had a similar mixture of colors. The bottom of the shoes stand out far too much to wear these on a daily basis.

The main problem I have with the SDM-Hi is the interwoven leather pattern on the shoes. It is clear that the designers at JB Classics wanted to separate the SDM-Hi from the competition by weaving two layers of white leather. I admire the craftsmanship involved in this layering but the end result is not visually attractive. I know some readers will like these shoes but I think there are plenty of other shoes that cost less and pack a bigger punch in terms of flavor on the market.