The 15 Coolest Wheat-Colored Sneakers of All Time
With the fall season finally making a slightly unwelcomed return, it’s time for all of us to just deal with it and get back into an autumn state of mind. The season does have its perks though, especially when you realize that it’s perfectly fine to break out those Timberland boots again. However, for those who love the hay-colored nubuck exterior, but hate the excess weight, staying on top of your wheat steez can get a little difficult. Thankfully, the “Wheat” Nike Air Foamposite One is dropping very soon (October 18), giving you a lighter alternative to stomp around in. Before those drop, though, take a look at 15 other wheat-colored sneakers that might give those Timbs in your closet a run for their money. Actually, you might even own a few of these bad boys already.
Air Jordan 13 "Wheat" (2004)
Even with the “Wheat” Air Jordan 13 being a decade old, it’s still one of the freshest Jordan 13s to ever hit shelves. The wheat color is incorporated into the suede side panel that extends up the heel, leaving the rest of the sneaker to stand out for its crisp white base. Throw these on with a pair of sweatpants or light-colored jeans, and you’re good to go. You risk the denim dye rubbing off onto the sneaker in a bad way if you try wearing these with a dark wash.
Nike Vac-Tech Pack (2011)
Back in 2011, Nike came up with an amazing concept for their entire Vac Tech pack. The “seamless” design made them look more like a sneaker trophy than something out of your everyday rotation. In addition to the silhouettes being on point — the Nike Air Max 90, Dunk High and the iconic Air Force 1 were chosen to represent this collection — the wheat suede upper itself plays a huge part in the appeal. If you put a gum sole on these, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell them apart from your Premium 6-Inch boots.
New Balance 1400 “Made in USA” Wheat (2012)
If you wanted to give your lazy boy swag a bit of an upgrade without losing comfort, these New Balance 1400s are definitely the way to go. Sleek, smooth and built to last, these sneakers still look fresher than ever, and probably will for some time to come. The wheat color takes over the upper, which compliments the Encap Cushioned sole unit perfectly. Nobody would blame you if you decided to use these sneakers as your go-to house shoes either. They’re that comfortable.
Nike Royal "Wheat" (2011)
When it comes to the Nike Royal, it’s the little things that make it such an appealing silhouette. You had the subtle Nike Swoosh logo on the heel, perforated Swoosh on the side panel, and the best details borrowed from the classic Air Force and Dunk High models. Throwing a wheat colorway on these just added icing to the cake of a perfectly constructed sneaker. The hiking laces were a pretty dope addition as well.
KD 6 Wheat (2013)
Kevin Durant might be onto the next one with his new KD 7 sneaker, but let’s not forget the glory that was the KD 6. The wheat edition turned out great, mainly for the use of cohesive colorways and gum on something other than the midsole. The raspberry accents and aqua blue laces were placed perfectly into the mix, giving them a classic appeal that could be worn on or off the court. Versatility for the win!
adidas ZX 700 "Wheat" (2013)
We’re not sure who inspired the isolated blue pop on the tongue tab and heel cap, but that person definitely deserves a pay raise. That little detail blends in perfectly with the wheat upper on these ZX 700s. We’re glad they decided to not go in the “all-over” direction and kept the midsole white. Not only does it help the rest of the sneaker pop, but there’s also something really dope about a clean white sole. It never gets old.
Nike SB Dunk "Reese Forbes" Wheat (2002)
In classic Dunk fashion, these incorporate a few different shades of wheat. The darker of the two is used to construct the Swoosh, midsole and paneling, while the lighter hue is thrown on the base and toe box. If you slept on these when they first dropped in 2002, expect to pay a couple of c-notes on the resell. We did a quick Internet search on our own and found a pair in legit condition for no less than $500.
Converse x XLARGE ChevronStar (2013)
People tend to sleep on the ChevronStar Hi, but it’s actually a really cool silhouette. Thanks to a collaboration between Converse Japan and XLARGE, people got to see how dope they actually are. We’re sure these look good in any colorway, but the wheat really brings out the construction-themed look that inspired the shoe in the first place. Basically, these were built to withstand any and all conditions. The nubuck wheat is just an added bonus.
Stefan Janoski Mid "Wheat" (2012)
Having a quality midtop sneaker on deck when fall arrives is pretty vital, and the Stefan Janoski Mid is a sure shot winner. These came out a couple of years ago, but we’re sure people are still giving these a spin around the skate park in 2014. Even with the pop of obsidian on the Swoosh and on the piping, it doesn’t detract your attention from the smooth wheat upper. Add on a vulcanized sole and you know this is a pretty legit pair of kicks.
adidas Gazelle Skate "Wheat/Caramel" (2008)
Every sneaker has that thing that separates it from the others, and for the adidas Gazelle Skate it’s that classic pebbled rubber sole. Whether you’re skating or b-boy breaking, these are guaranteed to keep your feet on point and cushioned throughout. Aside from the “Gazelle” imprint next to the Three Stripes, these come completely muted out in a caramel and wheat color scheme.
Nike Air Zoom Generation "Wheat" (2004)
The Nike Air Zoom Generation signified a defining moment in basketball culture: the beginning of the LeBron era. Back when King James was soaring as the premier rookie on everyone’s radar, he debuted the all-wheat-everything Air Zoom Generation in the 2004 Rookie Challenge. They were hot then and are still blazing today, especially with the gold piping across the front portion of the shoe. These almost make you want to walk around with a boot brush in your back pocket. Almost.
Supra Skytop "Wheat" (2008)
Even though this Supra Skytop takes a lot of style cues from the OG Timbs, the overall execution is all its own. From the placement of the brown leather ankle pad to the multi-toned waxed laces, these are a great example of how to be inspired without being a complete rip-off. If you’re just as influenced by skate culture as you are by streetwear, these should hold a special place in your heart, or at least on your sneaker shelf.
Vans Authentic Hiker Wheat (2013)
A low-top, thick sole Authentic will never go out of style. On top of its simple construction that looks good with everything in your closet, there’s also the fact that you can find it in practically any design. Since wheat is the theme of the day, we had to show a little love to these for being one of the cleanest colorways to drop. If you’re looking for a sneaker that’s good for work or play, we hope you put yourself on to these when they dropped late last year.
adidas Forum Low Wheat (2008)
People don’t usually pay attention to the actual bottom sole of a sneaker, but it’s worth paying attention to in the case of the wheat-colored adidas Forum Low. The circular pattern is what really makes these a certified eye-grabber, but the suede upper and strap detailing up top are also pretty cool when you actually take a minute to analyze the design put into these. The muted-out color also gives these a strong advantage from a style perspective.
Converse Chuck Taylor MotorCycle Hi Wheat (2012)
When a motorcycle jacket is the main inspiration behind a sneaker design, there’s a good chance to assume the outcome will be pretty phenomenal. Thankfully, the Converse Chuck Taylor MotorCycle Hi proved that theory to be a factual one. The front zipper-inspired opening is a pretty creative way to execute a shoe, which is only further complimented by the worn-in effect of the leather upper. Innovation and execution were definitely in play to make these come together in the high quality way that they did.
With the fall season finally making a slightly unwelcomed return, it’s time for all of us to just deal with it and get back into an autumn state of mind. The season does have its perks though, especially when you realize that it’s perfectly fine to break out those Timberland boots again. However, for those who love the hay-colored nubuck exterior, but hate the excess weight, staying on top of your wheat steez can get a little difficult. Thankfully, the “Wheat” Nike Air Foamposite One is dropping very soon (October 18), giving you a lighter alternative to stomp around in. Before those drop, though, take a look at 15 other wheat-colored sneakers that might give those Timbs in your closet a run for their money. Actually, you might even own a few of these bad boys already.