But what actually is a Holy Grail?
The »Holy Grail« is the shoe you want above all others, or the shoe you have been looking for. Either way, it is THE model that stands above all others. »Grails« don’t have to be exclusive or limited, often sneakerheads naturally crave that hard-to-find pair. But personal experiences and stories can also make a pair the most popular sneaker on your shelf. Often the »Holy Grail« is a shoe from your childhood or teenage years, so you may have to dig deep into the history books of sneaker history to find some »Holy Grails«. Many sneaker fans, on the other hand, are more interested in the most popular kicks of recent years. From nostalgia to the sneaker hype of 2018, 2019 and 2020, there’s something special about every sneaker you’ll find on our list.
All of us 43einhaler have them: some already have them in their closet (the lucky ones!), others are still looking for them… At this point we would like to introduce you to some 43einhalb crew members and their GRAILS – have fun!
Mischa
- Nickname: Al-Bundy
- Size: 43
Mischas Holy Grail:
»I had the opportunity to interview rally legend Walter Röhrl during a several day driver training course – among an eBay auction and several used karting outfits, a blue, relatively worn adidas shoe was included in the package. After some cleaning etc. it turned out to be an original Walter Röhrl Monaco Mid from 1983 (the year I was born) – the shoe has been my absolute favorite ever since.«
Oliver
- Nickname: Labertasche
- Size: 44,5
Ollis Holy Grail:
»When I was at the Sneaker Freaker Headquarters in Melbourne in 2010, Woody gave me the official Alvin Purple T-shirt. All I needed was the shoe to go with it.«
Christian
- Nickname: Perle
- Size: 43,5
Perles Holy Grail:
»For those who don’t know, the 2007 Nike SB ‘What the Dunk’ creation was the first Swoosh shoe with a mash-up style. It consists of an asymmetrical upper of the Dunk Highlights that were released up to that day. It’s very expensive and not many people have them. I’m a huge fan of the old Dunks, there was real heart and soul and history in almost every shoe.«
Carl
- Nickname: Carlinho
- Size: 43
Carlinhos Holy Grail:
»In 2018, there was probably no sneaker that was more popular in the scene. I also really liked the Nike Air Max Sean Wotherspoon. I think the combination of the 1 and 97 is really strong. The corduroy upper and the bright colors make it a holy grail for me!«
Lukas
- Nickname: Color-Match-Lukas oder einfach Luki
- Size: 42,5
Lukis Holy Grail:
»The ASICS Gel-Lyte III x Colette & La MJC & Sold Out is my absolute Holy Grail because of the collaborators and the colors! However, the Holy Grail here only refers to the OG and not the 2018 version. ;-)«
Our girls also have very special sneakers in their shoe cabinets that are irreplaceable for them. There are many popular women’s sneakers in our shop, our 43einhalb girls have chosen the following models:
Nicole
- Nickname: Naddel
- Size: 41
Naddels Holy Grail:
»The Nike Air Max 1 Custom “Pinky Crunch” is my absolute favorite! When I discovered this gem on Instagram, I was more than just in love – I just HAD to have it! When my better half found out, he acted quickly and had it lovingly handcrafted for me by VIJZ and surprised me with it. There are only 6 of these in the world!«
Nina
- Nickname: NinaBambina oder Nini
- Size: 39
Ninas Holy Grail:
»I think the story about the AM1/97 Sean Wotherspoon and the whole realization is very strong. I’m a big fan of the ’97 Air Max anyway – the upper with the colorful corduroy and the beautiful details is just brilliant!«
NICE TO KNOW:
What makes a sneaker so popular?
A number of factors can cause the value of a sneaker to rise or fall. Music and fashion stars like Travis Scott, Kanye West and Drake have a strong influence. They can cause the value of a particular shoe to skyrocket just by wearing it. Collaborations are particularly popular, as there is usually a story behind the shoe and demand is usually higher than supply due to the limited number of pieces. There are also many collaborations or quickstrike models that you can be sure will not be re-released. Re-releases of OGs in the original shape and colorway are also in high demand as these OG re-releases don’t happen every week.
How can you get your hands on exclusive sneakers now?
Exclusive and limited edition sneakers are often highly coveted, and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t want a pair or two in our collection, but sometimes even we have to admit defeat in the quest for the Holy Grail.
Sneaker stores around the world continue to make headlines for the unusual ways they get their limited edition kicks out to people. From in-store events to creative contests to scavenger hunts, getting your hands on the sneakers you love is no easy task. But often all it takes is a little luck to win the right to buy a pair in a lottery. If you’re still not lucky, you can always try to get your Holy Grail on eBay. The coveted sneakers are offered via buy-it-now or auction, but you have to be careful not to fall for scams or fakes. However, there are now a number of reputable alternatives that can get you your beloved kicks. StockX or KLEKT are among the largest online platforms for the resale of limited edition sneakers and trade shoes almost like stocks. More and more people are realizing the potential of reselling sneakers, and now there are not only online giants like StockX, but also retailers who offer the limited edition kicks for sale in their stores.
So before you bite the bullet and pay the high price for your Holy Grail, make sure it is not a fake and that the price is fair.
43einhalb The Grail Club
Do you have a passion for sneakers & streetwear and are you always on the lookout for fresh new kicks? Then turn that passion into a real reward by joining 43einhalb The Grail Club! Find out all about our loyalty program, where you can collect GRAILS and redeem them for rewards here.
We deliberately named the loyalty program The Grail Club, because let’s recap: »Holy Grail« or »Grail« refers to a (favorite) sneaker of inestimable value that you either already own or have been looking for for years. It’s the same with the precious GRAILS you get at 43einhalb The Grail Club – you collect them like your favorite sneakers. When you have collected enough GRAILS, you can trade them in for rewards like vouchers, early access, etc. to get your »Holy Grails« even faster!
Sounds good? Then simply join 43einhalb The Grail Club for free and automatically collect valuable GRAILS with every order. In addition to exclusive rewards, you’ll also receive other exciting benefits depending on your LEVEL. Check it out:
43einhalb The Grail Club
