A Guide to BAPE Sneakers
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By Stadium Goods |A Guide to BAPE Sneakers
Explaining all the most popular BAPE sneakers, including the BAPE Sta and Sk8 Sta.
Matt DeSciora
Founded in 1993 by NIGO, BAPE helped set the standard for modern street culture as we know it today. Its limited edition releases, in-demand collaborations, and keen eye to product detail are some of the reasons why BAPE has remained relevant in streetwear throughout its 30-year existence.
Another reason why BAPE has been so popular for so long is because of its ability to draw from various cultures, perhaps none more so than sneaker culture.
Although sneakers didn’t become a component of the BAPE’s collections until 2000, today the brand is known as much for its footwear as it is for any of its other camouflage-adorned apparel and accessories. Collaborations with KAWS, Kanye West, Marvel, and more are partially responsible for the hype surrounding the brand’s shoes, but so is the simple fact that BAPE’s footwear collection is chock full of timeless silhouettes that everyone can wear.
Inspired by classic sneaker models, BAPE’s shoes are always fresh no matter what’s trending in the culture. But even still, it can be a bit difficult to distinguish one style from another, which is why we’re here today to talk about the many flavors of BAPE sneakers.
If you’ve been meaning to check out BAPE’s sneakers, consider this handy guide to the brand’s collection a must-read. Below you’ll find everything you need to know about BAPE's shoes, from silhouette inspiration to key colorways, and more.
BAPE Sta
Pictured: BAPE Sta “Pastel Pack”
Debuted in 2000, the BAPE Sta was the Japanese streetwear brand’s first sneaker silhouette. The Sta’s star-shaped logo on the sides has been, in BAPE’s words, the sneaker’s defining feature, but we think there’s more to it than that. The BAPE Sta’s retro-inspired silhouette is reminiscent of the iconic Nike Air Force 1’s design, which says pretty much all you need to know about its place in the culture.
BAPE Sta Mid
Pictured: BAPE Sta Mid “Monotone Pack”
As one can imagine, the BAPE Sta Mid updates the Sta to a mid-top cut. The Sta Mid is a new-ish model that has already been released in a handful of classic, retro-inspired colorways. If you’re looking for a BAPE shoe that’s a little bit different than whatever everyone else is wearing, this may very well be the shoe for you.
BAPE Sk8 Sta
Pictured: BAPE SK8 Sta “Light Grey” and “Dark Grey”
The BAPE Sk8 Sta is one of BAPE’s newest sneakers, having been introduced in 2021. Like the Sta, it doesn’t take two guesses as to what inspires the shoe: the Nike SB Dunk. And, like the Sta, you can catch the Sk8 Sta in a variety of colors ranging from bold and bright to soft and subdued.
BAPE Road Sta
Pictured: BAPE Road Sta “Metallic Multicolor”
Next to the Sta, the BAPE Road Sta is one of the brand’s most iconic silhouettes. The shoe is a spin on vintage performance running sneakers from the late 1980s and early 1990s. BAPE reintroduced the Road Sta to its lineup a few years ago, and the reception to its return has been warm, to say the least.
BAPE Skull Sta
Pictured: BAPE Skull Sta “White/Black”
Classic in every sense of the word, the BAPE Skull Sta also takes inspiration from a classic sneaker, the adidas Superstar. The Skull Sta has been a part of BAPE’s collection since the 2000s, and is a more “toned down” version of the Sta. BAPE re-released the Skull Sta in the 2010s, much to the delight of streetwear and sneaker collectors.