The Decline of LA Gear…What Happened?

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  • čas přidán 6. 10. 2021
  • Few sneaker brands have touched the hearts of American consumers like LA Gear did back in the late 80s and 90s'. So what exactly happened to LA Gear? At one point it was one of the top sneakers brands in America and then next you know, they're gone. In this video, we take a look at the rise and fall of LA Gear. We cover the history to some of LA Gear's more iconic sneaker lines and even explain what happened with the famous LA Gear Michael Jackson partnership. Hope you guys enjoy!
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Komentáře • 1,2K

  • @brens9143
    @brens9143 Před 2 lety +1079

    "He (Michael Jackson) will touch the kids around the world of all ages" quote didn't age too well😳

  • @gregperez-greene7408
    @gregperez-greene7408 Před 2 lety +750

    “He will touch the children of all ages all over the world”

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +63

      Yeah that part...😅😅😅

    • @ae3
      @ae3 Před 2 lety +88

      I was exactly at that part of the video and decided to scroll down and see if anyone noticed lol

    • @joserey5402
      @joserey5402 Před 2 lety +35

      I think most of us cought it and busted out laughing and stoped the video, rewinded and heard it one more time.

    • @04R1Jason
      @04R1Jason Před 2 lety +7

      That shit was funny bro.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +15

      @@joserey5402 I couldn't believe it when i was editing it haha

  • @frankenviews4069
    @frankenviews4069 Před 2 lety +111

    The problem was LA gear was decades ahead of it's time. It focused on fashion and celebrity over athletes and technology. What's going on now with Yezzeys and Off white and other fashion designer brand sneakers terrible for actual sports use, is what LA Gear had in mind way back then.

    • @pinthetailproductions4859
      @pinthetailproductions4859 Před 2 lety +1

      Holy crap never thought of it like that

    • @jpjpjp453
      @jpjpjp453 Před 2 lety +9

      100 percent correct. If you were looking to buy some sneakers for hard sporting use, LA GEAR usually wasn't even in the conversation. There were department store off brands that were actually more suitable. But for dressing up and stuff like that, LA Gear was always a top choice.

    • @dcardigan13
      @dcardigan13 Před rokem

      Athleisure fashion, right, right

    • @pinkbobbie1
      @pinkbobbie1 Před 3 měsíci

      czcams.com/video/byH21L6vjiw/video.htmlsi=g4zAest4xSlNP3Cm

  • @Tombzy
    @Tombzy Před 2 lety +87

    My parents owned a shoe store in the 80's-90's. When my dad passed away 3 years ago I was cleaning up the basement of his old warehouse and I came across 5 brand new in box LA lights sneakers. I also found 3 brand new boxes of a nostalgic shoe called British Knights.

  • @seanmichael8744
    @seanmichael8744 Před 2 lety +228

    I just remember being 8 years old and all I wanted was the Reebok Pump and my mom got me the Regulators and I couldn't have been more embarrassed lol

    • @seanmichael8744
      @seanmichael8744 Před 2 lety +14

      @Josh Dincola lol yeah it was definitely the moment I realized sneakers mattered in my neighborhood...those Nike joints are definitely sick but I feel like they get more love as retros than they did back in the day because REEBOK had the pump game on lock in 1990 lol

    • @seanmichael8744
      @seanmichael8744 Před 2 lety +5

      @Josh Dincola oh for sure those are cold...my favorite pumps are the shaq attack pumps tho...im all about that 80s 90s nostalgia...at this point I have all the toys and most of the sneakers I never got as a kid lmao...except I cant seem to get my hands on any Reebok pumps which sucks lol

    • @antblanks
      @antblanks Před 2 lety +2

      @@seanmichael8744 Just saw a vintage pair at Wasteland on Melrose a few days ago

    • @seanmichael8744
      @seanmichael8744 Před 2 lety +1

      @@antblanks of Regulators or Pumps? Either is like finding a unicorn tho lol

    • @The3nd187
      @The3nd187 Před 2 lety

      @@seanmichael8744 Same here growing up as a kid there was a lot of stuff I wanted that I buy vintage now just for the nostalgia.

  • @adamkostowicz7289
    @adamkostowicz7289 Před 2 lety +38

    I remember the LA Gear in the 90s…it’s crazy because that’s stuff would be so dope to wear now

  • @Mistwalker801
    @Mistwalker801 Před 2 lety +34

    LA Gear does hold a special place in my heart growing up, my parents got me a pair of LA Lights growing up (which worked to my disadvantage when playing hide and seek as a kid) as well as other shoes, though the one thing I always remembered liking was the LA Gear mini license plate keychain that came with it, always liked snagging those when I got a pair. Ah, memories.

  • @johng9361
    @johng9361 Před 2 lety +57

    I remember all this in high school I just find it funny that the Thriller leather jackets were hot as hell and sold out everywhere but the Billie Jean high tops flopped

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +7

      I kind of like the MJ shoes to be honest haha bummer they flopped.

    • @johng9361
      @johng9361 Před 2 lety +3

      @@NachoAverageFinds same in retrospect

    • @CBXweb
      @CBXweb Před 2 lety +13

      I think by 1990 people were a lil' fatigued by MJ. We were on year Three of the Bad promotion, brining in baggage from the 80s into the new decade. If his shoes came out around August '87, it would have been a completely different story.

    • @sliderx1897
      @sliderx1897 Před 2 lety

      @@CBXweb true

    • @b3h8t1n
      @b3h8t1n Před 2 lety

      I wanted those Billie jeans so bad 😂

  • @DilRyeMaster
    @DilRyeMaster Před 2 lety +44

    I had the first generation LA Lights. The whole heel didn’t light up; it was just two little red dots on the side of the heel. I loved those shoes!

    • @ryurc3033
      @ryurc3033 Před 2 lety +2

      Same

    • @erics8192
      @erics8192 Před 2 lety +6

      I remember a news story about a guy who robbed a liquor store and fled into the woods. The cops could follow him because he wore those light up heel shoes.

  • @s0m3cunt91
    @s0m3cunt91 Před 2 lety +197

    This was great, remember British Knights and Pony's. Brings back memory's.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +17

      Def want to do a video on both of those. Thanks man!

    • @kirrus4781
      @kirrus4781 Před 2 lety +7

      BK's and Pony... I had forgotten about them 👍

    • @freddyp07ify
      @freddyp07ify Před 2 lety +13

      How bout Brooks, Lotto's, Diadora, Roos

    • @tonythetiger1600
      @tonythetiger1600 Před 2 lety +9

      Shiiiii I had sum British knights I thought I was the coolest dude on road aaaaah the 90's good times I used dress wild like I was from a multi cultural gang from a pg rated film lol

    • @hasanicoward4425
      @hasanicoward4425 Před 2 lety +1

      I had British Knights but really didn't like LA Gear or Pony they didn't feel good on my feet

  • @adamani08
    @adamani08 Před 2 lety +93

    True story: First and foremost I am a sneakerhead. Been collecting since the late 90s and in the mid 90s I was doing what I could to get a little money for sneakers. Baby sitting, cleaning and vacuuming the apartment building me and my parents lived in so the landlord would give me $50 and give my parents a $50 rent discount. I got hundreds of shoes. Mostly Nike and Air Jordan. and a few others. ANyway, when I was young I actually chose the L.A. Gear Regulator (the pair pictured in this video) over the Air Jordan 6 Og, the black and infrared. Had to be around '91. No bullshit. That is how cool the LA Gears were back in the day. I've shared that story with people nowadays and they think I was crazy. But at the time is was a good move. Not much later I got a pair of the LA Gear Street Hikers, we used to call them LAGear stompers. Those were fire too. Those were my only pairs of LAGears but still remember them. Part of my childhood.

    • @Kid_Ellipsis
      @Kid_Ellipsis Před 2 lety +2

      True story! They were very cool very temporarily. Montana made em legit for me

    • @dannyskywalker3070
      @dannyskywalker3070 Před 2 lety +3

      You missed out on some great Jordan's but in the long run you got a great story out of it lol and that's worth more than any jordan pair.

    • @blockpartysaint2582
      @blockpartysaint2582 Před 2 lety +5

      Man I wish I would have started back then. I got rid of so many dope shoes from the 90s. I had a lot of LAGear, Nike and FILA stuff. ☹😓🤦🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️

    • @danielmzlos1895
      @danielmzlos1895 Před 2 lety +1

      Cool story dude

    • @60NXNP09
      @60NXNP09 Před 2 lety

      Yes they were cool at that time.

  • @fraggo13
    @fraggo13 Před 2 lety +18

    LA Gear could make a comeback if they do a LED sneaker collab with Tesla.

  • @feck2594
    @feck2594 Před 2 lety +129

    Man I was so damn jealous of people that could afford anything name brand . The closest I ever got was a pair of shitty vans in 8th grade and I didn't skateboard. I didn't get my first pair of k swiss until I was in 10th grade that I paid for myself because I had a job by that time . Poverty sucked , but made me a better person, at least that's what I tell myself 🤣

    • @NCXitlali
      @NCXitlali Před 2 lety +5

      I am still like this. Better to save

    • @philipsmi-lenguyen8155
      @philipsmi-lenguyen8155 Před 2 lety +1

      All I got were Aerosports or cheapazz Dunlops. Lol.

    • @philipsmi-lenguyen8155
      @philipsmi-lenguyen8155 Před 2 lety +1

      @D. Johnston 702 i thought Kswiss backwards was Ssiwsk. Lol.

    • @feck2594
      @feck2594 Před 2 lety

      @@NCXitlali you misunderstood K-Swiss awful vans I like , have pair on now . Just couldn't afford neither of them .

    • @feck2594
      @feck2594 Před 2 lety

      @@philipsmi-lenguyen8155 never trash donlops . I had about 10 pairs in my lifetime. But that's probably the reason I have back , leg and feet problems at my age . 🤣 Also you brought back terrible memories of being picked on for my cheap ass Aeorosports . Funny now but not then .😁

  • @fabianromanramirez3606
    @fabianromanramirez3606 Před 2 lety +54

    I never knew Michael Jackson wore LA Gear sneakers on the video for Bad.

  • @Yovelinf
    @Yovelinf Před 2 lety +35

    I remember a friend of mine had a pair of LA Lights, and he was suffering neck pain from turning his neck too much to see the lights turn on... It was hilarious!!

  • @MrBeadies
    @MrBeadies Před 2 lety +11

    There were a load of brands I remember from this era, Troop, SPX, Patrick Ewings, British Knights, Champions, if you had any of these you were super cool!

  • @SymbolicSplenetic
    @SymbolicSplenetic Před 2 lety +10

    I only heard of them when I got to Canada (98) ....and by then they were pretty much known as the poor kids' budget sneakers from what I gathered back then. Most kids in both my elementary school and high school years avoided them like the plague lol.

  • @cornellnewsome934
    @cornellnewsome934 Před 2 lety +9

    I rocked the All Black LA Gear in my 11 Grade year. Man, I Loved them shoes! My mom wasn’t gonna buy me Nike cause they were to expensive and the LA Gear was affordable

  • @blackwindsignomancy8429
    @blackwindsignomancy8429 Před 2 lety +6

    There was a year or so in like 93 when you weren’t shit if you didn’t have LA lights. I got a cheap payless version and got punked on for them

  • @mikeshirer4114
    @mikeshirer4114 Před 2 lety +4

    You asked for memories of LA Gear. During the LA Gear craze I was a manager for Big 5 sptg goods and there wasnt much bigger than an LA Gear shoe sale. I don’t recall any defective shoes but what drove us nuts was the creative ways of lacing the shoes! Every mom and teen daughter wanted us to lace their shoes for them that would utilize 2 laces per shoe. Some of these lace designs were time consuming to do and customers did get upset if they had to do it themselves. LA Gear for men didn’t do much, this shoe brand was driven by women, shoes, clothes promoting a lifestyle for young women, they should have focused there. My own wife and very young daughter were caught up in LA Gear lifestyle, frequently coming in to the store to check out new shoe designs and clothing. My wife started off with the Reebok hi-top fever by getting them in pink, black and white. Once she saw LA Gear, she never looked back, it wasn’t about function for women, it was all about the look.

    • @hibredtv
      @hibredtv Před 2 lety

      They was their original audience, women. They wanted some of that Jordan money.

  • @HightopRob
    @HightopRob Před 2 lety +11

    LA Gear was so memorable growing up during the late 80s and during 90s the LA Lights from LA Gear was so cool I remembered my mom bought a few pairs when I was in elementary school it was cool to own back in the day.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +3

      They really were pretty cool as a kid. I don't know if could rock the light up shoes as adult but as a kid it was the holy grail

  • @jenna2026
    @jenna2026 Před 2 lety +4

    Sadly the sneaker wars were at their peak from 1987-1991 and then fizzled out each year after that. But in the 80s' there were A LOT more brands on store shelves, by the late 90s though the only brands you really saw were Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and Converse in shoe stores in the mall. Department stores such as Famous Footwear might have still carried other brands, but Foot Locker went from offering 20 different brands in the 80s to about 5 brands by 1997. Once the 2000's happened the selection got even smaller....and you had to use websites like zappos to find other brands. Now in the 20's Foot Locker will no longer carry Nike anymore, hopefully this means they will offer more variety again.

  • @TheRetroManRandySavage
    @TheRetroManRandySavage Před 2 lety +37

    LA GEAR rocked back in the day. The lights, regulator, and catapult was all great shoes. I bought my misses an original pair of 1991 regulator pumps about two months ago. Completely wearable. No sole separation what so ever.
    If I ever find a pair in my size it's an instant cop.
    Great video! 🙏🏻👊

    • @TheRetroManRandySavage
      @TheRetroManRandySavage Před 2 lety +6

      Also, love the Reebok blacktop t shirt you're wearing. 👍

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +5

      Thanks from the kind words man. I love your channel name 😂😂

    • @TheRetroManRandySavage
      @TheRetroManRandySavage Před 2 lety +3

      @@NachoAverageFinds thanks bro.🙏🏻👊

    • @d.felixphoto2260
      @d.felixphoto2260 Před 2 lety +1

      @@TheRetroManRandySavage a wearable pair of LA gear Regulator Pumps would bring tears to my eyes. Lol.

    • @TheRetroManRandySavage
      @TheRetroManRandySavage Před 2 lety +3

      @@d.felixphoto2260 same lol. I don't get the hate. I'm a huge Reebok pump fan, but I don't consider the regulator a knockoff. I think it's a beautiful shoe. I'm always on the lookout. 👍

  • @benobrien9223
    @benobrien9223 Před rokem

    What an awesome video. Such great writing and visual research!

  • @bluesraincancun9217
    @bluesraincancun9217 Před 2 lety +7

    I had three pairs of LA Gears, and just like that college player, my shoes fell apart while playing sports. After those experiences, I told my mom to stop buying me LA Gears. lol I thought they looked cool, but I couldn't trust that they would last. lol. Adidas became my go to sneakers.

    • @Helmuesi911
      @Helmuesi911 Před 2 lety

      They didn’t look cool either.. lames wore that crap shoe

    • @bluesraincancun9217
      @bluesraincancun9217 Před 2 lety

      @@Helmuesi911 nah man, they were in and pretty fly for the times.

  • @andrewlee88
    @andrewlee88 Před 2 lety +6

    Man i totally remember kids trying to collect those cali plates keychains.. thank you for covering this. My class in gr 4-5 was all over these or kswiss

  • @dodgergirlla_blu
    @dodgergirlla_blu Před 2 lety +2

    I currently own a pair. Let me tell you someone always asks "What am I wearing" or "Are those L.A Gear?" Then there are those who are like " What is L.A Gear? "They bring back so many sweet memories. I loved the 2 pair shoe laces they came with.

  • @04R1Jason
    @04R1Jason Před 2 lety +2

    Always excited when I see you guys post. Solid content bro👍🏽

  • @antblanks
    @antblanks Před 2 lety +24

    I had the LA Gear lights! The video brings back many memories. Instead of MJ they should of signed NWA members like Cube, Dre, and Eazy and marketed to the emerging LA hip hop scene which dominated the 90s....imagine!

    • @AnythingGoals
      @AnythingGoals Před 2 lety +1

      That would’ve been perfect.. 2pac, Snoop after.. LA Gear may still be around

    • @burnttoaster6313
      @burnttoaster6313 Před 2 lety +1

      Problem was that you could get shot wearing those

    • @willstaywinning
      @willstaywinning Před 2 lety

      @@burnttoaster6313 wearing la gears?

  • @DylanLey
    @DylanLey Před 2 lety +28

    Never heard of LA Gear until now. Interesting to learn that their founders went on to create Sketchers! Great, informative video as always!

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +2

      Dude thanks so much Dylan. Yeah they were huge back in the day here in the US.

    • @TheRetroManRandySavage
      @TheRetroManRandySavage Před 2 lety

      They retro the la gear every now and then. Dope shoes.

    • @komiboi
      @komiboi Před 2 lety

      LA Gear was my first ever sneakers back in 1995

  • @ZEK.0
    @ZEK.0 Před 2 lety

    I love these videos, so well done! Keep it up

  • @superm7864
    @superm7864 Před 2 lety +15

    Man LA gear was hot back in the days. A few months ago I was reminiscing about em and looked up the company. Found out that they still sold em at Payless of all places. I ended up grabbing my kid an LA gear shirt just for the nostalgia factor.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +3

      That's awesome haha I wouldn't mind an LA Gear shirt actually. Maybe I'll end up copping one. Thanks for watching man!

    • @AimForTheBushes908
      @AimForTheBushes908 Před 2 lety +3

      Same except Payless is closed down over where I live.

    • @12012channel
      @12012channel Před 2 lety +2

      @@NachoAverageFinds I was at the mall the other day and saw some teen with an LA gear sweater because the whole 90s and early 2000 thing is popular now.

    • @sasquatchhunter86
      @sasquatchhunter86 Před 2 lety

      @@12012channel Emo kids are back too. It’s funny how they romanticize them. Emo kids were a joke and it was a bit of an insult to be called one back then.

  • @kurtdreyer4995
    @kurtdreyer4995 Před 2 lety +18

    Never could afford them when I was a kid but they were cool as hell.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +1

      Same here. Nacho and I had knocks off If I remember correctly. Thanks for watching Kurt!

    • @joek600
      @joek600 Před 2 lety

      strangely in Greece LA GEAR were the affordable ''brand/cool'' shoes, while Nike or Reebok cost almost twice the price

  • @surgezoom7079
    @surgezoom7079 Před 2 lety +5

    whut... 6:07
    so la gear was involved also 🤔

  • @reezevlog
    @reezevlog Před 2 lety

    i grew up with this brand plus others like British Knights, Admiral, Topper…all gone……great video..nostalgic..walking down memory lane

  • @atefelabed8365
    @atefelabed8365 Před 2 lety +1

    Very interesting. I was a teenager in the late 80s early 90s and wore LA Gear sneakers, they were so cool at the time and I always wondered what happened to the brand.

  • @Unknowncurrancy
    @Unknowncurrancy Před 2 lety +18

    I have never heard of LA Gear before, such a spectacular presentation, thanks Nacho and Brian, can't wait to a new upload

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +1

      I’m glad you liked the video anyway Haider. Thank you 🙏🙏

    • @Turk_2023
      @Turk_2023 Před 2 lety

      I think Karl Malone wore LA Gear in the 90s

    • @JDubThaMenacePCB
      @JDubThaMenacePCB Před 2 lety +2

      They were big on the Westcoast

  • @louisalexander2647
    @louisalexander2647 Před 2 lety +10

    Damn Robert had 2 great runs in life. To have a popular brand and rise fast. Then had a few hard times, then stated a new company and became just as big or bigger. Depending on who you ask. Just incredible.

    • @MyCatInABox
      @MyCatInABox Před 2 lety

      Man- No kidding...
      Your lucky if your business makes a big impact/profit even once, nit to mention twice.

  • @kmotch
    @kmotch Před rokem

    Those black LA lights were the exact kicks I had back in the early 90s. Huge nostalgia.

  • @VintageBlake
    @VintageBlake Před 2 lety +1

    What a throw back! I had a couple pairs of LA Gear Regulators, everyone did. We always got in trouble for pumping them up and then the loud "hiss" releasing the pressure in class. There was also Vans, Ellesse. What happened to Vision Street Wear and Soaps?

  • @nicotasconi7781
    @nicotasconi7781 Před 2 lety +4

    I used to had one. Back then in 1996 in Malaysia, LA Gear were categorized as a premium shoes because of it prices.
    Thanks Nacho Average Finds for this great information

  • @eduardoromero5629
    @eduardoromero5629 Před 2 lety +3

    My uncle came from the US and brought a lot of shoes, one of them was a pair of white, low top LA Gears that went to my dad. I didn't like them too much to be honest but my dad says that was the best pair of shoes he's ever had lol. Nice video man.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +1

      Thanks Eduardo! Your uncle is awesome for hooking lacing you guys up with some kicks.

    • @eduardoromero5629
      @eduardoromero5629 Před 2 lety

      @@NachoAverageFinds he brought a lot of sneakers, one of them was a pair of Nike Air Flight that went to me. Loved them

  • @mariekaufmann7437
    @mariekaufmann7437 Před 2 lety +2

    The nostalgia is all about the lights for me. I remember my cousin got a pair and I was super jealous.

  • @clifforddean232
    @clifforddean232 Před 2 lety +1

    As a Canadian, I loved L.A. Gear the light up ones as a kid back in the 90's. That love made me buy some British Knights and the classic K-Swiss all whites.

  • @legendarynoobz
    @legendarynoobz Před 2 lety +3

    LMAO I remember wearing those light up shoes as a kid 🤣

  • @Sukiyaki3174
    @Sukiyaki3174 Před 2 lety +4

    You didn’t talk about their famous “street hikers” line. Those were the precursor to the Timberland fashion in Hip-Hop music during the 90’s.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety

      Yes you’re correct. The street hikers are actually my favorite LA Gear line. Just ran out of time during the production process. Thanks for watching!

    • @jesuscastro2861
      @jesuscastro2861 Před 2 lety

      I had a pair very popular in the hood...right before Timberlands...i think this is when they reached their peak...those boots were everywhere for a quick minute

  • @BeatleDustino
    @BeatleDustino Před rokem

    I had a pair of Regulators. That exact color way you showed. I seem to remember another pair of LA Gears I owned too. But soon after I got some Jordan VI’s and never looked back.

  • @ctcards2636
    @ctcards2636 Před 2 lety

    I had a pair of the LA lights back when I was young. When the shoes had worn out we took the light thing out of the shoes, was interesting they had mercury that moved to make the light function. Thanks for posting this video, id always wondered what happened to LA Gear.

  • @thabomboneni2994
    @thabomboneni2994 Před 2 lety +3

    Michael didn’t even wear the jacket he was given during the presentation, that was a big red flag

    • @mechajay3358
      @mechajay3358 Před 2 lety +1

      Yeah looking back it didn't make sense that Michael, who's known for his Loafer shoes, to team up with a Sneakers brand.

  • @rogelioybarra4068
    @rogelioybarra4068 Před 2 lety +7

    I remember wearing LA gear shoes with the lights in the bottom heel those things where 🔥🔥🔥🔥

    • @hankdatank09
      @hankdatank09 Před 2 lety

      I had both the white and the black pairs. I loved those shoes.

    • @rogelioybarra4068
      @rogelioybarra4068 Před 2 lety

      @@hankdatank09
      Hell yeah
      Memories

  • @SimplySergMX_arts
    @SimplySergMX_arts Před 2 lety

    I had those black light up shoes , wow 😯 I had forgotten about the brand , nostalgia right there!!

  • @thrivewithgj
    @thrivewithgj Před 2 lety +2

    I had LA Gear shoes when I was young back in the 90's but my lovable dog played with it and found it damaged the next day. I cried so much😔😅

  • @christiandaher4066
    @christiandaher4066 Před 2 lety +9

    I had a pair of Regulators and my friend had the Catapults. I really liked them and especially the licence plate hang tags. Maybe a Troop video would be good I had a pair of Pro Performance in the early 90s and loved the badge on the front. Would be surprif Nike didn't take legal action against them as all thier shoes looked like Jordans. Great video and it just goes to show how many of these companies are on the edge of bankruptcy and they either make it like Nike did or create another company that makes it like Sketchers, which I have just learned were the LA Gear guys. Crazy!

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +2

      Thanks Christian! The Catapults are also my favorite silhouette even though they're def just a rip off of some Jordans haha. We will do a Troop video at some point.

    • @christiandaher4066
      @christiandaher4066 Před 2 lety

      @@NachoAverageFinds don't know if I'm imagining this but didn’t the catapults make a clicking sound which was the mechanism working? Also the release valve on the regulators make a better and louder sound than Reebok pumps. Can you tell I've been thinking about LA Gear since I watched the video... even had a look through some old things to see if I had saved the hang tag, but no luck.

  • @pimpwitnohoes
    @pimpwitnohoes Před 2 lety +4

    The LA Gears that I remember from the early 90s were their LA Lights that lit up with every step. They were so frickin popular in Australia 30 years ago!

  • @johanpeiper5908
    @johanpeiper5908 Před 2 lety

    Soon as I seen the LA lights I remember sat down in school assembly and as kids walked in you would notice the lights.. I had both..I really liked my LA pumps..they were so comfy.

  • @petegomez5280
    @petegomez5280 Před 2 lety +1

    Once again I dig yalls vids much love from Sa town Texas

  • @XX-ep5xt
    @XX-ep5xt Před 2 lety +3

    Those MJ shoes kinda sick tho

  • @dajerk7082
    @dajerk7082 Před 2 lety +7

    My memory of LA gear is when I never owned a pair.

  • @alexandru-mariosidor7980
    @alexandru-mariosidor7980 Před 2 lety +1

    Awesome content man as always!!

  • @tdogg2029
    @tdogg2029 Před rokem

    I don't recall that commercial but I do recall having a pair. I liked the awkward departure from the video and what sounded like dropping broom sticks.

  • @evancortez2
    @evancortez2 Před 2 lety +4

    LA Gear became huge because people would basically buy anything with "LA" or "California" on it

    • @malcorub
      @malcorub Před 2 lety

      I still wear LA Looks hair gel. I think in the 80's it was when people regularly started calling Los Angeles, LA. It was very marketable...nowadays and starting in the mid 90s LA's reputation is tarnished.

    • @rookmaster7502
      @rookmaster7502 Před 2 lety

      At the time LA and California stood for trendy, innovative fashion, hip and sporty lifestyle. The California Dream.

  • @joeykelly5642
    @joeykelly5642 Před 2 lety +4

    Good video as always! Until I found this channel, I only knew LA Gear for that incident where one of their shoes fell apart during a basketball game. Didn’t know they were 3rd in the industry at one point, and never heard about that deal with MJ!

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +1

      Glad we could shed some light on that part of footwear history. Yeah they were front runners here in the US

  • @TJake-gs5jt
    @TJake-gs5jt Před měsícem

    I own a pair of black LA Gear with chains on the back heel..my friends used to love it so much ❤️

  • @jonathonbaker-guntang4163

    LA Gear was my favorite brand in the late 80s/early 90s.....I had so many of their products....Everything I could get my hands on.

  • @MexicanT28
    @MexicanT28 Před 2 lety +3

    Damn why wasn't I born in the 80s I'm 16 but feel like an older man like I like old school stuff and dress old school.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +3

      haha You might be young enough to see the invention of the time machine so hang tight

  • @sneakysneakkz
    @sneakysneakkz Před 2 lety +4

    I bought some LA Gears at Ross last year. Man! The memories those shoes brought back. Wow!

  • @KempTheReignman
    @KempTheReignman Před 2 lety

    My cousin had some L.A Gear shoes, don't remember what model, but they were high tops and something like a air window like Nike's have.
    There was also a local dance group here in Belgium in the 90's called B.B Jerome and the Bang Gang. They wore L.A Gears in there performances on tv. I thought they were kinda cool.

  • @brooklyncarmelena5755
    @brooklyncarmelena5755 Před 2 lety

    I have a framed 2 page long sideways ad for Michael Jackson's Unstopable LA Gear sneakers I took out of the centerfold of a children's fashion magazine in 1990. I also remember cutting my own records of my dj megamix records back in 1988 and used one of those round La Gear stickers that came with a pair of sneakers I had to cover the white label of the record I put out. Only my file copy of the record had this sticker on the label. Still have that record in my record collection.

  • @stevenavalos4395
    @stevenavalos4395 Před 2 lety +4

    How does this have 1k views ???! This channel is so underrated keep up with the work and videos !! 💯

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +1

      That makes me feel so good. Thank you noticing the hard work and effort that we put into this. Hope all is well Steven! 🤟

  • @wilder7198
    @wilder7198 Před 2 lety +9

    I had those LA Gear Lights and I loved them. All those hoop shoes were awesome too but after Michael Jackson and the move back to girly fitness shoes, I was done with the brand. I don't see any comeback for the the brand and I hate skechers. But great, great history video. It was such a cool time travel imo. Ducking loved it 💯🔥🔥🔥👍

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +1

      What up Big Max! Thanks Brodie. I’m glad you enjoyed it man

  • @Shaggy91ra
    @Shaggy91ra Před 2 lety +2

    Just as always an amazing content ❤️

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety

      Thank you Amir. Appreciate you taking the time to watch brotha

  • @DeadBear1311
    @DeadBear1311 Před 2 lety

    It wouldn't surprise me if they did make a comeback. When I was a kid, Champion was sold at Walmart, now it's in the malls and outlets all expensive AF.

  • @ericwesche7707
    @ericwesche7707 Před 2 lety +6

    I remember and had a pair or two of those LA light up shoes. I may be misremembering but wasn’t Ron Artest (Metta World Peace) going to do a huge deal with LA gear and was all ready to go and then the “malice at the palace” happened? I feel like he talked about that in a interview somewhere.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety

      I don't know but that would have been epic for this video if they did sign him and then malice at the palace happened. Imagine Ron Artest punching people in light up kicks haahha

  • @TheRetroManRandySavage
    @TheRetroManRandySavage Před 2 lety +3

    6:13 yikes! 😬

  • @sebdrost3400
    @sebdrost3400 Před 2 lety

    Love the content. That beautifull pair of ZXs in the back better be a hint to the new video😉.

  • @bruceadamsjr.2901
    @bruceadamsjr.2901 Před rokem

    90’s LA Gear memory . White, neon green, neon pink high tops with with the same tri-colored laces with the lights . 3 individual laces you had to tie together. Ah!

  • @Jess-zx9ov
    @Jess-zx9ov Před 2 lety +3

    I thought I was the coolest kid with my purple light ups back in the day 😎

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety

      haha I'm almost certain you WERE the cool kid back in the day with those

  • @chawenhalo0089
    @chawenhalo0089 Před 2 lety +6

    Man, I would sell my granma for adult size good quality well designed light up kicks.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +1

      haha It would be cool if someone did this again

    • @tonysmith4702
      @tonysmith4702 Před 2 lety

      Lmao facts

    • @chawenhalo0089
      @chawenhalo0089 Před 2 lety

      @@NachoAverageFinds That's it, I'm drilling holes in my NB 997's and putting red led for left foot and green for right foot (just like Kickers when I a kid).

  • @er4767
    @er4767 Před 2 lety

    I'm from the UK and LA gear were also popular here in the 90s. Everyone wanted the double laces

  • @yesmanyrangel9328
    @yesmanyrangel9328 Před 2 lety +3

    I was born in 92 so I do remember light up shoes were the shit back in the day lol I know I had some but I do not remember if it was from this brand lol

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +2

      There were Payless knock offs which are the ones I had haha

    • @The3nd187
      @The3nd187 Před 2 lety

      @@NachoAverageFinds I remember my mom bought me a pair from payless too. I don't think they were knockoffs because I would only get my shoes from payless and I always got LA Gears.

  • @lazarorodriguez5161
    @lazarorodriguez5161 Před 2 lety +4

    Thank You 🙏 for this as a little kid of the early 90’s I remember seeing MJ wearing LA GEAR and seeing on episodes of Saved By The Bell......As ALWAYS GREAT JOB.....if I may give a suggestion for your next videos it should be on TROOP(1980’s Brand LL COOL J wore a lot), AVÍA(Similar To LA GEAR) and Le Coq Sportif(my Uncle as teenager in the 80’s here in Queens NY had a lot of there Tracksuits)
    THANK YOU 🙏

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +1

      Thanks Lazaro!! It's def time to start covering some of those 80s sneakers. Throw BK Knights and Pony in there as well.

    • @lazarorodriguez5161
      @lazarorodriguez5161 Před 2 lety

      @@NachoAverageFinds OF COURSE forgot about those brands. Remember how they came back in the early 2000’s had a couple pairs of Pony....Another Dope shoe are Pro-Keds

  • @hkwonggary3578
    @hkwonggary3578 Před 2 lety +1

    That's Great episode ; is it possible talk about "AirWalk" remember time in high-school yrs wear it as skateboard shoes , It felt so cool that time !!

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety

      Thanks Gary! Yeah definitely remember AirWalk. We definitely gotta cover more skate shoes soon

  • @F30586
    @F30586 Před 2 lety

    LA Gear, British Knights, K Swiss, FiLa, Pony, Jimmy Z, Ocean Pacific (OP), Vision Street Wear, Mervyns, Miller’s Outpost, KB Toys, Circuit City, The Good Guys…just a few shoe and clothing brands and stores I remember from my time growing up in the 80’s and 90’s. I was born in ‘78.

  • @macewbee
    @macewbee Před 2 lety +3

    Thanks for posting this I never really heard of this brand.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +2

      Wow glad we could introduce you. This brand was huge in the 90s here in America. Thanks for watching man!

  • @ArmaniTVWK
    @ArmaniTVWK Před 2 lety +3

    It’s 1991, I’m 5 years old and about to embark on the journey of kindergarten, all I can remember was a pair of black and red LA Lites that I kept peeking in the closet to go in the box to see them 😆😅 this was 1991 and that feeling of knowing you had something really kool and not being able to wait to put it or then on. Classic! Have nothing bad to say about LA Gear and if you’re a true 80s baby who grew up in the 90s you can’t downplay this company or any of its efforts. Put it this way lol those bigger companies released a lot of ugly ass sneakers NOBODY from where I’m from wore lmao I mean to each his own but at least LA Gear had all hits by putting their own twist on what was already trending, pure genius for that time frame. ✌️😊

  • @Dav2112
    @Dav2112 Před rokem

    I used to have a pair of LA Gear pumps in the 90s, loved those kicks.

  • @80amnesia
    @80amnesia Před rokem

    i had 2 pairs of la gears back in 80s/90s, loved them

  • @wendelllabandilo2155
    @wendelllabandilo2155 Před 2 lety +3

    Never knew that such a brand existed. Now I know. 🙏

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +1

      I appreciate you watching even though you didn’t know about the brand. Thanks Wendell!

  • @jmsanchez5989
    @jmsanchez5989 Před 2 lety +5

    Do some more skate brands like Fallen, Emerica etc or other ones that are no longer around.

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety +2

      Good idea. Thanks for watching JM

    • @luisrobles9695
      @luisrobles9695 Před 2 lety

      Yeah be cool to do story on Fallen shoes

    • @je3229
      @je3229 Před 2 lety

      Fallen’s making shoes again I believe. Comeback story would be cool.

  • @2dthoughts
    @2dthoughts Před 2 lety +1

    Do you have a video about British Knights or Kappa?
    Maybe Cappa?
    (the shoes with the 2 sets of laces and all the college colors and I want to say branding). I remember everyone having those in school

  • @jesuscastro2861
    @jesuscastro2861 Před 2 lety

    From what I remember for just a quick second the LA Gear boots were popular in the hood...even Nike came came out with a boot that was dope too...i would say around 89-90 just before Timberland spread like wild fire

  • @Stolas1777
    @Stolas1777 Před 2 lety +7

    “He will touch the children of all ages all over the world” lmao that one aged like warm milk

  • @edsongomez8011
    @edsongomez8011 Před 2 lety +5

    Those early shoes were really well made. Quality leather and those double laces were dooe

    • @NachoAverageFinds
      @NachoAverageFinds  Před 2 lety

      That's awesome to hear. As a kid, I didn't pay attention to stuff like that haha Thanks for watching Edson1

  • @DanielSzilagyi
    @DanielSzilagyi Před 2 lety

    Since I'm not from the US I totally don't recall these but thanks for the history lesson guys!

  • @AdrianGrant
    @AdrianGrant Před 2 lety

    This was dope! Subbed!!!

  • @angelloretto
    @angelloretto Před 2 lety +3

    6:08 that phrase did not aged well...

  • @filipzaitsov4730
    @filipzaitsov4730 Před 2 lety +11

    Michael really took that ”touching all the children”-part a bit to literally.

    • @belindauo
      @belindauo Před 2 lety

      No, he didn’t. Fool. It was a terrible speech that should have never been made.

  • @MegaCunnie
    @MegaCunnie Před 2 lety +1

    Great video. Always on point. C

  • @yankrob
    @yankrob Před 2 lety

    Great informative video

  • @rabbigrape
    @rabbigrape Před 2 lety +4

    As a teen back in the 80's I can tell you LA Gear was NEVER as cool as the other shoes around them. They were "blah" looking.