crooked tongues magazine News Features

The Reebok Insta Pump Fury deserves several leases of life. If the other brands can keep on whipping out their oddest designs whenever the mood takes them then — despite our overall aversion to most things laceless — this model deserves the most shine. It's Reebok's '90s masterpiece. 1994 was a year where the Jordan retros altered the industry, despite their initial lukewarm reception, and expensive shoes (Weren't these in the £105 region when they dropped?) like this were the objects of our affection. Fanboys in the far east really championed this model, but the full bladder concept still looks unique. Citroen yellow was our personal pick, and the Chanel hookup, reputedly "shelved" was a masterstroke that tops the current Emporio Armani line.

We love Furys. We especially love the Fury Road — a model that matches Nike's gloriously strange output during the same era. Little changes like visible heel Hexalite were something we could deal with. The sequels were no good, but they never killed our Pump Fury lust. This model even managed to fend off the failure of blister packed Insta Pump accessories. There was nothing like it on the market at the time, and it still stands alone as a seminal piece of wearable peculiarity.

And just as the original colours make a return to coincide with the launch of the extremely decent-looking Pump Fury 2010, the Fury gets an MA-1 jacket makeover to match the new Omni Lites and Pump Runners. It takes to this model the best too, with the quilted toe, a pick of black or olive concealing the blast of emergency orange, and appropriately hardwearing materials. The agelessness of the flight jacket doesn't contrast with the gimmickry of the shoe either, and the ribbed fabric at the rear evoking elasticated sleeves and waistbands is a killer touch. Very, very effective. Nice to see the world still hasn't caught up with the Pump Fury design. These should be arriving in the Crooked Tongues store shortly as part of a strong summer of Reebok retros and new additions...

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