The Captain Creps Guide to Terms Every Sneakerhead Should Know

The sneaker world can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’re new to it. An industry that has been absolutely booming over the past few years, now everyone knows the difference between Air Jordan 1s and Dunks, and even your mum owns a pair of New Balances. With that said, the sneaker game is filled with countless words and phrases that you’ve probably never heard of, so to keep your trainer lingo in check, Captain Creps has come up with a guide filled with terms that you should know.

From terms like “Beater” and “Deadstock” all the way to acronyms like “WDYWT,” make sure you keep it locked here as we’ll be keeping this glossary continuously up-to-date! And while you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe to the FREE Captain Creps Sneaker Deals mailing list and follow our social media channels on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter.

Aglet: An Americanised way of saying lace tips. These are the little plastic or rubber bits that are found at the end of laces to stop them from fraying, but more premium pairs feature stainless steel aglets or even leather ones.

BIN: An abbreviation of Buy It Now. If you’re selling a pair of sneakers and you have a set price, this is the BIN price. With that said, some sellers will usually let you go ONO, which we’ll talk more about later.

BNIB: An abbreviation of Brand New In Box. Sometimes referred simply as NIB, these trainers are unworn and come with its original box, laces, and accessories.

Beater: We all have one or two of these. A beater is a shoe that you pretty much wear all day, everyday. Heading to the shops? Slip on the beaters. Taking the bins out? Get those beaters on. This is the pair that you don’t mind scuffing and scratching. 

Colourway: In America, this is written as colorway, and it’s just a term used to describe your sneakers combination of colours. Examples of this include Triple Black, Fire Red, and Obsidian. There are some absolutely bonkers colourway names out there, so keep a lookout.

Deadstock: The definition of this term has certainly evolved throughout the years, but right now it generally means a trainer that is 100% brand new and comes complete with the original box, laces, and accessories. Often abbreviated to DS, unlike BNIB, the shoebox has never been opened in its lifetime not even for photos.

F&F: If a sneaker is called F&F, it was made specifically for the friends and family of the collaborator. Extremely rare, be careful if you’re about to buy a pair of these as there’s a high chance that they could be fake.

FSR: An abbreviation of Full Size Run. This simply means that a colourway is available in every single size.

GOAT: An abbreviation of Greatest Of All Time. This term can be used to describe a sneaker or a collaborator. For example, Michael Jordan is often called the GOAT.

GR: An abbreviation of General Release. A silhouette or colourway that has been mass produced to meet demand. These pairs are available at most retailers and they usually do not sell out.

GS: An abbreviation of Grade School. Referring to a sneaker that has been made specifically for kids, these are bigger than PS and TD which we’ll talk a bit more about later.

Grail: A grail is a shoe that you have been trying to acquire for as long as you can remember. Sneakerheads usually have a few of these, but if there’s one specific pair that you would do absolutely anything for, you would call them the holy grail.

Hypebeast: If you’re the type of person who only buys stuff based on how hyped and how popular they are, chances are that you’re a hypebeast. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it usually means you don’t really have a personal aesthetic.

LE: An abbreviation of Limited Edition. Unlike GRs, these trainers have been produced in extremely limited quantities and are exclusively available at select retailers. They usually sell out in minutes.

LPU: An abbreviation of Latest Pick Up. A term usually used in sneaker forums or groups to show off what you have just bought.

OG: An abbreviation of Original. Referring to the original release of a shoe, while some models can be re-released, this term is specifically used to describe the first launch.

ONO: An abbreviation of Or Nearest Offer. If you’re selling a pair of trainers online, you would usually provide a BIN price. With that said, if there’s a little space for negotiation you can say ONO, so people can send you offers. Be careful though as some buyers tend to lowball.

PE: An abbreviation of Player Exclusive. If a shoe or silhouette is called PE, it has been made exclusively for athletes and will not to be released to the public. Like F&F, be careful if you’re about to buy a pair of these as there’s a high chance that they could be fake.

PS: An abbreviation of Preschool. Referring to a sneaker that has been made specifically for younger kids, these are smaller than GS but bigger than TD which we’ll talk a bit more about later.

Restock: Nothing too complicated about this term. When a trainer gets a restock it means that it was previously sold out but now it’s back in stock.

SE: An abbreviation of Special Edition. These are shoes that have been produced to celebrate a special occasion or an event.

Sample: Before a sneaker is released to the public, brands have to go through countless samples before it can officially launch. These are early prototypes that experiment with different colour combinations, materials, and even designs. Like F&F and PE pairs, samples will never release, so be careful if you’re about to buy a pair as there’s a high chance that they could be fake.

Sneakerhead: A term that describes you and me. If you’re someone who lives and breathes sneakers, then you’re a sneakerhead.

TD: An abbreviation of Toddler. Referring to a sneaker that has been made specifically for toddlers, these are smaller than GS and PS but bigger than straight up baby shoes.

TTS: An abbreviation of True To Size. When a trainer fits true to your usual size, they fit TTS.

VNDS: An abbreviation of Very Near Deadstock. If a sneaker shows very minimal wear and can pass as deadstock, they’re VNDS. Sometimes referred simply as NDS. 

WDYWT: An abbreviation of What Did You Wear Today. Usually posted on sneaker forums or groups, it’s a question that asks other sneakerheads what they have on feet. WOYF also works too, standing for What’s On Your Feet.

WMNS: An abbreviation of Womens. If a shoe has been made specifically for women, WMNS is usually placed right after the colourway name. These are usually a lot smaller, but they’re significantly bigger than GS, PS, and TD.

WTB: An abbreviation of Want To Buy. A term used by sneakerheads who want to purchase a specific trainer, colourway, or silhouette.

WTS: An abbreviation of Want To Sell. A term used by sneakerheads who want to purchase a specific trainer, colourway, or silhouette.