Do you go out to work, exercise, school, and run errands every day? What you need is reliable footwear that can give you both comfort and style. It is where Onitsuka Tiger excels. They have great style and undeniable comfort that makes users wanting for more.
When you use Onitsuka Tiger shoes, you will feel like it’s made and molded to cup your feet. It has a very distinct design that looks rustic and stylish. It is timeless and has clean and simple details. It is the reason why Onitsuka Tiger is famous around the world.
The Onitsuka Tigers are not good for running because of their form and design. You might have Admix runner, which is perfect for running, but the rest are not. They designed it to be an athletic shoe in the beginning. But most of their footwear today excels in style and comfort.
There are more shoes from Onitsuka Tiger that they design for running. Some more examples are California 78 EX, Shaw Runner Classic, and GT DS Retro running shoes. These models are lightweight and breathable. They have improved cushioning that’s perfect for running.
They have explicit labels. It is to ensure precise details for those looking to buy one for proper running. The rest of the collection are offering style, comfort, and lifestyle branding.
The running shoes from Onitsuka Tiger are undoubtedly practical. They made it with advanced technology that helps prevent blisters. It makes your feet feel comfortable and well-ventilated. You can avoid blisters while you’re running under the heat of the sun.
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Is Onitsuka Tiger expensive?
Onitsuka Tiger shoes are ranging from $25 – $160 depending on the style and location. The average price per pair of shoes is between $75-$85. You can say that some shoes from Onitsuka cost more money than others, but most of them are not expensive.
In 2019, research showed that good-quality sneakers could range up to $250. Several factors play essential roles in the sales market. Those are celebrity marketing and social media marketing.
Celebrity-endorsed brands are much more expensive. But it is easier to sell to the target market than those that aren’t. Several influencers can sell and promote brands using their social media platforms. And this alone can increase popularity in no time.
Celebrities, influencers have a significant pull in the number of customers. It has a rapid increase, especially in 2020. It is when many used these platforms to sell, promote and advertise. These factors help determine and increase the prices of items.
One of the most popular Onitsuka Tiger shoes, the Mexico 66, retails at $160.00. Most of its best-sellers are below $300.
Look at some of Onitsuka Tiger’s best seller shoes. You can see here that they have excellent reviews from people. Thanks to the shoes’ comfort and clean style.
| Model | Price | Colors | Global Review |
| Mexico 66 Slip-on | $130 | Navy and off-white | 4.8-star rating |
| Mexico 66 | $160 | White, yellow, black, Birch | 4.6-star rating |
| Mexico 66 Paraty | $130 | Blue and Navy | 4.4-star rating |
| Ultimate 81 MO | $270 | Black, grey, and beige | 4.6-star rating |
| GSM | $150 | White | 4-star ratings |
Are Onitsuka Tigers Comfortable?
Kihachiro Onitsuka started the brand in 1949. He believes that people can change their life for the better through sports. He had superb ideas while making sneakers in his living room. He thought of ways to make the shoes effective on the basketball court.
Since then, he has worked with different athletes and companies. Non-stop collaborations to improve shoe technology and design it to cater to needs. In 1959, he improved the ventilation of the running shoes. It is to build comfort and prevent blisters for runners.
As years passed, the company continued its advances in its research. It improves the design and practicality of each model. As you can see on their website, they consider comfort, color, and coordination.
Onitsuka Tigers shoes are comfortable and breathable. They design each pair of shoes with a sock liner, making your foot fit well and add cushioning support. It is one of the reasons why the brand is famous.
Today, Onitsuka Tiger is using one of its timeless and unique fabrics and denim material. These materials went through many processes to meet the company’s standards. They also improved technology. They were ensuring that your shoes can withstand humidity and heat.
Their latest technology includes a 3M Thinsulate. It helps protect your feet in all weather conditions. It traps your body’s heat, yet it is light and still allows moisture, keeping your feet from smelling. You will see it in their boots collection.
Aside from this, they also worked on their Gel technology using FuzeGel. It is durable and stable that helps with comfort and bouncing. The ability for shock absorption will help you feel light. When walking, running, and jumping, your shoes can prevent joint pains.
Is Onitsuka Tiger a Luxury Brand?
Onitsuka Tiger has recently cooperated with luxury brands in the last two years. In 2019 and 2020, they worked with Givenchy and Valentino. Their ambassadors are Willow Smith and Will Smith, both famous and influential in the international scene.
Many people feel like if celebrities use the brand, you can consider them a luxury brand. But being a luxury brand has many identifiers. First, it should be non-essential, it should be of high quality, and usually, the price is sky-high.
Aside from that, it should also be exclusive, which is why the price is high. It should also be rare, and the symbol or the brand image should work as a fashion statement. It makes anyone who wears their brands prestigious and elite members of society.
Onitsuka Tiger is not a luxury brand. They have in the past worked with big brands and celebrities. And they take pride in producing premium quality shoes that provide comfort and design.
The price range of their shoes is not high. It is still matching the usual price range of other leading brands, even after the appearance of the Onitsuka tiger in Movies. Or used by the famous Bruce Lee, the price did not increase sky-high.
It is undeniable that the Onitsuka Tiger collection has good quality and aesthetics. It has a positive consumer perception. Though they don’t consider it a luxury brand, it is still a well-known high-end shoe brand worldwide.
Is Onitsuka tiger the same as ASICS?
You have probably come across Onitsuka tiger and ASICS in one of your online shopping. You likely have noticed the similarities in design. You thought to yourself, this looks familiar. You find yourself looking at different brands but having the same distinct pattern.
And you ask yourself, is this a plagiarism issue? Did someone stole their design and used it? Someone needs to report it and call the other brand out. Or perhaps that reaction seemed dramatic. Don’t worry, though; both brands are from one corporation.
ASICS was originally Onitsuka. In 1977, three different corporations focused on manufacturing sportswear and goods. They are GTO Co., JELENK Co., and Onitsuka CO., merged; that’s when ASICS was born.
These three companies decided to use their knowledge and experience. They worked together in manufacturing sporting goods and attire. They combined forces in studying and searching. They looked for different ways to improve the technology of athletic shoes.
It started with Onitsuka Tiger’s first basketball shoes. It aims to make basketball players play more effectively in court. They also have a state-of-the-art material that prevents blisters and enough ventilation while running.
ASICS still has its vintage signature. They continue to sell it under Onitsuka Tiger’s brand. The company earns millions yearly. Thanks to their witty branding, excellent quality, and rare designs. It was a brilliant and fruitful merging between the three companies.
Where are Onitsuka Tiger shoes made?
Onitsuka Tiger is a Japanese Brand, and they first made it in Kobe, Japan. Today, the production site is in Tottori prefecture in Japan. They then send it to Osaka for a thorough and meticulous process of detailing happens.
The process includes washing, dyeing, and painting the shoes. It is all done by hand. To assure quality and accuracy, local artisans will craft it carefully. Then an experienced artisan oversees the process. Making sure that every single pair of sneakers are up to the quality and standard of the company
They used several materials like leather, rubber, and synthetic sole. They also used advanced shoe technology. They have a sock liner, cushioning, and suede that covers the user’s wide variety of options.
Recently, the company decided to trim the cost of shoemaking. They have Vietnam handle a part of their production. They run about 40% of the total production of ASICS shoes. It also has small factories in China and Indonesia. But primary production remains in Japan.
What is the meaning of Onitsuka?
Onitsuka is a Japanese Surname, and it is the surname of the mind behind Onitsuka Tiger. Kihachiro Onitsuka is the founder of Japan’s Onitsuka Tiger. He was born in 1918. With only four employees, he started his show company.
His hard work and perseverance help him improve and innovate shoe technology. It’s amazing how he came across ideas in advancing athletics shoes.
His inspiration about the Basketball shoes came in a rather unusual instance. He was having a meal, eating an octopus salad when he noticed that the sucker of the octopus had a firm grip. He realized that he could mimic it and make basketball shoes have that tight grip on the court.
With the realization, he could make one of the most effective basketball shoes in Japan then. Onitsuka Tiger soared and became well-known from then on. Basketball players used it in the Olympics. It was the start of Kihachiro Onitsuka’s road to global branding.
He didn’t stop there. He was also inspired one day while he was starring his wrinkled toes. He thought that the leading cause of blisters on the feet of long-distance runners is heat. As you have imagined, he worked hard to address this problem and innovated a technology to help solve it.
Two years passed when the Ethiopian athlete Abebe Bikila won the race in a marathon held in Osaka, Japan. It is the very first time that the legendary champion wears footwear in his competition.
He continued to work and innovate to improve his brand. It is up until the merging of three companies and became ASICS. Mr. Onitsuka always tries his best to solve problems that athletes are experiencing. Through his knowledge and experiences in show technology.
Kihachiro Onitsuka was 90 years old when he died in 2007. Before that, he was unstoppable. His presence and tireless experiment improve the company continuously.
And as they always say, the rest is history, after 72 years. The company is still standing strong and is famous around the world. You will see people wearing its signature stripes on the streets and get positive feedback for its quality.