Sneakerplaats interview with Busterhede
Who (are you?), What (do you for a living?), Where (do you live?)
My name is Buster Amstrup Hede, I’m 41 years old and live just outside Copenhagen, Denmark. I work as an Operations Specialist at a big national bank. Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my wife, our two kids, and a bunch of amazing friends – some of whom I share a long-time passion for sneakers with.
When did your love for sneakers start and why do you love sneakers so much?
It all started back when I was a teenager skating. I skated a lot – even had a couple of sponsors – and anyone who’s ever been on a board knows how important a good pair of shoes is if you want to keep progressing. That’s where my love for sneakers began.
One of my favorite pairs back then was the Chad Muska pro model from Circa — the “CM703.” I pretty much had every colorway of those.
Do you remember your first pair of sneakers? Which pair was it?
I honestly can’t remember exactly, but I do remember the first pair that really kicked off my current collection — a pair of women’s Air Max 90s in white and purple. Since then, I’ve bought a lot of “stuff” over the years.
I think you have to go through that phase – buying different things, trying them out, and figuring out what you actually like and what fits your style. I did that, and now I know exactly what I’m looking for and why.
I should also mention that the Air Force 1 was the model that made me move from collecting skate shoes to collecting sneakers in general.
What’s your favorite brand and model?
Without a doubt, it’s the Nike Air Max 1 — the best sneaker in the world, if you ask me. It’s the pair that’s laid the foundation for so many other pairs over the years. The history, the design, the look, the fit — everything about it is just perfect. A true Tinker masterpiece. I honestly can’t imagine not wearing Air Max 1s.
How many sneakers do you have in your collection?
Right now, I’ve got around 130 pairs. I’ve been downsizing quite a bit over the past few years and really try to focus on quality over quantity. It’s not easy — I’m sure a lot of people reading this can relate – but my goal is to get it down to around a hundred pairs, give or take.
What’s your favorite pair from your collection?
My current top five in no particular order could be:
Air Max 1 OG Red, Air Max 1 x Patta “Chlorophyll”, Air Max 1 Urawa 1.0, Air Max 1 x Atmos “Animal” 1.0 and maybe the Air Max 1 x Atmos “OG Safari”
Which pair(s) are still on your wish list?
One pair I really need is the Air Max 1 “Cherrywood.” Without a doubt, it’s the one I dream about the most. I actually know a couple of pairs for sale in my size, but It’s just hard for me to pull the trigger on something that pricey… but we’ll see if that changes soon.
Do you have a favorite sneakerstore or -shop?
I buy almost all my pairs from other collectors or sneaker accounts on Instagram. Every now and then, I’ll grab a pair from an official store like Size?, Sivas or 43einhalb — but honestly, around 90% of my pickups come from other collectors or at Sneakerness.
Which brand and / or model would you never wear in your life? And why is that?
There are plenty of brands I could never see myself wearing — but if we’re talking sneakers, it has to be Skechers. I honestly can’t even describe how awful I think most of their pairs look. Sorry.
But I do appreciate diversity — everyone should wear whatever they like.
Which sneaker in your collection was the hardest to find/get?
I’d probably say some of my New Balance pairs — like the 998 “Hilltop Blues” and the 998 “Tannery.” Those were pretty hard to track down in good condition and in my size, but I got lucky once again thanks to Instagram.
What advice would you like to give to new sneakerheads?
I know it can be tough, but be real with yourself. Go with what feels right to you and fits your style. Enjoy the sneakers you already own — don’t try to convince yourself they’re nice; they should feel nice on their own. Connect with other sneakerheads through social media and in real life. And if someone’s not interested in connecting back, that’s fine — move on and find people who are. Just stay true to yourself all the way through.
What has been your biggest steal ever?
Hard to say, but I once picked up a pair of Air Max 1 “Flamingos” for around 30 euros at a local flea market — a pretty great find.
How much time a day / a week do you spend on “sneakers”?
II spend time on sneakers every day — some days for several hours, other days just a bit less. My life’s pretty wrapped up in sneakers, to be honest. It’s a little odd, but somewhere along the way, the hobby just turned into a lifestyle.
How do your loved ones feel about your sneaker lifestyle?
It’s all good. My wife’s a bit into sneakers herself, and my kids love their pairs too. It just feels natural — sneakers are simply a part of who we are as a family.
Where can people follow you on your socials? (Instagram, Facebook, etc)
@ busterhede on instagram, Threads and facebook.
Thanks for having me 🙂