Sole Collector Survey: Victor Cruz

What does Victor Cruz have to say about sneakers and life?

by Brendan Dunne

You can't talk about professional athletes in the sneaker game without mentioning Victor Cruz.

The sporting world is increasingly populated with players with solid sneaker collections, but Victor often seems a step ahead of the rest. Follow him on Instagram and you'll see him running around with KITH head honcho Ronnie Fieg, showing off a prized pair ahead of schedule, or big upping others' selections via the ongoing #CruzDayTuesday contest with Foot Locker (Don't forget that they've got the #WeekofGreatness going on right now). Here, Victor Cruz talks sneakers, his man cave and more.

The last pair of sneakers I got was the navy blue Air Python Lux. Those are one of my favorite silhouettes and I'm happy I got a pair of the blue joints. I'm waiting for the cream ones in the mail.


The athlete I look up to the most has to be Derek Jeter. I know he just retired but if you could paint the picture of what I want to do for this city in a short timepsan that he has of playing the sport, I think he's accomplished all of that. And I want to be able to do the same thing.



My earliest sneaker memory was my mom purchasing the Bred 12s for me. I begged her and I think I skipped out on like three meals at school just so she could save up for me and get me those Bred 12s. I still have them in my house, although they're an art piece now.


My proudest achievement had to be when my daughter was born. Seeing someone that comes from you, does the things you do, looks like you, walks like you, it's truly a blessing to have something like that in this world. For you to produce something like that is a dream come true.


The sneaker I have the most pairs of is the Columbia 11. I had them before from the Anniversary Pack and now I have at least six pairs of the 2014. I can't disclose where I'm gettin' my stuff, but I've got about six pairs on ice.

The place I go to unwind is my man cave in my brand new home that I've been in for about six or seven months now. I forget so much that I even have a man cave but sometimes it's like "Oh, let me go to the man cave and chill for a while". Definitely the man cave.


The most memorable game of my career has to be my first one. Has to be my first NFL game against the Jets in the pre-season as a rookie when I had three touchdowns and just kinda burst onto the scene.


A friend who has more sneakers than me is my man Sean Brown who works over at Jordan Brand. He's one of my good, good friends and he's been in the sneaker game a little bit. But it's kinda not fair cause he works at Jordan Brand.


The most I've had to do to get a pair of sneakers was send a guy to Switzerland for the "Gym Red" Jordan 1s. They were a Europe release only and I couldn't find them anywhere. One of my guys was like "I'm going to Europe, what do you need?" And I was like, "You gotta go to Switzerland." It was the last pair of size 11 and he found them for me and brought them back. I paid a hefty amount for them but it was all worth it.


The pair of sneakers that I'm looking forward to the most this season has to be those black and red-bottom Jordan 13s that are coming out for holiday, and obviously the "Pantone" 11s that are coming out for holiday as well. Those should be good, I'm excited to see those in person.


JR Smith's sneaker game is at the top. It's up there, but I don't know if it's competing with me yet. We've always had that battle but he's up there.