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Rare and valuable trainers worth up to £463 you could find in charity shops and the exact details to spot
Find out how you can check if your trainers are rare and valuable
THERE is huge demand for rare and collectable trainers.
Some brands and styles are highly sought after, fetching thousands of pounds at auction or on reselling sites.
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In fact, a pair of trainers worn by legendary basketball player Michael Jordan during his first season with the Chicago Bulls sold for a whopping $1.47m (£1.1m).
Of course, you're highly unlikely to find a pair of shoes worn by Michael Jordan - but there are still plenty of designs that will fetch you a hefty amount of money.
The most sought-after trainers are often those created in partnership with artists, celebrities or athletes.
There can be so much demand for these collaborations that the whole run is often sold within minutes using a lottery system, with non-refundable deposits just to enter.
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Collectors may also spend good money on vintage classics, iconic brand releases, rare colourways, designer collaborations and limited-edition collaborations.
Nike often tops the list of most valuable trainers thanks to its high-profile collaborations, but Puma, Adidas, Vans and Converse can also be desirable.
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Reselling site eBay said the top most searched for brands last summer were Adidas, New Balance, Sketchers, Nike and Converse.
Other lesser-known brands including On Running and HOKA have also become more popular.
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Now, you may be wondering whether the trainers you have at home or that you've spotted in a charity shop could be worth something.
Rather helpfully, shoe reselling marketplace StockX has put together a list for The Sun of trainers that have been going up in value.
Here are the top sellers...
Jordan 1 Retro High '85 OG Bred
Selling for: $480 (£375)
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The Air Jordan 1 Retro High '85 OG Bred, released just this year, brings back one of the most iconic colourways in trainer history.
The colourway was famously "banned" by the NBA back in the 80s, although the details of what exactly happened are debated.
The trainers apparently broke NBA rules as they had too much black and red in their design - something that had an impact on their sponsorships and endorsements.
It's said that every time basketball legend Michael Jordan wore them on court, Nike had to pay a $5,000 fine because of the rule-breaking design.
The design has now come to symbolise rebellion and style.
It originally retailed for $250 (£195) and there are just 10,000 pairs worldwide, making it one of the rarest Jordan 1 releases in years.
Nike Astro Grabber SP Bode Black Coconut Milk
Selling for: $339 (£265)
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This design is part of a collaboration between Nike and New York-based label Bode.
The football shoe has a retro black and coconut colourway and is an update of the original design from 1974.
It also has heritage charms on its laces, one of a silver baseball and another of a gold football.
It originally sold for $160 (£124) but it's now going on StockX for an average price of $339 (£265).
Nike SB Dunk Low Verdy Visty
Selling for: $352 (£275)
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Here's another example of a collaboration being popular among sneakerheads.
This one is a collaboration between Nike and Japanese artist Verdy.
The design is inspired by Verdy's character Visty, a fluffy monster with grey, blue and pink fur.
This pair has a fuzzy, hairy texture on the toe box, mid panel, tongue, and heel collar.
It originally retailed at $135 (£106) but has now more than doubled in price.
Nike Air Force 1 Low Cactus Plant Flea Market White
Selling for: $280 (£219)
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These all-white trainers are a reinterpretation of the classic Air Force 1 Low.
They have quirky detailing with design influences from both Nike and American design and fashion brand Cactus Plant Flea Market.
The right shoe features "AIR" in bubble letters on the outer side panel, while "SUNSHINE" wraps around both sides of the left shoe.
They're selling for a cool $280 (£219) on StockX after originally retailing for $150 (£117).
Adidas Gazelle Indoor Bad Bunny San Juan
Selling for: $251 (£196)
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Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny has put his name to this collaboration with Adidas, so it's no surprise these are popular.
The trainers pay homage to his birthplace with the name "San Juan", and the colourway of white, blue and red represents the nation's flag.
They were released in June last year, selling for $140 (£109).
That means you could make almost £90 if you sold them on now.
Adidas AE 1 McDonald's All American
Selling for: $346 (£270)
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You might not have heard of the McDonald's All-American Games if you're in the UK, but these are an iconic part of high school basketball culture in the US.
These trainers pay homage to the games, with a colourway mirroring the McDonald's signature red, yellow and white branding.
It originally retailed for $120 (£94) but now goes for a huge $346 (£270) on StockX.
New Balance 1906R Jack Harlow Rose Runner (Special Box)
Selling for: $294 (£230)
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This marks rapper Jack Harlow's first collaboration with New Balance, and is an update on the original 1906R shoe.
It has a pink upper colourway with a metallic tint floral print and a chunky sea-green heel and sole.
It also comes in a limited-edition Rose Runner box, giving it more of a designer feel.
The shoe was originally sold for $180 (£141).
New Balance 1906L Metallic Silver
Selling for: $257 (£201)
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These shoes reimagine the classic New Balance 1906 as a slip-on loafer.
They have a futuristic silver and grey colour palette and come without laces.
The shoes have N-ergy cushioning underfoot for shock absorption.
They originally sold for $150 (£117).
ASICS GT-2160 Kith Marvel Villains Spider-Man/Venom Battle Spectra Pack Sealed Box (Comic Included)
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Selling for: $592 (£462)
If you can find these, you should be set to make a decent amount of money.
They are a two-pair set of athletic shoes in two gradient colour palettes of red, blue and black, and cream and black with purple-blue.
The lining features Spider-Man and Venom illustrations, while the left shoe has Marvel and ASICS branding.
The logos of Japanese athletic wear brand Kith and Fieg are on the right shoe.
The shoes, which originally sold for $350 (£274) also come with an exclusive comic book.
Vans LX Old Skool Bape ABC Multi-Camo
Selling for: $194 (£152)
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The Vans LX Old Skool Bape ABC Multi-Camo is a collaboration with Japanese streetwear label A Bathing Ape (Bape).
The left shoe has traditional green camo print on one side and in shades of blue on the other.
The right shoe has camo print in green and pink.
Plus, there's Bape's signature star logo across the side panels.
The design was first sold last year for $109 (£85).
Most popular trainers sold in the UK
Here are the most popular trainers sold in the UK on StockX this year:
- Air Jordan 1 Mid Light Smoke Grey - £99
- Nike Air Force 1 Low White 07 - £68
- Air Jordan 4 Retro Military Blue 2024 - £146
- Nike Air Max Plus 25th Anniversary - £125
- Air Jordan 4 Retro Bred Reimagined - £129
How can I sell my rare trainers?
Ideally your trainers should be unworn to fetch the highest price, or they should at least be in excellent condition.
Your trainers are likely to be worth more if they were limited edition or part of a collaboration, or if they have a particularly sought-after colourway.
To check whether your pair is worth anything, you could approach London Auctions' trainers department.
Their team of experts can provide a valuation for your pair.
It's worth noting, though, that if your trainers sell they will take a commission of 18% plus VAT.
Another option is to check how much your trainers are selling for on reselling sites like StockX, eBay, Depop and Vinted.
StockX doesn't require you to take pictures of the item or list it yourself - you'll just need to send it in for verification and they will do the rest.
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On eBay in particular you can toggle your search just to look for items that have actually sold so you can get an idea of how much people are willing to pay.
If you think your trainers are particularly rare, you could also approach Sotheby's.
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