Tooling
Definition
The midsole and outsole construction of a sneaker. Brands sometimes swap tooling between models, putting one shoe's upper on another's sole unit to create hybrid designs.
In Context
“Nike put Jordan 4 tooling under a completely different upper and honestly it works way better than it should.”
Category
First Letter
More General Terms
Deadstock
A sneaker that has never been worn and is still in its original condition, typically with the box and all original accessories. Deadstock is the gold standard for collectors and resellers.
DS
Abbreviation for Deadstock. Used in listings and conversations to indicate a shoe has never been worn. "DS" is one of the most common terms in sneaker buy/sell/trade communities.
VNDS
Stands for Very Near Deadstock. The shoe has been tried on or worn once briefly, with no visible signs of wear. VNDS pairs are highly sought after as a more affordable alternative to DS.
PADS
Stands for Pass As Deadstock. A shoe that has been worn but is in such good condition it could be mistaken for deadstock. This term is subjective and sometimes debated in the community.
OG
Short for Original. Refers to the first release of a sneaker colorway, or can describe a sneaker that comes with all its original accessories (box, laces, hang tags). "OG All" means everything original is included.
Retro
A re-release of a classic sneaker from a previous era. Retros bring back popular silhouettes, sometimes with updated materials or slight design tweaks. Jordan Brand is known for its retro releases.