Review: Diesel’s ‘Street Fighter’ Sneakers Are as Awesome as They Look

Last month, Diesel launched a line of limited edition sneakers that are inspired by five key characters in Street Fighter V. They certainly looked awesome, but the question is: are they awesome enough to justify a $200 price tag?

Diesel was kind enough to supply us with a pair of Street Fighter sneakers to check out, and I couldn’t resist going with the Ryu design. The “Hadoken” attack printed on the bottom was definitely a factor in my decision. After examining them up close, I can say that photos on the Internet simply don’t do them justice.

Right away, it’s obvious that the shoes are extremely well made. All of the sneakers in the collection are made with a high percentage of cow leather, with the Ryu design clocking in at 64-percent cow leather and 36-percent cotton. Other shoes in the collection feature a leather / polyester blend or, in the case of the M. Bison edition, have 100-percent leather uppers. Over time, I suspect that the leather will stretch and soften up, making the sneakers even more comfortable.

In addition to Ryu and M. Bison, the Diesel x Street Fighter collection includes sneakers inspired by Chun-Li, Nash, and Birdie. All of the color schemes are on point and each pair includes smaller details that are specific to the character. This includes patterns and emblems on the back of the shoe and the aforementioned special attack printed on the bottom. On that note, one of the details that was lost in Diesel’s original set of product images is the fact that the printing on the bottom of the shoe is covered in transparent rubber, which will prevent it from wearing away. The images in the gallery below will give you a better look at this feature and more.

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The materials used are certainly one factor in the high price tag, and exclusivity is likely another. Only 5,000 pairs of sneakers will be produced for the entire Diesel x Street Fighter collection. If you’re a sneaker collector, these shoes should definitely be on your radar. If you’re a huge Street Fighter fan with money to burn, these shoes should definitely be on your radar. Hell, if you just want a pair of awesome looking shoes that few people have, these should definitely be on your radar. Head on over to the Diesel x Street Fighter product page to order your favorite pair before they disappear.