Greats and Marshawn Lynch have a smart sneaker for black Friday

By Brad Bourque Published November 24, 2015

greats beastmode 2 beastmodechukka — Image used with permission by copyright holder

While some might be tempted by the long lines and crowded electronics stores on black Friday, Greats has something really special to celebrate the important shopping day, and you won’t even have to leave home to get it. The Beastmode 2.0 Chukka is the second collaboration between the direct-to-consumer shoe brand and the Seattle Seahawks’ running back Marshawn Lynch, and includes a chip for authenticating and tracking the limited edition kicks.

But let’s start with the shoes. While the shape is Greats’ standard Royale Chukka, how it’s dressed is anything but. The upper is wrapped in smooth black Italian nubuck, a classy choice that’s also surprisingly durable, a perfect fit for the wet Northwest winters. The dark shade is carried over to the Margom outsole for a clean look from top to bottom. It’s enhanced by gold patent leather on the heel tab, and in “B” on the tongues, with a full Beastmode print stamped on each heel.

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Each pair of the limited edition shoes also includes a smart tag that’s built with NFC and Bluetooth LE. After receiving your pair, you can register it with the Chronicled app as your very own, add it to your digital collection, and interact with other community members who own them. It’s a novel solution to the problem of counterfeit sneakers, and uses the same technology as bitcoin to store information about the movement of pairs, maintaining the authenticity through trades or resale.

The Beast Mode 2.0 Chukka will be available direct from Greats on Black Friday at 12:00 PM Eastern time. No word on exactly how many pairs will be available, but if you want one, it would be unwise to hesitate for too long. Each pair retails for $199, and depending on how Lynch does the rest of the season, the resale price could climb even higher.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Brad Bourque is a beer and sneaker writer, retired fantasy football commissioner, and devout Portland Timbers. On the…

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