A Sneakerhead’s Guide to Spending Your Tax Refund
PublishedThis content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission.
Cop the Latest Sneakers
Shop at JD Sports
If you’re like most Americans, you’ve been scrambling to get your taxes done the last few days, or maybe even the last few hours if you really like living on the edge. Just file the extension, dog.
Whenever you do get it filed, you may be getting back a higher refund than normal this year. There were a bunch of new tax cuts in 2025, and the IRS didn’t update the withholding tables, which means you kept paying higher taxes and will get some of that back in a refund this year. We won’t get into the politics of it all or go too in-depth on the tax code, but we will help you spend that extra cash. You know, if you don’t have kids that need increasingly expensive daycare or a car that drinks increasingly expensive gas. Free moneyyyy.
The average American could see an income tax refund as high as $3,800 this year, so that leaves plenty of cheddar to sprinkle on the sneaker budget. Plus, if you shop at JD Sports, you know you’re getting the best deals on kicks and can still save some of that tax refund money to survive late-stage capitalism and possible apocalyptic conditions the rest of the year… in style.
Nike Air Max 95 Family Reunion Baltimore
You can find one of the hottest shoes of the past year, the Big Bubble Air Max 95, in a ton of different colorways, and many of them are on sale. This silhouette is so versatile and can be worn with pretty much anything and looks great. Find a colorway that speaks to you and never look back. We recommend these Baltimore-inspired I-95 editions with the Goadome-looking metal eyelets replacing the normal lacing system.
Air Jordan 1 Mid Chicago
Sneaker Twitter has moved on from the Cuff Commandments and jogger debates to a new polarizing discussion of the week: Jordan 1 Mids. This silhouette gets a bad rap, and everyone usually piles on saying they’re trash, but real sneakerheads know there are some diamonds in the rough when it comes to Mids. Take the Blue the Greats from the Fearless pack, for example. Or these Chicagos available right now. Uncuff those jeans and let ‘em lay down nice and easy on top of this iconic colorway, nobody will know the difference. I mean, we will, but live your life.
Air Jordan Flight Club Pack
One of the best ways to use your tax refund is spending that found money on things you never could when you were younger. The feelings of nostalgia balance out the dread of tax time beautifully. Miss out on being a member of Michael Jordan’s Flight Club when you were a kid, or before you were alive?
Now, you can join. Jordan Brand has brought back the Flight Club this year on two releases so far, a Jordan 4 and an AJ 1 High, both of which give classic Jordan vibes. You can find both in a bunch of great sizes on JD Sports right now. Welcome to the club.
Go Crazy, Make it Rain on Some Big Ticket Items
If saving money and being responsible isn’t your thing, we can definitely find something for you to blow the whole $3,800 on, too. We love a splurge.
Right off the top of my head, I’d go the auction route. You get the thrill of bidding and telling your friends you might become the proud new owner of a 1-of-1 Swoosh rocking chair signed by legendary pitcher Gaylord Perry, but you will likely lose the auction to someone far richer who isn’t using tax refund money to cop and then you get to keep your cash, so it’s kind of like getting the money a second time. Cha-ching. Steph Curry is currently auctioning off all of the pairs he wore during his sneaker free agency and the Reebok Questions he wore on Christmas day as a tribute to Kobe’s own sneaker free agency are currently at exactly $3,800. Lucky you.
Whichever way you decide to go, feel great about it. You worked extremely hard all year to have the government take like half your money, just to give some of it back when they realize they charged you too much but still make it seem like they’re giving you a gift. Enjoy it, treat yourself.
Download the Sole Retriever app to find some more tax refund goodies.
Drew oversees content at Sole Retriever and hates writing in the 3rd person soooo I'm going to stop. I've written for countless blogs and magazines, from Complex to XXL and everywhere in between. Spent a long time in LA, running content and working on branded collabs at The Hundreds. Now, I'm back home on the East Coast freezing my ass off. Email me at drew@soleretriever.com with scoops, story ideas, and size 13 heat.
