Ripp Get Em created the Neon Kraze Air Force Ones for himself recently. These brightly colored AF1s were created in two weeks using seven neon hues for an explosion of color unrivaled on the custom shoe market. You can get in touch with Ripp Get Em today at rippgetem2@yahoo.com if you are interested in some bright sneakers for the summer.

The blending of seven neon colors may seem like a jumbled mess on paper. The designer defied the odds on the Neon Kraze Air Force Ones by finding the best color combinations possible. The neon blue Nike swoosh runs into a purple middle panel for the perfect synergy of darker tints. The interplay of green, yellow and white within the eyelets may seem elementary but this trio of light colors acts in contrast to the darker middle panels.

Ripp has promised something bigger and better than the Neon Kraze Air Force Ones in the future. I like the designer’s desire to improve on his past work but I would be happy to see the next generation of the Neon Kraze Air Force Ones. Ripp’s latest customs burst with yellows, oranges and blues that will stand out in the warm summer sun.

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The Barbershop Air Force Ones were recently posted to the Casey Custom Sneakers website linked here. These custom AF1s were designed as part of a five pack of customs for a fashionable wedding party. The Barbershop Air Force Ones may seem like a simple concept but Casey Custom Sneakers approached these customs with his usual commitment to excellence.

The middle panels on the interior and exterior sides of both shoes feature old-school barber poles. I liked the simple white backdrop for these poles, allowing the central design elements to speak for themselves. Casey Custom Sneakers completed the barbershop effect on these custom AF1s with a series of scissors on the tongues.

The barbershop look would not have landed without Casey Custom’s creative use of color. The heel wraps are finished in red and white stripes to complement the blue outsoles. The clean design of the Barbershop Air Force Ones shows the sophisticated composition and painting skills of Casey Custom Sneakers.

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The current first-round matchup in the 2009 Clash of the Customizers is between KustomKid and QustomQueen. KustomKid’s entry in the contest is the Thor Air Force Ones, based on the long-time Marvel Comics character. You can see additional photos and look at other first-round contests by looking at the Clash of the Customizers website linked here.

KustomKid used the modern incarnation of Thor as the inspiration for these custom AF1s. The redwood pattern on the Nike swoosh is based on the handle of Thor’s famed hammer. KustomKid recreated the character’s metallic body suit on the heel wraps and toes, showing a good eye for design as well as a skilled hand. The toe boxes and middle panels are painted red to match Thor’s cape.

The designer went the extra mile with the Thor Air Force Ones by customizing the insoles. The left insole features the familiar Marvel Comics logo in large lettering while the right insole shows Thor in action. You will see QustomQueen’s entry in the Clash of the Customizers tomorrow but take time to savor KustomKid’s hard work on the Thor Air Force Ones today.

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Brahm Wachter’s New England roots shine through the Fenway Park Air Force Ones pictured below. The Fenway Park Air Force Ones celebrate the storied home of the Boston Red Sox, which opened in 1912. I came across photos of the Fenway Park Air Force Ones at the Brahm Wachter Sneaker Design Studios Facebook page linked here.

The toe box features the Red Sox logo in its old-school glory, set against a green backdrop similar to the famed Green Monster. Wachter wrote various phrases in his signature block lettering including “7 Time World Champions” and “Founded 1912″ across these sneakers. The Fenway Park Air Force Ones save the best for last with the Green Monster depicted on the heel.

The heel wrap features the familiar left-field wall complete with Boston skyline in the background. The red sky completes the Red Sox theme and shows how crazy the city of Boston gets for David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and other Red Sox heroes. For the Boston Red Sox faithful throughout the world, the Fenway Park Air Force Ones capture all that is great about this storied franchise.

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Casey Custom Sneakers is designing to his full potential with the Smurf Air Force Ones pictured above and below. I found the Smurf Air Force Ones at the Casey Custom website linked here and couldn’t wait to get these shoes in front of MAS readers. If you loved the adventures of Papa Smurf, Smurfette and Brainy Smurf, you will love the Smurf Air Force Ones.

The designer started with white uppers and blue soles in honor of the Smurf’s white hats and blue skin. Casey Custom painted scenes of the Smurfs avoiding the evil acts of Gargamel on the exteriors of these custom AF1s. The interior sides show the Smurfs at their smurfiest, hanging out in their village in peace and harmony.

My favorite feature of the Smurf Air Force Ones is the full-length image of Gargamel on the tongue. The scheming, cackling Gargamel in his black cloak stands out against the Smurf white color on the tongue. I have written about some of Casey Custom’s finest work but my love for 1980s cartoons leads me to say that the Smurf Air Force Ones represent his finest work.

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