'I've Just Got A Really Huge Obsession With Shoes'

By Mary Beth Walker

SEATTLE - Some people will do anything for a pair of shoes, including flying in from Denver and camping out on the streets of Seattle just so they can be the first to buy them!

No, we're not talking about an expensive pair of women's Manolo Blahnik high heels.

As of Thursday afternoon, roughly two-dozen people were camping outside the Niketown store for a pair of new running shoes.

But they're not your run of the mill Air Jordan shoes.

"It's an Air Max 95," explains Dominique Thomas while standing outside his tent at the intersection of 6th Avenue and Pike Street.

Thomas flew here from Denver a few days ago to claim the first spot in line.

"I got here Monday at like 4 a.m. I've just got a really huge obsession with shoes," he proudly admits.

Michael Miscannon flew in from Orlando, Nick Kaun traveled from Wisconsin, and one of their buddies made the trek from France -- all for a pair of Nike shoes.

"You guys flew into Seattle for a pair of shoes?" we asked in disbelief. "Oh yeah, the limitation on the shoe is so worth it!" said Thomas.

The Air Max 95's will only be sold at the Seattle Niketown store starting Friday at 10 p.m. That's right -- you can't get them at any other store, or in any other city.

"We came here blindly without knowing anything about the shoes, other than the fact it was a retro shoe and it was very colorful," said Miscannon excitedly.

Nike keeps the shoes under wraps for a reason.

"By keeping everything very secretive they build a lot of hype," Miscannon adds. He should know, he's been to several other limited shoe releases like this in other cities across the country.

He wants the shoes to add to his big collection -- and he wants the bragging rights over fellow "sneaker-heads."

"That's what a lot of people look for, they look for that 'wow' factor," he says. "We call it breaking necks, you know? When you turn your neck so hard your neck is broken. You're like 'Wow! I can't believe he's wearing those shoes!' "

Kaun agrees. "It's cool to know that you are one of the very few people that have it. You don't often have that opportunity to have something that limited shoe wise."

Nike won't say exactly how many Air Max 95 shoes will be available. But experts tell KOMO News they doubt the company made more than 200 pairs of the limited running shoes.