Zips Gear

[WeRise225]

4 hours ago, Zips1991 said:

I forgot to mention it at the time and maybe just thought it wasn't important but it seems to fit in this thread. On a recent Board of Trustees meeting that I watched part of, Goodrich stated that this is the last year of our Nike deal and he hinted we would be signing with someone else. He said something along the lines of "Nike doesn't value us as much as we value ourselves". I would like to go back to Adidas but I'm thinking someone like Under Armour may be more likely. As they have fewer schools in their portfolio and we could be a higher priority.

Maybe they will have another surplus sale if they switch brands again. Most of my Zips merch was purchased at the one they had when they left Adidas. 

[HoopsFan03]

4 hours ago, Reslife4Life said:

I don’t want under armour because it puts us on the same level as Kent. If we can still use LeBron I’m all for going back to adidas 

Nike basketball shoes are far superior. That's one of the many reasons Kent still sucks. 

[Zippy87]

11 hours ago, Zips1991 said:

I forgot to mention it at the time and maybe just thought it wasn't important but it seems to fit in this thread. On a recent Board of Trustees meeting that I watched part of, Goodrich stated that this is the last year of our Nike deal and he hinted we would be signing with someone else. He said something along the lines of "Nike doesn't value us as much as we value ourselves". I would like to go back to Adidas but I'm thinking someone like Under Armour may be more likely. As they have fewer schools in their portfolio and we could be a higher priority.

 

I'd be bummed to see us leave Nike, I absolutely love Nike gear and its quality. I'd rather them focus on getting out of whatever nonsensical Barnes and Noble contract they have that prevents them from selling a better selection of items than move away from Nike. 

[Reslife4Life]

11 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

 

I'd be bummed to see us leave Nike, I absolutely love Nike gear and its quality. I'd rather them focus on getting out of whatever nonsensical Barnes and Noble contract they have that prevents them from selling a better selection of items than move away from Nike. 

Yes the bookstore deal whatever it is is horrible. Literally every other college bookstore I have been to is better than ours. Butler which has an enrollment of 5000 has a store that blows ours out of the water

[Zippy87]

I hope this isn't a case of an AD changing to change so they can add something to their resume (Ex: Guthrie with the rebrand). I'm assuming how they value us relates to our contract amount. If it is a significant difference and the increase in money can be spent on the roster, then sure, let's change. But if it's close or something else not relevant, I hope he reconsiders. Nike is the premier basketball shoe provider. Jordan's, LeBron's, Kobe's, Sabrina's and even Ja's are very popular with young players. Having even a small connection to the greatest basketball player of all-time and being one of only a handful of schools to receive and wear his shoes isn't nothing either. 

[kreed5120]

When we were an Adidas school before the basketball team still had LeBron's. I wouldn't see why that would be an issue now if Groce sees value in keeping the brand connected to the basketball team.

[Hilltopper]

8 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

When we were an Adidas school before the basketball team still had LeBron's. I wouldn't see why that would be an issue now if Groce sees value in keeping the brand connected to the basketball team.

At that time, basketball had an exclusive deal because of Dambrot. That ship sailed.

[ewbrooman1]

I could care less who the contract is with. What I would like to see is moderately priced merchandise in Walmart, Target, Meijer, etc. I did find a decent long sleeve t-shirt at Giant Eagle on Howe Avenue that doesn't look like all the others, but that seems to be a one time thing. Still waiting for a gold hat with the new A and Zips on it.

[Zippy87]

Just now, ewbrooman1 said:

I could care less who the contract is with. What I would like to see is moderately priced merchandise in Walmart, Target, Meijer, etc. I did find a decent long sleeve t-shirt at Giant Eagle on Howe Avenue that doesn't look like all the others, but that seems to be a one time thing. Still waiting for a gold hat with the new A and Zips on it.

 

I got tired of waiting on good hats to be released...I finally bought a blank hat and connected with a local business who embroidered the Zips logo on it for me. It looks really good. 

[Zippy87]

I wonder if Fear the Roo Collective could sell more gear and make some $$$ in the process. 

[ewbrooman1]

Just now, Zippy87 said:

 

I got tired of waiting on good hats to be released...I finally bought a blank hat and connected with a local business who embroidered the Zips logo on it for me. It looks really good. 

They have what I want in blue or white at the bookstore, but not gold. I like gold. I've stuck with it since KD abandoned the school colors for 5 years or so in our uniforms. 🙂

[HoopsFan03]

36 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

I wonder if Fear the Roo Collective could sell more gear and make some $$$ in the process. 

Yes please. I want a golf polo. 

[clarkwgriswold]

My last gear purchase was a hoodie from the premier athletics gear retailer Costco.  The one before that was a polo off of the clearance rack at Rally House.  I've found the stuff from the school to usually be overpriced.

[kreed5120]

3 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

My last gear purchase was a hoodie from the premier athletics gear retailer Costco.  The one before that was a polo off of the clearance rack at Rally House.  I've found the stuff from the school to usually be overpriced.

 

This is pretty much me. I think for me it was a $40 hoodie I got on sale at Dick's sporting goods, which isn't much more than what a t-shirt would cost at the team shop.

[ZipsBBjunkie]

2 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

My last gear purchase was a hoodie from the premier athletics gear retailer Costco.  The one before that was a polo off of the clearance rack at Rally House.  I've found the stuff from the school to usually be overpriced.

Second Costco and RH (clearance or sales). I’d be really wary of a move to UA as they seem to have lost a lot of credibility and momentum since the Steph Curry split. Though maybe desperation results in a good deal? 

[LZIp]

1 hour ago, ZipsBBjunkie said:

Second Costco and RH (clearance or sales). I’d be really wary of a move to UA as they seem to have lost a lot of credibility and momentum since the Steph Curry split. Though maybe desperation results in a good deal? 

I’ve been out of state for a few years not, but I don’t remember the Costco in Boston Heights ever having anything for Akron. I think my favorite Akron apparel are the free shirts from GV Art & Apparel a few years ago lol.

Edited 22 hours ago by LZIp

[kreed5120]

16 minutes ago, LZIp said:

I’ve been out of state for a few years not, but I don’t remember the Costco in Boston Heights ever having anything for Akron. I think my favorite Akron apparel are the free shirts from GV Art & Apparel lol.

 

I know the new one in North Canton has them so I would imagine Boston Heights does as well. I buy a lot of my clothes from Costco. The Akron stuff I've seen has just been very bland so I haven't bothered purchasing anything. Maybe if I didn't already have a closet full of Zips gear I would have picked up a piece or two.

Edited 21 hours ago by kreed5120

[akzipper]

On 2/26/2026 at 5:24 PM, HoopsFan03 said:

Nike basketball shoes are far superior. That's one of the many reasons Kent still sucks. 

 

Kent has the ugliest uniforms across sports of any Division 1 school and it's not even close. I don't know how much of it has to do with bad branding or if its the outfitter. But it's just flat out embarrassing. 

 

Somehow these are all the same school. I think I counted 11 different fonts, 5 different logos and 6 different primary colors. 

 

 

 

[csims0917]

Way too flashy. Pun not intended

[Zips1991]

15 minutes ago, akzipper said:

 

Kent has the ugliest uniforms across sports of any Division 1 school and it's not even close. I don't know how much of it has to do with bad branding or if its the outfitter. But it's just flat out embarrassing. 

 

Somehow these are all the same school. I think I counted 11 different fonts, 5 different logos and 6 different primary colors. 

 

 

 

Yeah, there's no consistency or even an attempt to be consistent. That's the athletic department's fault, not Under Armour. Even with their social media, they use too many colors and fonts.