Alright so here’s the thing about trying to make something like Elly De La Cruz wears. Saw this guy fly around the bases, right? Those cleats stood out. Thought, man, maybe I can make something like that myself, capture some of that energy. Sounds easier than it was, let me tell you.
The Wild Idea Hits
Just browsing baseball stuff online, saw Elly tearing it up again. Those cleats. Bright, loud, impossible to miss. Something clicked. Didn’t want to just buy a replica. Nah, I needed to see if I could actually make something inspired by that look. Started picturing colors, maybe some patterns.
Digging Deep & Finding Nothing Perfect
First step? Figure out exactly what he wore. Easy, right? Nope. Looked everywhere online.
- Found pictures, sure. Tons of ’em. Game shots, training shots, you name it.
- BUT. Finding the specific model? Exact year? Release info? Like pulling teeth. Official stuff felt vague.
- Ended up scrolling forums and fan pages for hours trying to piece it together. Mostly just got “Yeah, they’re custom Nike Vapors…” kind of answers. Specifics? Nada.
Felt like I was running into walls trying to get clear info to copy.
Okay, Plan B: Wing It
Fine. Couldn’t get the exact blueprint? So what? Decided to just grab a base shoe and go for the vibe. Hit up a few sports shops, even some thrift stores looking for a solid white pair of baseball cleats. Nothing fancy, just a clean canvas. Found a pair that felt okay. Price was right.
The Messy Customization Chaos
This is where things got… experimental. Used cheap acrylic paint because hey, why not? Grabbed some leather pens too. No fancy equipment here.
- Masking tape everywhere. Trying to get sharp lines? Total failure. Paint bled under every single edge.
- Wanted that big, bold swoosh color like Elly sometimes has? Ended up splotchy. Brushed it on, dabbed it, felt like a toddler finger-painting sometimes.
- Tried adding some lightning-bolt kinda shapes on the side panel. Drew it freehand. Let’s just say “abstract expressionism.”
- Spilled red paint on the kitchen counter. Don’t tell my wife. Cleanup was rough.
Seriously debated giving up multiple times. Looked like garbage midway through.
Fumbling Towards Finish Line
Finally got all the base colors down. Sealed it with a cheap matte finisher spray. Honestly? Not even sure if it’s the right stuff for cleats. Just hoped it would hold. Let those things dry for like two whole days, terrified to touch ’em. One final touch? Cut out some sticky black felt thing for the heel tab. Used basic fabric glue. Held? Kinda.
So, The Final Result?
Took pictures outside. Natural light hides a multitude of sins. From five feet away? Yeah, they look kinda cool. Got the bright colors, the busy patterns. Sorta kinda captures that Elly energy.
- But up close? Total mess. Brush strokes visible. Lines are wobbly. Glue job is questionable.
- Would they survive a single inning on a real field? Absolutely not. They’d disintegrate.
- Was it fun? Weirdly, yeah. Frustrating as hell, but fun.
- Cost way more in time than money.
Learned my lesson though. Making legit custom cleats? That’s actual artisanal stuff. This? This was just a messy, somewhat satisfying DIY attempt at chasing that look. Elly makes it look easy. It is not. Maybe next time I’ll just buy the damn replica.
