RealDawg.com is in the Christmas Spirit and here to help with our “12 Days of Husky Christmas Shopping Guide”.

We’ve tried to find gifts that are unique to Washington fans.  These are not endorsements of the products, but in some cases, like these adidas Ultraboosts, we couldn’t help ourselves.

We kickoff our Husky Christmas Shopping Guide with a look at some adidas shoes.  This is one that I have tried myself, having received them for my birthday in November.  Washington play-by-play announcer, Tony Castricone ordered his the day they came out, and I’ve included his comments in this guide.

Like my wife Margie, Tony ordered them virtually the second they hit the market.  With express shipping they arrived two days later.  The first thing that Tony and I both loved was the box.

adidas has returned Washington’s colors to a true purple and a gorgeous gold and the contrast on the box is flawlessly executed.

“Honestly, the box was one of the coolest parts of the order,” Tony said.  “Whenever I’ve ordered from adidas, it’s always come in that kind of standard black shoe box. Seeing that dark purple with the gold ‘W’ when I cracked the shipping box open made me feel like even the shoebox was a keeper.”

The box heightened my expectations for when I’d open the box.  I just looked at the box, tracing my hand over the “W” as Margie waited for me to flip open the lid.  Simply gorgeous!

Then I cracked open the box and peeled back the white tissue paper to see the shoes.

They did not disappoint Tony nor me.  For Tony he had no problem visualizing him wearing them on the regular as they will be “my gameday shoes for 2023–home and road,” he said at the time just before making a prophetic comment.  “And hopefully College Football Playoffs.”

Color contrast was also flawlessly displayed on the shoes.  The black base with purple overtones and gold accents, this is the attention to detail that I was hoping for when Washington switched from a “supplier” to a “partner”.

To me, these shoes demonstrate that adidas “gets” what being a Husky is.

“I really like the black base. I loved the solid purple version a few years back and I wore those things until I had holes in them (and even after I had holes in them),” Tony recalled.

“The black base in versatile and can go with a lot more,” he explained.

And then we noticed the finer details.

”I just really love having shoes that are truly branded as Washington Huskies shoes. The “U-Dub” and “Huskies” on the back, the block ‘W’ inside the shoe and on the tongue,” he said.  “They’re not just school colors that match with all your other Husky gear. They are actual Husky branded shoes. I love that.”

But they are also shoes and as everyday kicks they nailed that, as well.  While in Texas on vacation last week I wore them every day and the comfort was, as former Mariners’ announcer. Dave Niehaus would say, “get out the Ryebread and mustard grandma, it’s grand salami time”.

Tony was quick to concur:

”10 out of 10.  I’ve got wide feet and I have a hard time finding comfortable shoes,” he explained.  I love ultraboost because of how comfortable they are.”

While this 12 Days of Husky Christmas Shopping Guides is not meant to be an endorsement of products, these shoes are adidas’ best work to date.  The only way to top these would be to do a commemorative edition following the season!

Merry Christmas!  Happy Hanukkah!  Happy Holidays!

And Go Dawgs!