Sneaker-lovers camp out in Philadelphia for Nikes

Not just any sneakers, but a pair designed by Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, drummer for the Grammy-winning hip-hop band, The Roots. Thompson designed the $225 red, green and gold Air Force 1 sneakers as part of the shoe company's 1World collection, which will feature 18 designs over eight months.

The sneakers are being released here Tuesday at the Ubiq footwear store in downtown Philadelphia. By late Monday morning, 26 people had lined up in a makeshift sidewalk campsite.

The Nike sneakers, dubbed Air Questo, are the fifth pair to be released in the 1World collection. And while sneakerheads--as sneaker collectors call themselves--regularly camp out for new releases, Ubiq has never had this many people waiting in line, said store supervisor Kyle Dunn.

It's a bit of a misunderstood hobby, said Eddie Ortiz, who came with his 17-year-old son from the Poconos. The Ortiz duo got there Saturday morning and were first in line.

"People look at you like, 'A pair of sneakers?'" the elder Ortiz said. "But they don't understand, it's a culture."

They say it's like collecting baseball cards or comic books and it's a big deal, especially in Philadelphia and New York.

The limited edition 1World shoes have gone for up to $4,000 on eBay and the 300 or so pairs of Air Questos are expected to sell for big bucks. A couple dozen "hidden" pairs will have a gold toe (instead of red) and will likely be even more prized, Nike spokeswoman Demetria White said.

Thompson celebrated the shoe's release in New York on Friday, but is returning to his hometown for the Philadelphia release on Tuesday.

Keith Lewis traveled to Philadelphia from New York. He had thought about queuing up for the sneakers in New York on Friday, but the line was too long, he said.