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The global sneakers market revenue was valued at approximately 72.7 billion in 2022 and was projected to surpass 100 billion dollars by 2026.1 In this dynamic landscape, sneaker proxies have become an essential tool for sneaker enthusiasts and collectors. They play a critical role by allowing users to bypass geographical restrictions, avoid IP bans and maintain anonymity.
In this guide, we explain how sneaker proxies work, the various types of sneaker proxies, and their advantages. We also provide a comprehensive guide on choosing the right sneaker proxy provider to suit your needs, highlighting the key factors to consider and examining the top sneaker proxy vendors in the market.
What are sneaker proxies?
Sneaker proxies are specialized proxy servers used by sneaker resellers and enthusiasts to buy sneakers from online stores. These proxies serve as intermediaries between the buyer’s computer and the target retailer’s website.
What are the benefits of sneaker proxies?
Most shoe websites implement security measures, such as CAPTCHAs, due to identity theft or design copying concerns. Sneaker proxies allow sneaker collectors to legally and ethically bypass these security measures. Here are the main benefits of sneaker proxies:
- Coping limited-edition sneakers: Coping limited-edition sneakers, or sneaker copping, refers to the process of purchasing highly sought-after sneakers during high-demand releases, often called “sneaker drops.” You can configure your sneaker bot with a sneaker proxy to automate the purchasing process. Select a sneaker proxy service with a large and diverse IP pool if you aim to access and scrape a well-protected sneaker website. This way, you can reduce the likelihood of being detected and blocked by sneaker sites.
- Reselling sneakers: The sneaker resale market is valued at approximately $1 billion and is anticipated to grow in the coming years.2 Reselling sneakers involves purchasing limited-edition sneakers at retail prices and reselling them on the secondary market for a profit.
However, it is difficult for sneaker enthusiasts to secure limited-edition sneakers at retail prices. Sneaker proxies allow sneaker resellers to secure limited-edition sneakers. This increases the likelihood of successfully purchasing limited-edition sneakers during sneaker drops.
- Bypassing geographical restrictions: Some sneaker websites implement anti-scraping measures such as rate limiting and geo-restrictions. For example, sneaker websites may track the IP addresses of visitors by using browser fingerprinting. These restrictions affect the success rate of sneaker bots when attempting to purchase sneakers from the target website. Sneaker proxies allow users access to limited-edition and region-specific sneaker releases.
- Improving response time: Sneaker proxies distribute the sneaker bot’s requests across multiple IP addresses. This can help balance the load and prevent an IP address from becoming overwhelmed.
- Bypassing purchase limits: Sneaker websites may impose IP-based purchase limits during limited-edition sneaker drops to prevent bots from purchasing their entire inventory. Sneaker bots configured with proxies enable users to send requests from different IP addresses, simulating the appearance of multiple users making separate purchases.
What are the types of sneaker proxies?
There are two main types of sneaker proxies that are commonly used: datacenter and residential proxies. If speed and cost-effectiveness are your primary concerns, datacenter sneaker proxies are the way to go. On the other hand, residential proxies may be a better option if anonymity and the ability to circumvent geo-restrictions are more important for your case.
1. Datacenter proxies
Datacenter proxies are hosted on servers located in data centers and are not affiliated with an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Pros:
- Fast connection speeds: Datacenter proxies deliver fast speed due to their location in datacenters with high-speed internet connections. This makes datacenter proxies ideal for time-sensitive projects such as sneaker drops.
- Cost-effective: If you are looking for a budget-friendly proxy for sneaker bots, datacenter proxies are much cheaper than residential proxies.
Cons:
- Less reliable for bypassing geo-restrictions: Since datacenter proxies are not listed as ISP providers, sneaker websites can easily identify and block them. This increases the likelihood of encountering restrictions or IP bans when using datacenter proxies.
- Limited IP pool: Datacenter proxy servers may have fewer unique IP addresses than residential proxy servers. The restricted number of IP addresses can pose a drawback for activities such as web scraping and obtaining access to restricted content.
2. Residential proxies
Residential sneaker proxies use IP addresses assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to homeowners. There are two types of residential proxies:
- Rotating residential proxies: Periodically rotate or change IP addresses to ensure users can access a unique IP for each connection request (Figure 1). Rotating residential proxies are especially advantageous for tasks requiring a high level of anonymity, like accessing restricted content.
Figure 1: Demonstrating how a rotating proxy works
2. Static residential proxies (ISP proxies): ISP proxies, or static residential proxies, maintain the same IP address for the duration of the user’s session.
Pros:
- Lower risk of getting blacklisted: Residential proxy IPs are less likely to be flagged as proxies than datacenter proxy IPs since a real ISP provides them. This makes residential proxies look real and legitimate.
- Effective for bypassing geo-restrictions: Residential proxies use IP addresses from real users in different locations, allowing them to circumvent geographical restrictions imposed by sneaker sites.
Cons:
- More expensive: Residential sneaker proxies are typically more costly than datacenter proxies due to the costs of acquiring and maintaining residential IP addresses.
- Slower connection speeds: Residential and datacenter proxies are adequate for purchasing sneakers during drops or limited-edition sneakers. However, datacenter proxies provide faster and higher performance than residential proxies since their IP addresses originate from data centers and cloud server providers.
Choosing the best proxies for sneaker bots
Choosing the right sneaker proxy is crucial to increase the chances of success during sneaker drops. Here are some factors to take into account when choosing a sneaker proxy for your sneaker bot:
1. Proxy type
It is essential to determine the proxy type best suited for your needs and verify that the sneaker proxy provider supports it. You can review the proxy provider’s website to confirm proxy type availability.
Some sneaker proxy providers may specialize in a particular proxy type or have a limited number of IPs for certain types. If you have any questions about the availability and compatibility of proxy types, contact the proxy provider’s customer support team.
2. IP pool size and diversity
A large pool of IP addresses increases the level of anonymity by switching between different IPs when accessing target servers. This enables clients to bypass rate limits and anti-scraping measures imposed by sneaker websites. When choosing a proxy provider, consider the number of available IP addresses in a proxy pool and the diversity of the available IP addresses.
3. Geographical locations
Review the sneaker proxy provider’s website to see if they cover the specific regions or countries you want to target. For instance, some sneaker proxy providers may have a more extensive selection of datacenter proxies in particular areas.
Ensure that the proxy provider offers the right type of proxies for your needs in the targeted geographical locations.
4. Compatibility
Ensure that the sneaker proxy you intend to use is compatible with your sneaker bot. You can check the sneaker bot’s documentation to determine which proxy types are supported. If you’re uncertain about compatibility, you can test proxy compatibility with your sneaker bot by purchasing a smaller package or requesting a trial before making a larger investment.
5. Pricing and plans
When selecting a sneaker proxy service, the cost is an important factor. Note that the cheapest option may not always be the best option. When evaluating the cost of proxy services, consider the following factors:
- Type of proxies: Different proxy types incur different costs. For instance, datacenter proxies are often a cost-effective choiceHowever, they can be easier to detect and block. In contrast, residential and mobile proxies provide higher anonymity at a higher cost.
- Pricing plans: Proxy service providers offer various pricing plans based on variables such as geo-targeting options and the number of IP addresses.
- Extra features and support: Some advanced options, such as city-level targeting and dedicated IP addresses, may be available at an additional cost.
- Pay-as-you-go: Some proxy providers offer pay-as-you-go plans that charge based on proxy usage rather than a fixed monthly or annual fee. This model enables users to adjust their proxy usage in response to fluctuating needs without committing to a long-term contract. Pay-as-you-go plans may not be the most cost-effective option if your scraping project requires high-volume proxy use.
Risks and ethical considerations regarding sneaker proxies
Even though sneaker proxies and bots can increase the likelihood of acquiring limited-edition sneakers, they pose several risks and ethical concerns. Awareness of these challenges and adherence to best practices to alleviate ethical concerns while using sneaker proxies.
- Violation of terms of service: The use of sneaker proxies may violate the terms of service (ToS) of sneaker websites. For instance, some online retailers and sneaker sites implement anti-bot measures to identify and prevent automated activity. Using sneaker proxies to access restricted content and bypass these security measures can be considered a breach of the website’s ToS. Before using sneaker proxies, it is essential to adhere to the terms and conditions established by sneaker websites and retailers you interact with.
- Strain on the web infrastructure of sneaker websites: Using sneaker proxies to send a large number of requests quickly can strain the web infrastructure of sneaker websites. This can result in server crashes or downtime, affecting the performance of the website and the retailer’s sales.
- Legal implications: The legal consequences of using sneaker proxies in conjunction with sneaker bots vary depending on the circumstances. For example, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) is a federal law prohibiting unauthorized computer system access in the United States. The act of circumventing security protocols, such as CAPTCHAs, could be considered a CFAA violation.
9 best sneaker proxy services in 2023
Here is a list of 9 top sneaker proxy services in 2023 that can help individuals and businesses increase their chances of copping limited-edition releases:
1. Bright Data
Features:
- Residential proxies: Provide rotating residential 72+ million IPs located in over 190 countries.
- IP rotation: Provide options for both rotating and sticky session proxies.
- Location: City, state, and zip code level targeting available.
Pricing:
- Starting price: $12.75/GB.Pay-as-you-go option is available.
- Trial: 7-days free-trial for companies.
2. IPRoyal
Features:
- Residential & datacenter proxies: Offer residential and datacenter IPs for sneaker proxies.
- User-password authentication: It is an authentication method for securing proxy services. Sneaker proxies with user-password authentication allow sneaker bots to connect to sneaker proxies and make requests on behalf of users.
- Global coverage: 15 countries available. City/state targeting is only available with residential proxies.
Pricing:
- Starting price: There are 1-day and 30-day pricing options:
- 1 Day: $1.00 per proxy
- 30 Days $1.80 per proxy
- Trial: N/A
3. Oxylabs
Features:
- Residential and ISP proxies: Offer 100M residential IPs, 100k ISP proxies
- Rotating proxies: Support IP rotation options
- Global coverage: Provide city-level targeting
- Dedicated account managers: Offer dedicated account managers for users who require a more personalized approach
- Stick sessions: Offer sticky session features. The sticky session feature assigns the user the same IP address throughout the entire session.
- City & ASN filtering: Enable city & ASN (Autonomous System Number) filtering, allowing users to select proxy IP addresses based on specific geographical locations and internet service providers (ISPs).
Pricing:
- Starting price: $11 / GB
- Trial: Demo upon request
4. Smartproxy
Features:
- Residential proxies: Provide residential sneaker proxies with a pool of over 40M IPs.
- Sneaker bots: Compatible with all major sneaker bots, including Better Nike Bot and Supreme Bot.
- Mobile-compatible: Allow users to set up their sneaker bots with proxies with a mobile device.
- Sticky sessions: Offer sticky sessions for up to 30 min.
Pricing:
- Starting price: $8/GB
- Pay-as-you-go plan is available
- Trial: 3-day refund
5. ProxyDrop
Features:
- Residential sneaker proxies: Provide residential proxies with a 28M+ IP pool.
- Server routing: Target the nearest server based on the user’s location to optimize the speed and performance of the proxy service.
- User-password authentication: Require users to enter a valid username and password to access and use the proxy.
Pricing:
- Starting price: $18 / GB
- Trial: N/A
6. PrivateProxy
Features:
- Residential and rotating dedicated proxies: Provide residential IPs, rotating datacenter, and residential proxies for sneakers.
- Geolocation: Include USA, UK and Germany.
Pricing:
- Starting price: $355/mo for 200 IPs.
- Trial: Available. The trial period for datacenter proxies is seven days, while residential proxies are two days.
7. Rayobyte
Features:
- Residential and ISP proxies: Provide residential and ISP IPs for sneaker proxies.
- Proxy authentication: Offer IP Authorization or User:Passwords authentications.
- Geolocation: Offer US-based residential proxies and ISP proxies from the US, UK and Germany.
Pricing:
- Starting price:
- Rotating residential proxies for $2/GB
- ISP proxies starting at $5.00/IP
- Trial: Available
8. GeoSurf
Features:
- Residential proxies: Offer 3.7M residential IPs and IP rotation.
- Sticky IP session: Offer 1, 10 and 30-minutes sticky options.
- Residential proxy API: Allow whitelisting and removing IPs.
- Locations: 150+ with country, state and city targeting. Support 1700+ cities.
Pricing:
- Starting price: $12 / per additional GB
- Trial: Demo upon request
9. IPBurger
Features:
- Rotating residential proxies: Provide 75+ million rotating residential IPs.
- Mobile sneaker proxies: You can integrate sneaker proxies with both Android and iOS.
- City-level location targeting: Include 930 cities from around the world.
- Sticky IP sessions: Up to 30-minute sticky IPs.
Pricing:
- Starting price: $13.80/GB
- Trial: N/A
Transparency statement:
AIMultiple serves numerous emerging tech companies, including such as Bright Data and IPRoyal.
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External links
- Smith, P. “Value of the sneakers market worldwide from 2014 to 2027“. Statista. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- Dayton, S. “HOW TO RESELL SHOES: YOUR SIMPLE GUIDE TO BIG PROFITS WITH SNEAKER RESELLING“. Niche Pursuits. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
Gülbahar is an AIMultiple industry analyst focused on web data collections and applications of web data.
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