"Rule '1 Proxy = 1 Task' for Sneaker Bots: Why It's Critical for Success on Releases"

If you are into sneaker copping through sneaker bots (Supreme, Nike SNKRS, Adidas Confirmed, Footsites), you have surely heard the ironclad rule: one task — one proxy. Beginners often ignore it, trying to save money, and end up with zero results on releases. In this guide, we will discuss why this rule exists, what happens if you violate it, and how to properly set up the proxy + bot combination for maximum success.

What is a task in sneaker bots and why are there many

A task in a sneaker bot is one attempt to purchase a product. Each task represents a separate process: the bot logs into the website, monitors the appearance of the product, adds it to the cart, enters profile data, and completes the order. One task = one potential purchase.

Why is it necessary to run many tasks simultaneously? Because during hype releases (for example, Travis Scott x Nike or Yeezy), the competition is enormous. Products sell out in seconds, and the success rate of a single task is 1-5%. Therefore, copers launch 50-200 tasks for one release to increase the chances of at least one successful purchase.

Each task works with a unique profile: a separate email, delivery address, and payment details. This is necessary because stores (Nike, Footlocker, Supreme) limit the number of purchases per person — usually 1 pair per profile. If you want to buy 5 pairs, you need 5 different profiles and, accordingly, 5 tasks.

Why one proxy per task is a technical necessity

The rule "1 proxy = 1 task" exists for a reason — it is a technical requirement dictated by the protection systems of stores. Let's break down four key reasons why you cannot use one proxy for multiple tasks.

Reason 1: Detection by IP address

Stores track how many requests come from one IP address. If there are 10 attempts to purchase a product from one IP simultaneously (even with different profiles), the system instantly identifies this as bot activity. The result is an IP ban, and all tasks from that proxy are denied.

Modern anti-bot systems (Akamai, PerimeterX, DataDome), used by Nike, Adidas, and Shopify stores, analyze behavior patterns. Multiple simultaneous sessions from one IP are a red flag. Even if the profiles are different, the system detects an anomaly: a regular user cannot physically be in 10 places at once and make purchases simultaneously.

Reason 2: Purchase limits from one IP

Most stores impose strict limits: 1 successful purchase from one IP address per release. This is protection against resellers. If you launch 50 tasks on one proxy, the maximum you will get is one successful purchase; the other 49 tasks will be denied with the error "purchase limit exceeded."

On some sites (for example, Footsites), the limit may be 2-3 pairs from one IP, but this is an exception. Nike SNKRS and Supreme strictly limit: 1 IP = 1 purchase. Therefore, if you want to buy 20 pairs, you need at least 20 different proxies.

Reason 3: Session and cookie conflicts

When multiple tasks operate through one proxy, technical conflicts arise. Each task creates its own session on the site, receiving unique cookies. But if requests come from one IP, the server may confuse sessions, overwriting one task's cookies with another's data.

The result is that tasks start to "steal" carts from each other, profile data gets mixed up, and checkouts fail with errors. This is especially critical on Shopify sites, where the session mechanism is very sensitive to such conflicts.

Reason 4: Rate limiting and CAPTCHA

Websites impose limits on the number of requests from one IP per second (rate limiting). If one proxy serves 20 tasks, all their requests are summed up. The store sees 100-200 requests per second from one IP and activates protection: it shows CAPTCHA to all tasks or blocks the IP altogether.

With the correct setup (1 proxy = 1 task), each IP generates a normal number of requests — 5-10 per second, which looks like the behavior of a regular user. The protection system does not trigger, and tasks operate smoothly.

What happens when the "1 proxy = 1 task" rule is violated

Let's analyze specific scenarios of what happens when you try to save on proxies and use one IP for multiple tasks.

Scenario 1: Instant ban of all tasks

You launch 30 tasks on Nike SNKRS using only 5 proxies (6 tasks per proxy). Ten seconds after the release starts, all 30 tasks receive the error "Access Denied" or "Too many requests." The anti-bot system Akamai detected abnormal activity from 5 IP addresses and blocked them. Release result: 0 purchases, wasted time and money on profiles.

Scenario 2: CAPTCHA on all tasks

During the Supreme release, you use 10 proxies for 50 tasks. The site does not block the IP immediately but shows CAPTCHA on each task. While you solve the CAPTCHA on the first task (20-30 seconds), the product is already sold out. Even if you use an automatic CAPTCHA solving service (CapMonster, 2Captcha), the delay is critical — during hype releases, products sell out in 5-10 seconds.

Scenario 3: Only one successful checkout

You launch 20 tasks on Footlocker through 5 proxies. One task successfully completes the checkout, while the other 19 receive the error "Order limit exceeded." The store allowed only one purchase from each IP. Instead of potentially 20 pairs (with the correct setup using 20 proxies), you only got a maximum of 5 pairs.

Which proxies to use for sneaker bots

Not all proxies are equally effective for sneaker copping. The choice of proxy type depends on the website, budget, and strategy. Let's break down three main types and their applications.

Datacenter proxies (ISP proxies)

These are proxies from internet service providers located in data centers. They are fast (ping 10-50 ms), stable, and relatively inexpensive ($1-3 per proxy for a release). The main advantage is speed, which is critical for sites where the fastest wins (Shopify stores, Supreme).

The downside is that on sites with advanced protection (Nike SNKRS, Adidas Confirmed), datacenter proxies are often detected and banned. Their IP addresses are in the databases of data centers, and anti-bot systems easily recognize them. The success rate with datacenter proxies on Nike is usually below 1-2%.

Where to use: Shopify stores (Kith, Bape, Palace), Supreme (if the proxies are fresh), Footsites (Footlocker, Champs, Eastbay). For Nike and Adidas, it is better to choose another type.

Residential proxies

Residential proxies are IP addresses of real home users. To websites, they appear as regular customers logging in from home. Anti-bot systems can hardly detect them because these are legitimate IPs from internet service providers (Rostelecom, MTS, Comcast, Verizon).

Residential proxies show a high success rate on all sites, including Nike SNKRS and Adidas Confirmed. The downside is that they are more expensive than datacenter proxies ($3-8 per proxy for a release) and slightly slower (ping 50-150 ms). But for hype releases, where not only speed but also passing protection is important, they are optimal.

Where to use: Nike SNKRS, Adidas Confirmed, YeezySupply, any sites with strict anti-bot protection. This is the main type of proxy for professional copers.

Mobile proxies

Mobile proxies are IP addresses from mobile operators (MTS, Beeline, AT&T, T-Mobile). They are considered the "cleanest" because websites are very cautious about blocking mobile IPs — the risk of blocking a real user is too high.

Mobile proxies show the highest success rate on Nike SNKRS (especially in the app) and Adidas Confirmed. Downsides: high price ($10-30 per proxy for a release), limited number of available IPs, sometimes unstable speed.

Where to use: Top releases with maximum competition (Off-White, Travis Scott, Yeezy), Nike SNKRS (especially through the mobile app), Adidas Confirmed. Used when maximum success rate is needed and price is not critical.

How to properly set up proxies in popular bots

Setting up proxies in sneaker bots is a critical step. Even with the right proxies, incorrect setup will lead to a failed release. Let's go through the process using examples of popular bots.

Setup in Cybersole

Cybersole is one of the most popular All-In-One bots for Nike, Shopify, and Supreme. The proxy setup occurs in the "Proxies" section:

1. Open the "Proxies" section in the main menu of the bot
2. Click "Add Proxies" → choose the format: IP:PORT:USER:PASS or USER:PASS@IP:PORT
3. Paste the list of proxies (each proxy on a new line)
4. Click "Test Proxies" — the bot will check the speed and availability of each proxy. Remove proxies with a ping over 200 ms or with errors
5. In the "Tasks" section when creating a task, select "Proxy Mode: One proxy per task"
6. Make sure the number of proxies >= number of tasks

Setup in Balko

Balko is a top bot for Shopify and Supreme. The proxy setup process:

1. Go to the "Proxies" → "Import Proxies" section
2. Choose the proxy format (Balko supports several formats, it is recommended to use IP:PORT:USER:PASS)
3. Paste the list and click "Import"
4. Run "Speed Test" — the bot will check the speed of each proxy. For Shopify releases, use only proxies with a ping below 100 ms
5. In the task settings, select "Proxy List" → choose your proxy group
6. Make sure the "Proxy per task" option is enabled (this is the standard setting in Balko)

Setup in Kodai

Kodai is a premium bot with excellent support for Nike and Shopify. The proxy setup is very simple:

1. Open "Settings" → "Proxies"
2. Click "+" to add a proxy group, give it a name (for example, "Nike Residential")
3. Paste the proxies in the format IP:PORT:USER:PASS
4. Click "Test All" — Kodai will automatically check the proxies and show statistics (speed, location, type)
5. When creating tasks in the "Proxy Group" field, select your proxy group
6. Kodai will automatically distribute the proxies across tasks in the "1 proxy = 1 task" mode

General setup recommendations

• Always test proxies before the release: 1-2 hours before the release, run a proxy test in the bot. Remove slow (ping > 150 ms) and non-working proxies
• Group proxies by type: Create separate groups for datacenter, residential, and mobile proxies. Use different groups for different sites
• Check geolocation: For Nike US, use proxies from the USA; for Nike EU, use proxies from Europe. Mismatched geolocation between the proxy and profile (delivery address) reduces the success rate
• Keep a reserve of proxies: If you plan to launch 100 tasks, buy 110-120 proxies. Some proxies may drop during the release, and a reserve will allow you to replace them quickly

Calculating the number of proxies for a release

Correctly calculating the number of proxies is a balance between budget and desired outcome. Let's discuss how to calculate the optimal number for different scenarios.

Basic calculation formula

Number of proxies = Desired number of pairs × (100 / Success rate in percentage)

For example, you want to buy 5 pairs of sneakers during the Nike SNKRS release. The success rate with residential proxies on Nike is about 5-7%. Taking the average value of 6%:

5 pairs × (100 / 6) = 83 proxies

This is a theoretical calculation. In practice, add a 10-20% reserve in case of proxy drop or technical issues. Total: 90-100 proxies to buy 5 pairs on Nike SNKRS.

Calculating for different sites

Example budget calculation

You plan to participate in the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low release on Nike SNKRS. The goal is to buy 3 pairs. Retail price $150, resale price $600. Potential profit from one pair: $450.

Calculation of the number of proxies with residential proxies (success rate 6%):

• 3 pairs × (100 / 6) = 50 proxies
• Add 20% reserve: 50 × 1.2 = 60 proxies
• Cost of residential proxies: $5 per proxy
• Total cost for proxies: 60 × $5 = $300

With a successful purchase of 3 pairs, the profit will be: 3 × $450 = $1350. After deducting the proxy costs ($300) and the retail cost of the product (3 × $150 = $450), the net profit is: $1350 - $300 - $450 = $600.

ROI (return on investment): ($600 / $750) × 100% = 80%. This is an excellent result for a single release.

Common mistakes when working with proxies in bots

Even experienced copers sometimes make mistakes in proxy setup, leading to failed releases. Let's discuss the most common problems and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Using free or cheap public proxies

Beginners often look for free proxies or buy cheap public proxies for $0.5-1 each. The problem is that these proxies are used by thousands of people simultaneously. The IP addresses are already blacklisted by all major stores. The result is an instant ban of all tasks.

Solution: Use only private proxies from reliable providers. Yes, it's more expensive, but it's an investment that pays off with successful purchases. One successful checkout from a hype release covers the costs of proxies for 5-10 releases.

Mistake 2: Mismatched geolocation of proxy and profile

You are using a proxy from New York, but the delivery address in the profile is in California. The anti-bot system sees the mismatch: the user logs in from an IP in one state but specifies an address in another. This is suspicious and reduces the success rate.

Solution: Always match the geolocation of the proxy with the delivery address. If the profile has an address in Texas, use proxies from Texas or neighboring states. Many proxy providers allow you to choose a specific state or city.

Mistake 3: Reusing proxies for different releases

After a release, you save the proxies and use them for the next release a week later. The problem is that if a proxy was successfully used for a purchase, its IP is already linked to the profile in the store's database. Reusing it may raise suspicion or lead to a ban.

Solution: Buy fresh proxies for each release. If you are using residential proxies with IP rotation, ensure that the provider offers a large pool of IPs and the likelihood of getting the same IP is minimal.

Mistake 4: Ignoring proxy testing

You buy 100 proxies an hour before the release, import them into the bot, and immediately launch the tasks. During the release, it turns out that 30% of the proxies do not work or are very slow. Tasks with these proxies fail.

Solution: Always test proxies at least 1-2 hours before the release. Run a speed test in the bot, remove non-working and slow proxies, and buy replacements if necessary. For critical releases, test proxies a day in advance.

Mistake 5: Incorrect proxy format

Different bots require different proxy formats. You import proxies in the format USER:PASS@IP:PORT, but the bot expects IP:PORT:USER:PASS. The bot does not recognize the proxies, and tasks are launched without proxies or with errors.

Solution: Check the bot's documentation for the proxy format it supports. Use online proxy format converters or text editors with a "find and replace" function for quick conversion.

Conclusion

The rule "1 proxy = 1 task" is not a recommendation but a mandatory requirement for successful operation with sneaker bots. Saving on proxies leads to bans, low success rates, and missed profits. Professional copers understand: the costs of proxies are an investment that pays off with successful checkouts on hype releases.

Key takeaways from the article: use a separate proxy for each task, choose the type of proxy depending on the site (residential for Nike, datacenter for Shopify), always test proxies before the release, and match the geolocation of proxies with profiles. Properly setting up the proxy + bot combination increases the success rate by 5-10 times compared to incorrect configuration.

If you plan to seriously engage in sneaker copping, we recommend using residential proxies for sites with strict protection (Nike SNKRS, Adidas Confirmed) and datacenter proxies for fast Shopify releases. The right choice of proxies is 50% of success in a release; the other 50% is the quality of the bot and profile setup.