Favourites Sneakers of All Time

"Sneakers are shoes primarily designed for sports or other forms of physical exercise, but which are now also widely used for everyday casual wear." This is a definition found on the internet if you search the question "What is a Sneaker?". While definition might seem straightforward enough, it changes from person to person. While most sneaker-heads call Nike Air Jordans, Vans Old School and Converse Taylor All Stars are considered the OG sneakers and the first in most of the sneaker lover's journey but from a technical point of view, Nike Air Jordans are Basketball shoes designed by Michael Jordan for Michael Jordan and other basketball players while Vans & Converse are skating shoes designed for skaters.

While today we have an exclusive line-up designed by the brands to be termed under the sections of sneakers, they still are based upon their sports counterparts. While not getting into the depth of right & wrong, we all can agree that we love sneakers, sneaker culture, and wearing them. Some of my personal favorites for Sportswear Giants who design, craft, and manufacture "Sneakers" are:

1. Nike Air Jordan

If were to talk about all the iterations in the Air Jordan line-up since its inception in 1985, there could be a whole article dedicated to it. So comprising all of them in just one. While all of them aren't the best or classic, some are so ugly that they're mocked, and some are just sinful. I will mention a few of my personal favorites. While as far as collaboration goes with other designers or brands, my pick is just 2 from all the possible options, Nike Air Jordan x Travis Scotts and Nike Air Jordan x "Off-White" especially "The Ten". Needless to say, I won't need to explain them any further because of their legendary status amongst the sneaker community. Now, from the Nike variations, let's start with AJ1 "Chicago", "Bred", "UNC", "University Blue", "Mocha", "Panda" "Retro Dior", "Retro Spider-Man Origin Story", and "Diamonds", for AJ 3 we got "Retro UNC", "Cement", "Retro Cardinal", "Retro Black Cement", and "Retro White Cement", for AJ 4 "Bred Black Cement", "Military Black", "Retro Infrared", "Retro PSG", "What The", and "Retro Black Cat", for AJ 5 we have "Fire Red", "Retro Easter", and "Retro Raging Bull Red". Apart from these, we have a few specifics unlike several colors in the same series Jordan 11 Concord, Jordan 6 Black Infrared, Jordan 11 Bred Playoffs, Jordan New Beginnings Pack Retro High 1 & Nike Air Ship, Jordan 6 Retro DMP, Jordan 13 Retro Low Chutney, Air Jordan 12 Retro Reverse Taxi, and Air Jordan XXXV DNA. A fair warning apart from Travis Scott Cactus Jack Low & Mocha Low, I only prefer High, and hate mids.

2. Adidas Yeezy

Just after the Nike Air Jordans, we have the rivals, the Yeezy. Controversial yet famously, Kayne West, the creator of The Yeezy line-up walked away from the Nike deal to manufacture The Yeezy to their direct rivals, Adidas. Apart from the rare Nike Air Yeezy & Air Yeezy 2, currently available under the Adidas deal. There have been rumors that Kayne West might be looking to go back with Nike but as of today, it's still with Adidas. Again, not all of them were favorites or even loved but some of them are absolute classics. So the list is, in Yeezy 350 we have "Beluga", "Blue Tint", "Bone", "Black Red", "Oats", "Triple White", "Static Black", and "Butter", for Yeezy 500 we have "Blush", "Utility Black", "Salt", and "Super Moon Yellow", in Yeezy 700, we have my personal favorite "Wave Runner" alongside "Static", "Triple Black", "Mauve", "V3 Azael", "Utility Black", "V2 Vanta", and "Salt". We are done with essentials which means the selected few from the Yeezy lineup are Yeezy 380 "Onyx", Yeezy 750 "Triple Black" and "Light Grey", Yeezy 950 "Moon Rock" and "Pirate Black", Yeezy Powerphase, Yeezy Foam Runner, and Yeezy Desert Boots. In this list, we don't include Yeezy Season as they're separate from the traditional Adidas Yeezy.

3. Adidas Originals

Adolf "Adi" Dassler's Adidas, this German brand is one of the biggest Giant and is rivaled only by their American counterpart, Nike. Now that we are done with the Crowning Jewels of Nike & Adidas with Jordan & Yeezy, Adidas or Adidas Originals is where we go to. We have a lot of pieces, I would pick my perfect 10. Starting with the classic must-have, Adidas Superstar, Let’s kick things off with one of the kings of classic sneakers. The Superstar has been around for what feels like the entirety of the shoe game itself. In 1969, the hoops world falls in love with the Superstar as the latest basketball sneaker from Adidas. The brand drops these on the back of the Pro Model, a higher-cut model. Interestingly, it was my first Adidas sneaker as well. Adidas Stan Smith, You only need a few guesses to get this one right. The Adidas Stan Smith is a legitimately unavoidable part of this list. Historically, this shoe means quite a bit to its specific sport. When the Stan Smith drops, it debuts as the brand’s major answer to the needs of the pro tennis player. Oddly enough, those needs mirror that of basketball players as well. Adidas Samba, To put it mildly, the Adidas Samba has a story-worthy history. Sneaker fans recognize the Samba as more of a functional soccer shoe. Though it has its roots in the sport, there’s more to it. Adidas LA, The Adidas LA is something of a surprise on this list for some. The brand is known more so for its strong collection of 90s Adidas shoes. But, the LA model’s 1984 debut was just as important to its history, making it one of the best-selling Adidas shoes of all time. Adidas Gazelle, The Adidas Gazelle is a relatively early example of the brand’s mastery of running sneakers. This shoe earns a reputation more for how affordable and dynamic it is as a style item these days. Adidas SL72, Released back in 1972, this sneaker rarely receives much mention. The Adidas SL72 is a rare name in discussions on this very topic due to its low profile status. In totality, it’s a bit of an underwhelming build. Synthetic base, suede overlays, it’s all fairly standard. Adidas Ultra Boost, this timeless shoe is the epitome of comfort & style, with every colorway across its several generations so perfectly crafted, I haven't met anyone who would say otherwise. Adidas NMD, from HU Pharrell to R1, NMD which stands for Nomad, is such a timeless silhouette, its recognizable from miles away. The new Adidas design — helmed by adi’s VP of Global Design, Nic Galway — managed to take the German sportswear giant’s flagship Primeknit and BOOST technologies, and pair them with design cues from Three Stripes classics like the Boston Super, Rising Star, and Micropacer. The resulting creation was the perfect blend of the old and the new, and a relative oddity compared to some of the most popular kicks of the past decade. Adidas Raf Simmons was designed by the Belgian Designer, Each design was inspired by various running and hiking sneakers from the 1990s Adidas archive but executed with a futurist approach. Holographic panels, bulky layered mesh, and exterior piping on the upper sent these reinvigorated Adidas silhouettes to a new period. Lastly, one of the most surprising picks, and certainly not a sneaker, but I would love if they could be is Adidas Predator. As a Football Fan, that's one show which has legendary stories engraved to its name. Worn by the likes of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Raúl, Michael Ballack, Alessandro Del Piero, Robin van Persie and many, many more, the Predator has become one of the most iconic footballing shoes in history.

4.. Nike Air

When we talk about Nike "Air", we mean the technology that Nike uses in their sneaker craft which makes them second to none. Nike Air is an iconic innovation that uses pressurized air in a durable, flexible membrane to provide lightweight cushioning. The air compresses on impact and then immediately returns to its original shape and volume, ready for the next impact. While we have a long list, we will focus on absolute classics & a few prized possession which you might or might not need. We won't count any collaborations, so "Off-White", Fear of God, Supreme, and ACRONYM aren't in the counting. Let's kick the elephant from the room, NIKE AIR MAGS BACK TO THE FUTURE. they're the Kohinoor of the sneaker community and prized like that as well. Now, back to the achievable dreams, we start with the go-to necessary classics Air Force 1 in White & Black both High & Lows followed by Air Max. While the list is long, I have a limited few classics & prized possessions, here we go. Nike Air Max2 Uptempo, Nike LeBron 9, Nike Air Max 96, Nike Air More Uptempo, Nike Air Max 2011, Nike Air Max Penny I, Nike Air Max 180, Nike Air Max 97, Nike Air Max Uptempo, Nike Air Max III, Nike Air Max I, Nike Air Max 95, and (yes, it's a collab, but you know why) Nike Air Max 1/97 Sean Wotherspoon. In the collection of Nike Foamposite, Nike Air Foamposite One NRG “Galaxy”, Nike Air Foamposite One “Eggplant”, and Nike Air Foamposite Pro “Pearl”. In Nike Blazer, we have Mid/Low 77 Vintage White Black, Low Sacai White Patent Leather, SB Zoom Blazer Mid, and Low Platform. Nike Blazer is rare where Mid is better. After that, let's do a quick run down, no particular color in these are Nike ZoomX Vapormax, Nike React Element 87, Nike Air Huarache, Nike Air Presto (Off-White & ACRONYM are better than non-collab), Nike Cortez, Nike SB Dunk Low, and Nike Dunk. While Nike had several footballing shoes, nothing more legendary than these two, Mercurial and Hypervenom. While Nike Hypervenom is said to be for traction, power, and agility, designed for deceptive players. Therefore, it is endorsed/worn by players, notably forwards, such as Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane, Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuaín, Mauro Icardi, and Thiago. While Nike Mercurial has two designs: Superfly and Vapor. The Superfly features a dynamic fit collar, whereas the Vapor has the traditional, low-cut collar. Most famously worn by Cristiano Ronaldo as well as the original Ronaldo, THE R9.

5. Puma

From American brand Nike, we go back to the German brother of Adolf "Adi" Dassler, founder of Adidas to Rudolf Dassler's PUMA. The third largest shoemakers in the world are an underrated commodity. While PUMA doesn't boast big collaborations like Jordan & Yeezy, or even something like Air Max or Stan Smith as an all-time classic, what they do have is the World of Motorsport, RS Series of Sneakers, XO Collection by The Weeknd, and Ralph Simmons to use as their attack against the two giants. Let's go quick & aggressive with 12 of the best PUMA sneakers of all time. We start with Puma Clyde Designed by Walter “Clyde” Frazier, The Puma Clyde debuted in 1968 as a basketball shoe, and is still one of the more popular Puma models to date alongside Puma Clyde Court, followed by Puma California, Inspired by the laid-back West Coast lifestyle, the Puma California is a fresh take on the original California silhouette, sporting bold colors, and Puma Roma, Straight out of the Puma archives, the Roma was intended to be a lightweight training shoe with a thick, padded tongue and orthopedic arch support, but has since become a lifestyle option for many. While we all love Pop-Culture, and so does PUMA, hence, Sonic x Puma RS-X3, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Puma came together for a special RS-X3 collaboration that features golden rings, motion graphics, and other iconic elements from the game. Built with Puma’s retro Running System technology, the shoe offers cushioning from the forefront to the heel, no you know what makes Sonic so fast. If you want something futuristic yet timeless, say no more, Puma Cell Alien, as the name suggests, the classic Puma Cell Alien features an out-of-this-world design thanks to its Cell cushioning technology in the midsole and striking color combination. Released in 1998, the shoe looked futuristic then, and still has a unique feel and look to it to this day. Talking about the RS, one of the best-looking collections, we have Puma RS-Dreamer OG, a part of the J. Cole line with Puma, the RS-Dreamer OG is the re-released edition of the July 2020 version, my personal favorite RS, Puma RS-X, Part of Puma’s renowned RS running system, the new RS-X model offers cushioning from the forefoot through the heel. Done in with bold red accents throughout, the RS-X is one of the better running shoes on the market and offers a soft cushion and an easy ride. While Nike has Air Force 1 & Adidas has Stan Smith, Puma can call men's-in-arms with Puma Suede, One of the most iconic models of the brand, the Puma Suede was originally released in 1968. the Suede features a premium suede upper with the form-stripe logo on the sides and sits atop a white midsole. Now, the last 3 and all 3 are collaborations with distinguished creators of their own universe, Puma Ralph Sampson Mid, After signing an endorsement deal with Puma in the 80s, NBA legend Ralph Sampson received his own signature shoe that’s stylish both on and off the court. From NBA Legend to Musical Legend in building, Big Sean x Puma Evolution Breaker, Big Sean teamed up with Puma to drop a limited edition Evolution Breaker for their second collaboration, done in a tonal olive green hue throughout. Lastly, Les Benjamins x Puma Thunder Disc, Puma revolutionized the sneaker space when it released its Disc technology, an intricate lacing system found on the tongue of the brand’s pairs. The collaboration between Istanbul-based streetwear brand Les Benjamins and Puma fuses the silhouette of the Puma Thunder with the DISC technology customized by Les Benjamins. Inspired by traditional Turkish carpets and colors, this innovative shoe stands out among the crowd. Apart from these, 2 pairs which might only suit the fans of Motorsports with their collection with BMW Motorrad & Scuderia Ferrari, which means shiny blue or flaming hot red, choose your driver. In the end, the crown jewel which failed but still has many appreciators is PUMA XO Collection by The Weeknd which is designed around the 70s-inspired Street Style & Utilitarian Aesthetic.

6. Reebok

While this English-born American brand was one of the big players in the race before falling from the podium before being revived by Adidas and is now under the ownership of Authentic Brands Group. While Reebok might not be the first, it certainly was my first choice as a kid. I wore them to the point that they were done forever, and I got another pair. I wore them everywhere from Cricket Matches to Races to PE Classes. While they aren't the flashiest, they are a true sports brand. We got the "The Ten", and not "Off-White's The Ten", but rather my 10 Reebok Shoes of all time. Starting with, Reebok Classic Leather TDC, The Reebok Classic Leather TDC is the all-time favorite, in part because of its textile sock liner that provides extra comfortable padding. It is produced in an array of solid colors that makes this model a great accessory that can go with most casual and sports outfits. Followed by, Reebok Classic Leather Urban Descent, Reebok Classic Leather NM, Reebok Classic Leather Gum, Reebok Classic Leather SM, Reebok Classic Leather EBK, Reebok Classic Leather 2.0, Reebok Classic Leather ALR, Reebok Classic CL Leather Ripple Mono, and Reebok Classic Leather ID. Yes, they love Leather in their shoes which makes them more beautiful.

7. New Balance

Another American brand and the first name that comes to mind when you think of Dad Shoe Comfort is New Balance. This Boston-born sportswear brand has recently made a lot of noise for its aesthetic appeal amongst fashion lovers. NINE for this Boston kid, we have New Balance 57/40, Inspired by the 80s and 90s fashion, the 57/40 is a retro-futuristic version of the classic 574. It features silvery shades and natural tones. New Balance XC-72, The XC-72 is a fusion of the past and future. The chunky outsole and an elongated heel are reminiscent of revamped sketches of the 70s concept cars. New Balance 327, Fan of old models like the 320 and SuperComp. 327? Then you'll love the 327. This new design has asymmetric midsoles, wraparound trail outsoles, a forked embellishment on its toe box, and an enlarged logo on the quarter. New Balance 530, Style minimalists swoon over the New Balance 530s for its neat and fresh Munsell white colorway. When chunky shoes took the fashion world by storm, the 530s were one of the main choices. New Balance 574, The 574 is the ultimate all-around sneaker. But these New Balance sneakers—especially its "Classic Grey" colorway—merges suede and mesh, creating a simple and timeless design that can be worn whether you're in the mood to run or lounge. Let's not forget when Rihanna wore the New Balance 574s way back in 2014. New Balance 990v5, Let's not forget that New Balance promoted the 990v5s as trainers "worn by supermodels in London and dads in Ohio". Chic, contemporary and comfy—this is what makes the 990v5 still a favored shoe in the market years after it has been redesigned since it was first released in 1978. New Balance 1500, This time, New Balance fuses the 80s with 90s style to create a unique, contemporary look. Still designed with classic colorways and ENCAP midsole, the 1500 trainers are still quite iconic for their distinct logo—which is sized smaller than usual—and clean silhouette. New Balance 373, The New Balance 373 has a silhouette that's fit for the retro kid. These trainers are often compared with the classic 574 because of their similar aesthetics, but the 373 has a more retro look with its leather construction and streamlined logo. New Balance 327, The New Balance 327 is a popular choice for those who like vibrant colorways that stand out. Although these trainers are reminiscent of the brand's silhouette in the 70s, it's designed with bolder, modern details that are a great fit for streetwear enthusiasts and trendsetters. New Balance 827, New Balance has the right shoe for those who are torn between minimal designs and bold colors pick our favorite TEN. —the 827. And no, you don't have to sacrifice comfort for style.

8. Converse

American shoemakers who were also born in Massachusetts, but unlike New Balance, they are from Malden, 7 miles away from Boston. Founded in 1908, it's now a subsidiary of Nike since 2003. The Converse brand is iconic; the design style is simple yet classic. Whether you are going to the market, on holiday, at work, or getting married; you can wear a pair of Converse sneakers. Their versatility eases stress for people who don't enjoy carrying a lot of clothes when they travel. So, as always, let's pick our favorite TEN. Converse “Non-Skid”, was advertised as having a design with ample toe room yet provides a snug fit. Chuck 70 High Top in Parchment, The Chuck 70 Hi in the Parchment colorway evokes a vintage feel. Chuck Taylor All-Star High Top, An even more classic design from the brand is none other than Chuck Taylor All-Star. Regardless if you have them in low top or high top, guaranteed these Converse sneakers are what most people have in their closet. Named after its creator, a basketball player, the Chuck Taylor shoe remains one of the brand’s best-selling models. Converse x Commes des Garçon, One of the Converse’s best collaborations was with luxury brand Commes des Garçon (CdG). The design is minimal yet striking: CdG’s signature heart and eyes logo peeking on the upper. It’s still one of the most sought-after designs. Converse All-Star Pro Leather, People first laid eyes on the Converse All-Star Pro Leather in the latter part of the 1970s which was the beginning of a new era in the world of NBA. Converse x Fear of God ESSENTIALS, The first Converse x Fear of God ESSENTIALS collaboration has to be one of the brand’s most memorable drops as each pair was immediately sold out. Chuck Taylor Low Top in Black, Of course, nothing else beats the Chuck Taylor low top sneakers. This classic pair can be worn with or without socks and is probably the most popular shoe out of all. Even US Vice President Kamala Harris has worn the low-top sneakers in black countless times as it's easy to slip on and walk around with at any time of day. Converse Run Star Hike, Fans of thicker platforms will love the Run Star Hike lugged high top in black. You may have seen a few people—whether they're celebrities or friends—on your timeline rocking a pair of these streetwear sneakers. It's one of the most unique designs Converse has ever released with its jagged two-tone outsole that extends all the way to the back. Converse x Kim Jones, This version of the Chuck 70s is sleek and inventive, and we have Kim Jones and Converse to thank for it. Inspired by the '90s, this utilitarian pair pays tribute to the iconic canvas silhouette by adding a retro TPU cage on the upper. The shoe is perfect to wear on rainy days with its varnished rubber overlay and speed-lace system. Converse x Keith Haring, The Converse x Keith Haring collaboration has given us various colorways and designs to choose from. But the Chuck 70 high-top sneakers from this collection remain one of the most sought-after, not only because it's one of the first models launched but because its design is edgy, from the iconic figure drawings to bright splashes of red found on the shoe.

9. Vans

This American skateboarding company from California, they're classic no matter what is your budget, and who you're. A high schooler to a celebrity, from a street skater to a President. You know there’s a reason why people say classics never go out of style. Vans is one of those brands that perfectly captures this meaning. Retro style is still popular and as a brand that’s rooted in 1960s skate culture, it’s easy to see why. For our 10, Vans Sk8-Hi “Black/White”, All hail the Sk8-Hi. Seen in the classic and simple black/white colorway it is the Air Jordan 1 of skateboarding. Vans Classic Slip-On “Checkerboard”, The unofficial sneaker of southern California, the Classic Slip-On says it all right there in the name. Classic as classic gets, the Slip-On was not only the go-to for early skating but rests easily as one of the most sought-after and loved casual sneakers of all time. Vans Old Skool “Black/White”, For all of their high profile collabs and bold colorways, the thing that makes Vans great is their simplicity. Vans Old Skool Pro x Golf Wang “Green/Pink”, Like many advocates for the brand, among us is Tyler, The Creator. A picturesque Cali teen who grew up loving the brand got his full-circle moment when Vans matched up with his creative outlet, Golf Wang in 2014. Vans Authentic x J. Crew “White Canvas”, The Vans Authentic has taken on multiple forms but none more relaxed or classic r/menswear than their collaboration with J. Crew. Vans Authentic “True White”, Coke white. “Damn Daniel.” Whatever reference you might know them by the Vans Authentic “True White” is a bright, shining example of what makes Vans so great. Vans Lampin x Supreme “Croc Corduroy Mustard”, The Vans Lampin is one of their lesser-known silhouettes, its upper has an arch overlay but that unusual detail made it the perfectly unique model for billion-dollar streetwear brand Supreme to use as a template for their funky and bold aesthetics. Vans Old Skool “Flame”, The Vans Old Skool “Flame” is a simple sneaker with a cool colorway that transports you back to the days of sneaker shopping when the only thing that mattered was if a sneaker had flames or not. Vans Comfycush Era “Marshmallow”, With a hard rubber outsole for gripping a skateboard, Vans was never the most comfortable sneaker brand but that all changed when Vans introduced the world to a more comfortable version of their iconic skate sneakers with Comfycush™. Vans Era 95 DX x Fear of God “Black/White”, Whatever your thoughts may be on American designer Jerry Lorenzo or his LA-based streetwear company Fear of God, his collaboration with Vans in 2017 was an undeniable success (seriously check out those resale prices).

10. ASICS

Japanese brand ASICS is a definition of everything that Japan stands for quality, style, price, and durability. The brand is very well known by runners across the world but is not well known to other athletes and the average joe. Asics derives from the Latin phrase meaning “a sound mind in a sound body”. Thanks in large part to its revolutionary GEL midsole cushioning technology, and strategic collaborations with the likes of Ronnie Fieg, Kiko Kostadinov, and other leading designers and brands, the '90s and '00s ASICS sneakers have been welcomed with open arms by sneakerheads who are more interested in aesthetics thanks in large part to its revolutionary GEL midsole cushioning technology, and strategic collaborations with the likes of Ronnie Fieg, Kiko Kostadinov, and other leading designers and brands, '90s and '00s ASICS sneakers have been welcomed with open arms by sneakerheads who are more interested in aesthetics and comfort than how far and fast they can run wearing the shoes. So, for the last brand, our EIGHT is, ASICS UB3-S GEL-Nimbus 9, the UB3-S GEL-Nimbus 9 is one of the brand’s sneakers that personifies Kiko Kostadinov and his team’s move in-house at ASICS. ASICS UB2-S GEL-1130, The UB2-S GEL-1130 is a reimagined take on 1130, a classic ASICS running sneaker. ASICS HN2-S Protoblast, Another energized sneaker from Kiko Kostadinov and crew with an emphasis on movement. ASICS Novablast 2 SPS, Who says a running shoe can’t dabble in streetwear? The Novablast 2 SPS is celebrated amongst seasoned runners and style enthusiasts alike. ASICS Gel-Venture 6, The redesigned Gel-Venture 6 is truly built for all terrains. It features ASICS High Abrasion Rubber (AHAR® Outsole) and a removable sock liner to insert custom orthotics for a cozier fit. ASICS GEL-Nandi 360, After dropping exclusively at Highsnobiety Shop in early November 2019, the GEL-Nandi 360 was available at select retailers on November 22, as well as at ASICS later on. ASICS x Kiko Kostadinov GEL-KORIKA, The low-top silhouette comes decorated in four colorways, two of which feature vivid color-blocking in women’s sizes, while more pared-back black-on-black and grey colorways constitute the men’s offerings. ASICS x Kiko Kostadino Gesserit, The collaborative Gessirit drew from the legendary bandits of Central America, a group of brave women from the 19th century who rebelled against the establishment.

While there are several other brands that dabble into the sneaker market, nothing more expansively as these 8. Apart from these, honorable mentions to Under Armour and Onitsuka Tiger, and other Luxury Brands such as Balenciaga, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Maison Margiela, Gucci, Steve Madden, Alexander McQueen, and Burberry.