We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The Best Trainers To Bless Our Feet In 2016
It's been a good year for smart sneakers
It's been a good year for smart sneakers
Adidas Gazelle
Forget the Stan Smith (good luck), 2016 was the year of the Gazelle, where the Adidas archive style became the brand's ubiquitous trainer of the moment.
Asiscs Gel Respector
This 'India Ink' version of the Asics Gel Respector was one of the cleanest tonal trainers to emerge from the 'Great Tonal Wars' of 2016.
Diadora N9000
Diadora is another brand that has been banking on its retro credentials of late. These N9000's are both stylish and well-made, having been constructed in Italia.
£145, size.co.uk
Gucci Embroidered
As creative director, Allesandro Michelle has taken Gucci to soaring and flamboyant new heights. The brand's embroidered trainers were, and remain as, one of the most-coveted silhouettes around.
£405, mrporter.com
Nike Air Max 1 Royal
A deluxe version of Nike's original Air Max trainer, these 'Royal' 1's are kitted out with suede, wooden detailing and minimal branding for a low-key, premium effect.
See how many adjectives we got in there?
Hender Scheme 04
The fanciest bootlegs you're ever likely to find, Hender Scheme reconstruct classic trainers in up-up-up market materials. Can you guess what these are meant to be?
They're Vans Authentics...
£619, endclothing.com
New Balance 998 'Age of Exploration'
Part of New Balance's 'Made in America' series, these 998s are built in the brand's New England factory with American-sourced materials... the best materials.
£170, newbalance.co.uk
Common Projects Achilles Low
You can opt for another colour apart from pastel pink (although we love them quite like them) but 2016 was the year when Common Projects took its classic Achilles library and gave it the tonal treatment, with mint, egg shell blue and pink all getting a turn.
Nike HyperAdapt
Reebok Club C
Originally debuted as a tennis shoe back in '85, the Reebok Club C became an under the radar hit this summer, proving its worth as a solid alternative with proper pedigree.
£64.99, reebok.co.uk
Adidas Consortium X Packer NMD R1
The sell-out trainer that keeps getting bigger, the NMD R1 was given the nineties treatment for a collaboration with New Jersey's Packer Shoes.
They sold out pretty quick... sorry.
Vans Vault Old Skool
Another retro trainer that saw a massive rise in its 'trendy' stock this year was the Vans Old Skool. These Vault versions take the original colourway and jazz them up with a nice bit of leather.
Nike X Supreme Air Max 98
Supreme, the streetwear brand whose products a certain type of teenager would sell their mother for, collaborated with Nike to bring back the Air Max 98. They sold out very fast.
Puma Clyde OG Flag
A lesser-spotted classic on the streets of most major cities, nevertheless this nice little suede number from the boys and girls at Puma deserves some respect. So here it is.
Y-3 Pure Boost ZG Knit
Y-3 is the result of Adidas and Japanese master of minimalism Yohji Yamamoto joining their brainy heads together. Our favourite output from their last four collections are these pair of ZG knits, kitted out with a boost sole and Primeknit upper.
£219, y-3.com
Travis Scott's First Original Jordan is Incoming
Trainers to Have on Your Radar
The Adidas SL 72, the Slimline Sneak of Summer '24
A Guide to Nike Air Max Day 2024
