The Dandy Dozen: Best Sneakers of 2024

Sneaker culture in 2024 moved away from hype-driven scarcity toward quality, comfort, and genuine design innovation. The twelve best releases of the year include expected heavyweights and surprise contenders that prove the game is wider than Nike and Adidas want you to believe.

The New Balance 990v6 set the standard. Made in the USA with premium suede and mesh, it improved on the v5 with a reshaped last and upgraded FuelCell midsole. The grey colorway became the unofficial uniform of creative professionals in Brooklyn and Shoreditch. At $199, it offers luxury-tier quality at athletic pricing.

Nike's Air Max Dn represented the first new Air unit in years — Dynamic Air technology uses independent tube-shaped chambers that compress and release energy more responsively than traditional Air Max bags. The design language was polarizing, but the on-foot comfort converted even skeptics. It was Nike's most forward-thinking release of the year.

Adidas Samba continued its impossible reign. Despite being a 74-year-old design, the low-profile indoor soccer shoe dominated street style globally. The OG white/black and cream/navy colorways were perpetually sold out, and collaborations with Wales Bonner and Pharrell pushed it into high-fashion territory at https://www.adidas.com.

ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 completed its transformation from forgotten running shoe to fashion essential. JJJJound, Kith, and Cecilie Bahnsen collaborations proved the silhouette's versatility, while the standard silver/white colorway offered a techwear-adjacent aesthetic at just $140. ASICS was arguably 2024's most culturally relevant sneaker brand.

Salomon XT-6 GTX added Gore-Tex waterproofing to the already-dominant trail runner silhouette, making it a genuine four-season shoe. The aggressive tread, protective toe cap, and Quicklace system work equally well on mountain trails and wet city sidewalks. It bridged outdoor performance and urban style better than any competitor.

The remaining six: Puma Palermo for its Euro-terrace revival, Reebok Club C 85 for timeless clean minimalism, On Cloudmonster 2 for maximalist running comfort, Veja V-90 for sustainable leather sneakers, Hoka Clifton 9 for everyday walking luxury, and Converse Weapon OG for its basketball-heritage reissue. Twelve sneakers, twelve different directions — 2024 proved there is no single dominant trend anymore.