Skip to content Skip to footer

Best sneakers of 2021

Folks, we have arrived- almost at the end of 2021. The year 2020 had been a turbulent year, with the pandemic that saw the whole world in a lockdown and we didn’t get to see many people wear sneakers outside. Although the Nike Air Jordan became more available and more popular while becoming more mainstream.

Not surprisingly, a lot of people want to be sneakerheads these days transforming the sneaker culture and making it more mainstream than ever. Amidst the occasionally volatile cocktail of pandemics and lockdowns, the sneaker world shone just as bright as ever — maybe more so.

To address this smorgasbord of sneaker styles, we have selected 10 best sneakers so far this year. Our criteria for selection is quite simple actually- the shoes were just the best; functionally and aesthetically. Of course, this list can be altered with shoes of your choice but it sure should not be a surprise if any of the shoes named here have an impact on the future of sneakers to come.

Here are out best sneakers for the year 2021, so far

1. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 6
These are bright, bold sneakers that are not exactly toned down. When the lights go out, the shoes come alive. The Air Jordan 6 features a glow-in-the-dark sole and perforated, reflective underlays.

Awesome features included are utilitarian pouches on the ankles and an additional zip pocket. The muted olive colour of the shoes makes it have a low key feel. But that’s not all, when you take a picture with the camera’s flash and the lights have been turned out, the sole glows in the dark!.

2. A Ma Maniére x Air Jordan 3
A banger from co-founder of A Ma Maniére, James Whitner collaborating with Nike to produce this bad boy. The shoes feature a tumbled leather upper, elegant suede details, and a quilted interior collar and lining. While not also forgetting the fact that the sneakers include co-branded detailing on the white leather tongues, which is inspired by the role women play in all of our early lives.

3. Adidas Yeezy 450
Kanye West’s collaboration with Adidas these past few years have basically been all gas no brakes with them and it is the gift that keeps giving. Some might say these particular shoes look a bit…weird, but that’s what makes the them standout.

The shoe’s design element that makes it look different are definitely the ribcage-esque midsole that extends upward onto the upper while the collar features a sock-like construction to offer the wearer a more comfortable fit.

4. Jordan 4 Retro University Blue sneaker
This is a bold new riff on the Nike Jordan signature sneaker. Here is a another one from Nike featuring a blue colour palette, especially when you think you have seen a lot of blue lately.
This is a new and exciting iteration of the colour blue in sneakers and we are here for it. Featuring a soft suede that makes up a bulk of the shoe’s upper, adding to the mesh components on the tongue and profiles. Not to forget the ankle flaps, Jumpman-branded heel overlays and midsole detailing that gives it a really distinct overall look.

5. Nike x Fragment Design Dunk High “Beijing” sneaker
Unlike the originals, the colourway on these bad boys are no longer mismatched, these ones are centered around a mix of black/deep purple. While still featuring the fragment’s design signature lightning bolt logo on the heels.

6. Patta x New Balance 991 sneaker
From the pistachio coloured mesh base and tan suede to the leather overlays, Patta has been able to create something unique as their love child in their collaboration with New Balance. This almost neutral colour scheme chosen makes it quite an easily combinable pair of shoes.

7. Undefeated x Nike Kobe 5 Protro ‘Hall of Fame’
The Undefeated x Nike Kobe 5 Protro ‘Hall of Fame’ has a very interesting colour scheme- gold and purple. That’s the major feature that sets this one apart.
Nike and Undefeated coming together to release these as a way of celebrating the late Kobe Bryant’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Gilded tones are utilized in covering the upper of the shoes surrounded by snakeskin texture that pays homage to his infamous black mamba persona.

8. Dunk High ‘Light Orewood Brown’
Notre and Nike’s collaboration on the ‘Light Orewood Brown’ marks the first collaboration between Chicago based Notre and Nike. It has a very interesting and unique look to it as it is based off of the look of traditional workwear. According to Notre’s website, these are built tough and they are made to last longer and look better with age.
Featuring white smooth leather on the toe box. Surrounding the outer edge of the toe box, a shaggy tan coloured suede was incorporated to achieve the rough look and feel.

9. New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore 550 sneaker
Produced in different set of vintage colourways, the New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore 550 sneaker was supposed to be a basketball sneaker when it first released in 1989, but imagine playing basketball in these bad boys and that just dosen’t seem right.
What makes these different from the regular gr550s is that they already come with that ‘previntage’ look. The sneaker features aged looking midsoles which gives it an overall refreshing look.

10. Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Low
Supreme collaboration with Nike SB to produce the Dunk Low OG quick strike in the blue stars colourway. This is one of the top releases this year. Official colourways for this set of sneakers are white, hyperblue and metallic gold while Supreme released it in back root brown, mean green and black and white colourways.

The Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Low is inspired by the Supreme’s 2003 Nike SB collection which was done on a Nike dunk High silhouette but with the same concept on a dunk low. Featuring white smooth leather on the toe box and croc skin overlay.

Leave a comment