Top 10 Sneakers of 2023
The year 2023 in sneakers can most aptly be defined by one word, “parity.” The diversity on display this year points to the great place the sneaker space is in. More brands are cool than ever before. The fresh energy being brought by the non-traditional brands has brought excitement and has forced the bigger brands to deliver exciting product in response to the increased competition. Out of all the new projects, colorways and models only the best can be worthy of a spot on the Top 10 sneakers of the 2023 list. This list is not a list of personal favorites but one that is representative of the year in sneakers in 2023. Without further ado, here are the top 10 sneakers of 2023.
10. Zoom Kobe 6 Protro 'Reverse Grinch'
Currently the most worn shoe in the nba, totaling almost 41,000 game minutes worn and arguably the best basketball shoe of all time the Kobe 6 made its return in 2023, with a bold new colorway. The ‘Reverse Grinch’ is a flip on the classic ‘Grinch’ colorway. Dressed in vibrant red with green accents, this is a perfect Christmas hoop shoe. First revealed by Anthony Davis in 2021, sneakerheads, Kobe fans and basketball players have long hoped this shoe would be released. At long last this holiday season our wishes have come true. Following his passing Kobe Bryant’s shoes have skyrocketed in popularity, with this release they show no signs of slowing down. Kobe’s wife Vanessa Bryant took to Instagram to let fans know that the ‘Reverse Grinch’ release will offer 3x the amount of stock of any Kobe release since the renewal of the agreement between Nike and Kobe’s estate. With all this additional product the shoes are still selling out in minutes. It appears the Kobe line is quickly becoming Nike’s second most successful product line behind only Jordans. The “Reverse Grinch" is the latest installment and perhaps already one of the most coveted.
- By Camden Carr
9. Jae Tips x Grid Shadow 2 'What's the Occasion?’
In 2023, Jae Tips and Saucony took the sneaker world by surprise by bringing serious attention to both the designer and brand. Handing Jae Tips the reins proved to be one of the smartest moves of any sneaker company in 2023. The first collab between the 2 took the world by storm with the “Grid Azura, Remember Who Fronted” that was released earlier in the year. A truly crazy design that established the fact that both Jae Tips and Saucony were a match made in heaven and here to make waves unlike anything we have ever seen from Saucony. However, the shoe that made our list was the “Grid Shadow 2 “What’s the Occasion”. A shoe that stays true to the past works of both Saucony, Jae Tips, and his clothing line “Savior Worldwide”. Special hits and details on the Grid Shadow 2 such as the Savior script logo and the brand logo worked into the shoe, as well as the “forever” script detailed, show a deep connection to Jae Tips’ roots that he has developed in the industry. As a fan of Jae Tips this shoe felt like a return to his roots and truly established his spot in sneaker culture for the long haul and not just a 1 hit wonder with the Grid Azura. Simple features like that, along with the wearability of the shoe is why the collab between the 2 deserve a spot in the top 10 of 2023.
- By Tyler Schlotter
8. New Balance - Action Bronson x 990v6 Made in USA ‘Baklava’
This is a match made in heaven. Action Bronson has long worn, rapped about and even tattooed his love for New Balance. A partnership between the two was long overdue. The Queens, NY artist put all of his flare onto this shoe. Mixing and matching colors that shouldn’t work but somehow do. It is highly representative of Action Bronson’s life, and interests. In an era that has seen many earth toned minimalist colorways this shoe was refreshingly loud. Sometimes you just need that shoe that will break necks. Much to the shagrin of many sneakerheads the 990v6 is quite Hoka adjacent. With this project Action Bronson was able to make this model more appealing. If there is one thing that New Balance knows how to do it is fashionable comfort. To quote Bronson himself, “This shoe combines the best of both worlds with sportiness and comfort in a midsize sedan.” New Balance has been commanding more and more attention in the market and propelled by Action Bronson’s energy they maintained their positive momentum in 2023.
- By Camden Carr
7. Union LA x Bephie's Beauty Supply x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG SP 'Summer of '96'
There are two things owner of Union LA Chris Gibbs does better than anyone in the sneaker industry, story telling and referencing sneaker history. With the latest project between Nike and Union LA, Chris Gibbs once again proved why he is one of the best in the business. When the rumors of another Union Air Jordan 1 initially surfaced, Gibbs confirmed the rumblings by saying “this will be unlike anything you have ever seen.” Upon officially revealing the sneakers, we learned what he meant. The Jordan 1 high featured a unique design element pulled from the Nike Footscape Woven. The triple collab between Nike, Union LA and Chris Gibbs’ wife’s company Bephie’s Beauty Supply recalls the summer Chris and Beth first met. The woven section of the shoe not only represents a piece of sneaker history but also Chris and Beth’s marriage. The sneakers not only boast a unique design but they also feature premium materials. The leather and suede used is of high quality and the careful construction provides confidence of a long lasting product. The sneakers were initially well received but as time has passed they have increased in popularity. Every element of this shoe, its story and creators fit seamlessly together as does it in our top 10 list.
- By Camden Carr
6. Nike Terror Squad x Air Force 1 ‘Blackout’
This release was the most sneaker-history-esque drop of 2023. Fat Joe (the man behind the New York Hip-Hop group Terror Squad) has had a long relationship with Nike, some of which was unsanctioned by the brand. In the early 2000s Joe was rocking Terror Squad Air Force 1s that he had paid someone at Nike to make for him. Given that at the time Fat Joe and Nike did not have an official relationship these exclusive shoes raised eyebrows and quickly became the talk of sneaker culture. Fat Joe has long been lauded as one of the preeminent sneakerheads and finally with the release of the TS Air Force 1, Nike acknowledged all that he has meant to sneakers. Additionally, the shoes celebrated 50 years of Hip-Hop as well as the 20 year anniversary of the Greatest Pickup Game Never Played. The nod to history and story telling seen in this release encapsulates everything we love about sneakers. The quality of this sneaker cannot be overstated. From the metal detailing, to leather sock liner it carries a premium feel. This shoe also boasts some of the best leather of any release this year. The intersection of quality and culture is why this sneaker deserves all the praise.
- By Camden Carr
5. Travis Scott x Wmns Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG 'Olive'
Would any top 10 list be complete if there wasn’t a Travis Scott x Jordan collab? There were a couple drops between the 2 in 2023, but the shoe that makes the list is without a doubt the women’s release of the Air Jordan 1 low in the Olive colorway. This is a similar color palette that we have seen Travis use in the past in his Jordan 6 release back in 2019. However, the execution on this pair was far better. The use of the white upper paired with the black swoosh played a large role in making an olive green colorway wearable. Not to mention the low-top Jordan 1 may be Travis’ most consistent silhouette throughout his series of releases with Nike. The pairing between the 2 is something that we have become all too familiar with over the years, and with the anticipation that comes with every release I doubt that there is an end in sight.
- By Tyler Schlotter
4. Nike Corteiz x Air Max 95 SP ‘Rules the World’
When debating the list it quickly became clear this deserved to be high on the list. This shoe reminds us of what sneakers are all about. The London based streetwear brand released three Air Max 95s for their debut project with Nike. Each colorway exclusive to a different city, NYC, London and Paris. Each colorway’s release sparked pandemonium in the cities they were available in. Corteiz released the shoes first-come-first-serve at unannounced locations. At a set time a billboard in each city revealed the coordinates where the shoes could be purchased. Thousands of sneakerheads sprinted, biked, and in Paris even surfed on top of city buses to get to the store where they hoped to purchase the shoes. On top of all of this the shoes themselves are phenomenal. It is rare that leather is used on Air Max 95s, these pairs feature full grain premium leather on the uppers. The darker coloring of the shoes are highlighted with colorful accents. Even after the initial excitement of the drops these shoes have maintained their standing. All of these reasons make these sneakers one of the very best to be released this year.
- By Camden Carr
3. Air Jordan 3 Retro ‘White Cement Reimagined’
Where do I start? A retro of what is arguably the greatest shoe of all-time, the birth of the jumpman, almost single-handedly responsible for saving the Jordan line with Nike back in 1988. There is an argument that if this shoe had not been created that the sneaker culture could be vastly different. The 2023 release pays great homage to one of the most important shoes to ever be released while both adding modern flare and staying true to the roots of the original silhouette. Without a doubt, this shoe needs to be on every top 10 list every year that it retros, however only a few drawbacks hold it from our top spot on the list. The yellowed outsole and worn look that stays consistent throughout Jordan Brand’s “Re-Imagined” series was probably best executed on this pair out of all the offerings of the series. Personally, I wish they would have used a similar cut and shape of the original 3 or even the retro that dropped in 2012. The slim cut and a differently shaped tongue, in my opinion, are the 2 main setbacks that the shoe has. Although it is still a beautiful colorway, and one of the most wearable Jordan shoes to release this year, the minor changes and inconsistency hold the shoe back from that No.1 spot. Nonetheless, an iconic shoe that deserves love from everyone in the sneaker community. In my humble opinion it should hold a space in the top 5 of every list, every time the shoe retros just based on history alone.
- Tyler Schlotter
2. Nike Jarritos x Dunk Low SB
In one of the least expected collabs of 2023, we got what could be argued as the best sneaker of the year. A true cultural crossover brought major anticipation for months and the results did not disappoint. A truly beautiful sneaker with classic colors that many associate with the University of Miami that just flows perfectly. Along with a canvas upper that we don't commonly see on SB Dunks. Outstanding details such as the “Jarritos” labeled on the heel of the shoe and the Jarritos logo presented on the shoe are outstanding hits that really stand out and catch the eye. Oh, and not to mention that Nike threw in a pleasant surprise with the tear away upper, making each sneaker fairly customizable for those lucky enough to snag a pair. For me personally, this is the perfect collab that I never expected. Hits of nostalgia as I remember the love my younger self used to have for Jarritos drinks (especially the Pineapple flavor). The clash of 2 of my personal favorites, Jarritos and Nike sneakers instantly made this shoe a personal favorite for me. However, the beautiful execution of the shoe itself is what makes it land as our No. 2 shoe of 2023.
- By Tyler Schlotter
Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 Retro SP ‘Pine Green’
A lot is required to claim the title “Sneaker of the Year” and this pair hit every mark. This highly anticipated sneaker was the result of a calculated two-year project. When rumors began circulating about the possibility that a Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 was on the way it was met with much enthusiasm. Later, images of Paul Rodriguez and Eric Koston surfaced wear-testing an all-black pair of the sneakers, which nearly broke the internet. When it was revealed that they would be a white/green colorway people suddenly weren’t so sure but when the official images of the shoes were published it was evident they were winners. The white and green paired with gum hits on the outsole tied the shoes together perfectly. The sneakers had also been retooled to make them more comfortable and skateable. The removed forefoot air bag created more board feel for skaters. With this release, Nike managed to make one of the more uncomfortable pairs in the Jordan line, comfortable. To quote DJ Clark Kent, “They should probably make all 4s the way they made these.”
- By Camden Carr