Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Step Out in the Best Men’s High-Top Sneakers this Season for 2021

Fall calls for something a little bit different, something a bit tougher and more versatile on the footwear front. Fall calls for high-tops. Specifically, it calls for quality sneakers that blend comfort and classic looks with durability and an added flair to take on chilly, rainy autumn weather. 

The best high-top sneakers blend classic looks with unbeatable style, the kind that you only get when shoes are built to last. These are an upgrade from your low-top summer sneakers, with the sort of durability that fits right in alongside your flannel shirt and your selvedge denim, both of which are fall style classics, too. And since the style is rooted in old-school performance (think of the first basketball shoes, for instance), well, high-top sneakers look great any way you slice it. The time is now to acquaint yourself with a casual pair of kicks you can rock this season and well beyond.

Best Overall High-Top Sneakers: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star

High-top sneakers for men.
Converse

These shoes are an undeniable classic, the sort of sneakers that look good with pretty much anything and stand the test of time. Wear them with jeans or chinos and an Oxford shirt, then add a shawl cardigan for retro, office-friendly style.

Best High-Top Sneakers for Throwback Style: Reebok Royal Hi2 Sneakers

Reebok sneakers for men.
Amazon

There’s just something about these sneakers that calls to mind the ’80s or the ’90s, which makes them a fashionable throwback option. Add in black jeans and a grey T-shirt or crewneck sweatshirt for style that really lets these sleek sneakers stand out.

Best High-Top Sneakers to Wear With Jeans: Levi’s Stanton Waxed Sneakers

Levi's sneakers for men.

The thing with Levi’s is, the famed denim brand now make so much more than just jeans. Note these nubuck sneakers, with eye-catching detailing that pairs nicely with a slim pair of Levi’s jeans this season.

Best Canvas High-Top Sneakers: adidas Nizza RF Hi Shoes

Stylish sneakers for men.
Amazon

The sportswear experts at Adidas know a thing or two about making standout high-top sneakers. This canvas pair offers up an understated take on the classic “three stripes” design, all the better to wear casually with jeans this fall.

Most Sustainable High-Top Sneakers: Cariuma OCA High Sneakers

Sustainable sneakers for men.
Cariuma

Cariuma makes sustainability the name of the game with these sneakers, using ethical manufacturing practices that cut down on waste and utilize repurposed materials whenever possible. The result is a pair of timeless kicks you can feel great about wearing.

Best Investment-Level High-Top Sneakers: Tom Ford Black Cambridge Leather Sneakers

Luxurious leather sneakers for men.
MR. PORTER

If there’s a designer that can do it all when it comes to upgrading your essentials with everyday luxury in mind, it’s Tom Ford. Here, he takes the sporty high-top and turns it into something to be worn with a suit.

Other Sneakers We Love

TAFT Jack Sneakers

Leather high-top sneakers for men.
TAFT

Add some fall-ready design to your footwear rotation with these pleasing, super-cool mixed-media sneakers from TAFT. They’ve turned a suiting pattern into a cool accent for fresh leather kicks. Wear them to dressy dinner parties this season.

Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Sneakers

Nike sneakers for men.
Nordstrom

Nike turns back the clock with these cool-as-can-be, vintage-inspired kicks in a rich fall tone. Wear them with blue jeans and a grey henley for that added pop of fall color.

Vince Flynn High-Top Sneakers

Hight-top men's sneakers for fall.
Nordstrom

Take a minimal approach to your wardrobe with these crisply designed high-top sneakers. They can easily be teamed with tan chinos and a navy blazer for high-low office style.

Editors' Recommendations

Beau Hayhoe
Beau Hayhoe is a freelance men's style writer, consultant and PR pro based in Brooklyn. Beau's menswear and gear writing has…
Here Are the Best Shoes for Leaping Into Summer
Keen Men's Uneek leather sandals

The sun is out and warmth is in the air. That’s right, it’s time to get outside with the best new men’s shoe releases to lace up and get going on the season’s best activities: running, hiking, boating, and lounging. Check out the best shoes for leaping into summer.

Read more
The Best Oxford Shoes for Men To Lace Up in 2022

If the idea of wearing dress shoes feels foreign to you, rest assured that you're not alone these days. It's going to take some time getting used to dressing for the office, or a wedding, or a proper date night again. When the time comes though, set aside your excuses and lace up some of the best Oxford shoes on the market. Of course, your shoes are but one ingredient in getting dressed in refined style once again, but they're a critical component all the same. We're talking about more than just trading in your sweat shorts for something more cleaned up, after all.

Oxford shoes are different than other leather dress shoes thanks to the design of the shoe lacing. They're made using a closed-lace system, in which eyelet tabs for the laces are sewn under the vamp (the upper part of the shoe). This gives them a sleek look and a clean finish, meaning they're perfect to wear with your best suit, tailored corduroy pants, or chinos in just about any setting that requires you to get cleaned up and go all out. The right pairs have the potential to break in over time and mold to your feet, just like more casual sneakers. Selecting the proper pair is as easy as choosing from our favorite Oxford shoes below.
Best Overall Oxford Shoes: Nordstrom Dane Cap Toe Oxfords

Read more
The Best Oxford Shirts for Men to Buy and Wear
Best Oxford Shirts

Every guy's wardrobe should have items that never fail him, no matter the situation, like one of the best Oxford shirts for men. The Oxford shirt is a step up from the humble t-shirt or henley, yet a step down from a dress shirt: It falls right in line to be worn with jeans on the weekend or to be paired with chinos at the office. You can layer one of the best men's Oxford shirts with a V-neck sweater in winter or underneath a trucker jacket come spring.

And best of all, it's a classic men's shirt that never goes out of style (trust us on this). So named for the Oxford cloth used in the original versions, the buttondown collar was a special advance that helped polo players prevent their collars from flapping in the wind. These days, it's still recognized as a "sport" shirt, or one that's more casual than a dress shirt or the type of shirt you might wear with a tuxedo. That's why Oxford shirts are so at home with rugged shawl cardigans or waxed jackets, and they'll even look classy and sharp with one of the best tailored overcoats for men.

Read more