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The Best Sneaker Brands for Men To Upgrade Your Footwear

When it comes to footwear, no shoe is as reliable or as versatile as the sneaker. Below, we’ve rounded up the best sneaker brands based on authenticity, status, and style. Instead of clout chasing and throwing money at overpriced resale platforms, stick to the classics or invest in one of the following sartorial upgrades from some of the best men’s fashion brands.

Adidas

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The brand behind the iconic three stripes started as a sportswear company that has since evolved into a lifestyle empire. Adidas first changed the game with its simplistic Stan Smith styles featuring an all-white leather upper and bright heel tab. By tapping catalysts like Kanye West to head the Yeezy collection, Adidas has safely secured its place in culture. Most recently, Adidas onboarded Fear of God’s Jerry Lorenzo as the head of its basketball division, as well as the newly formed Fear of God Athletics.

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Balenciaga

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Balenciaga began as a luxury fashion house based in Paris over one hundred years ago. Today, creative director Demna Gvsalia has turned the brand’s sneakers into instantly recognizable footwear. From the chunky, trend-leading Triple S’ to the sleeker, sock-inspired Speed Its, a pair of Balenciagas are the ultimate investment sneakers.

Common Projects

Common Projects

While Common Projects is one of the youngest brands on this list, its reputation stands as the quintessential quality minimalist trainer. The brand offers both high and low tops in classic lace-up silhouettes, produced in neutral colorways like black, white, grey, tan and blue. You’ll be able to spot Common Project’s signature gold leaf numbering out the back outsole of each pair.

Converse

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When it comes to American lifestyle shoes, it doesn’t get more classic than Converse. The brand’s iconic canvas high or low tops featuring a signature star include Classic Chuck Taylor All-Star and Jack Purcell styles. The past few years Converse has maintained its cult status thanks to collaborations with Tyler, the Creator’s Golf Le Fleur, JW Anderson and Comme des Garcons.

Gucci

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Gucci was founded as a luxury fashion house in Florence, Italy nearly one hundred years ago. In 2015, Alessandro Michele took over as creative director and repositioned Gucci as a maximalist global brand. In its collections you can find low-tops emblazoned with allover logo-jacquard print, signature watersnake appliques, and/or proprietary red and green stripes. Gucci is one of the best-selling luxury brands for sneakers and its shoe sector is the company’s second-highest source of revenue worldwide.

New Balance

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New Balance was founded as a sports footwear brand in 1906 in Boston. Ever since, its athletic shoes have been sported by athletes around the world. New Balance’s iconic 990 model that features an orthopedic-reminiscent gel cushion and melange of grays has recently gained cult status as the “ultimate dad shoe.” The brand has maintained its cool factor throughout the years, and most recently with thanks to collaborations with Jaden Smith and cult New York brand Aime Leon Dore.

Nike

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Shoe dog Phil Knight founded sportswear brand Nike in Portland, Oregon in 1964. Knight aptly named the company after the Greek goddess of victory and has taken the world by storm ever since. From collaborations with Michael Jordan, Virgil Abloh, Travis Scott, and more, Nike takes the top sneaker spot for both sport and style. Chances are you already have a few pairs in your closet, but should you be on the market we suggest the monochrome classic Air Force 1, the chunkier Air Max 90, a pair of old school Blazers, vintage-esque Cortez, or the unmatched Air Jordan 1.

Reebok

Reebok

Reebok’s classic shoes are straight out of the 80s and 90s, and instantly give off a vintage feel. The brand’s retro classic leather lows in white or black are not only super comfortable but also go with literally everything. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the brand is only looking backward: just last year Reebok tapped Pyer Moss’ Kerby Jean-Raymond as Vice President of Creative Direction.

Vans

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Vans started as a skateboarding brand out of Anaheim, California in 1966. In the past decade, chances are you couldn’t go anywhere without spotting a pair of their Old Skools: a sleek canvas low or high top with rubber waffle outsoles and a signature waved side stripe. While a fantastic choice for any skateboarder, Vans have also proven their stature as a stylish sneaker for any occasion.

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Christian Gollayan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As the former Associate Managing Editor, Christian Gollayan was in charge of the entire editorial team across The Manual. He…
LOEWE reintroduces its iconic sneaker with a modern upgrade
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man tying laces on brown suede sneakers

In 2019, LOEWE embarked on the retro sneaker trend with the release of its trendy Ballet Runners. As one of the first to draw inspiration from the archives, LOEWE’s Ballet Runner became one of the standards for retro footwear and ushered in many similar designs across the industry. While the first iteration of the trainers is still a staple for the retro sneaker trend, LOEWE has decided to once again go back in time for its newest release. While narrow and slim sneakers have slowly crept back into closets, the newest LOEWE sneaker adds some weight to the design for a slightly heavier look emphasizing its unique silhouette. While easy to confuse the Ballet Runner 2.0 with its predecessor, loyal fans will not doubt picking up the new iteration for future footwear trends. 
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Now offered in seven new colorways, the Ballet Runner 2.0 dons a new silhouette and features that make it feel even more updated. With calfskin and nylon uppers and an asymmetrical toe box, the Ballet Runner 2.0 feels different than any retro sneaker you’ve seen released yet. A sock-like internal structure and lightweight rubber outsole emphasize the old-fashioned aesthetic while maintaining some of the premium qualities you would expect from LOEWE. Not to be missed is the brand’s oversized L monogram on the side panel and the embossed logo on the tongue give the sneaker an extra dose of contrast and texture. Complete with tonal laces, this classic retro sneaker is the perfect addition to any wardrobe or outfit. Available via LOEWE’s website, these sneakers retail for $790. Like any LOEWE or designer sneaker, this release is the perfect investment to keep your wardrobe on-trend yet timeless for years.
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ASICS newest boot is far from your classic hiking shoe
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It’s no surprise to find an endless supply of classic chunky hiking sneakers under ASICS’ lineup. The athletic company has long become known for its classic ‘90s-style techy sneakers that can easily handle most journeys. While the brand has changed things with some bolder collaborations, its newest release is far from what you typically find in its catalog. Taking the form of a boot, the latest release is about adding military strength, durability, and design for a rugged and stable shoe. Although the design seems to step out of the norm for ASICS, the boot continues the same premium quality and craftsmanship you seek out of your performance footwear. 
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With their latest release, ASICS’ takes on a sneaker-boot hybrid that invokes some of their most rugged and bulky features yet. Taking on the previously released GEL-YETI TOKYO HI GTX, ASICS is redesigning its nonnative collaboration for a sleeker and darker look. Covered in a black suede upper with GORE-TEX lining, the sneaker boot has both durability and chicness that’s hard to find on the trails. Matte black hardware and contrast stitching allows the design to exude a subtle sleekness emphasizing the premium craftsmanship. While the hybrid design looks and feels luxurious, it remains a practical choice with a quick lace system that gives users easy access. A rugged outsole helps maintain traction and balance, no matter what terrain you’re exploring. This new hue is set to be released via ASICS’ website on February 10 and will retail around $219. While the initial release of this silhouette came as a shock to all, the new colorway evokes the feel of a different type of sneaker boot. While not changing much of the design or features, this new GEL-YETI TOKYO HI GTX is a must-have for all hiking fans.

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From luxe to classic: How men’s footwear is evolving in 2025
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If 2024 taught us anything about the footwear industry, it’s the fact that shoe brands are constantly reinventing the trends. Between never-before-seen silhouettes or unlikely collaboration pairings, 2024 has seen many statement footwear trends and headlines. Brands like New Balance dominated the news with divisive styles like the 1906L, while others, like adidas, remixed sneaker classics like the Superstar.

While there’s no reason to believe 2025 will be any different, many new shoe arrivals are waiting to dominate the market. Whether you’re ready to settle into a classic pair or are excited about one of the bold footwear choices, 2025 will be a fun time for shoe lovers. To get the ultimate look at what pairs are called to be some of the hottest of the year for men's shoe trends, fashion and celebrity publicist Chevy Wolf has shared with us calls on which styles will complete your 2025 wardrobe. 
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