It’s been a while since I have attempted to do a top kicks of the year list. I’m saying kicks, because this list will be a combination of sneakers and boots. I took a break from it because I was so deeply involved in resale and writing books in 2019, and in 2020 I was trying to make up financially for 4 months of quarantine. I’ve been checking out the top sneakers lists on other sites, and they leave a lot to be desired. My lists are built on the following aspects from 2017 and 2018 M.A.P.P.S. and F.I.N.S. I will look at other sites, but my goal is to refrain from placing Air Jordan Retro products on the list because simply taking a model that gained prominence in the 80s and 90s and adding new materials, isn’t daring or innovative. The story may be compelling, but a Retro 1 is over 35 years old. This doesn’t mean everything here will avoid a retro vibe, but any sneaker site can say the Jordan 1 is dope.
I’m attempting to focus on sneakers made this year that weren’t created for another generation. There are one or two exceptions to this rule. If a shoe was created in the past, but it was never released in a bevy of colors already, that shoe can make the list. Shoes can be inspired by classic design, but putting an Air Force 1 or adidas Forum, feels a bit too easy. A sneaker like the Saucony Food Fight was a great release and sold through quickly, it has already been made and updated in a variety of styles. The Saucony Shadow or 6000 won’t be making an appearance (although a few years ago it was my number one release), and it will also stop the ASICS Gel Lyte from showing up here (so don’t look for a Ronnie Fieg on this list because they reissued a classic). This list will be unlike any other sneaker site but that’s to be expected, my personal sneaker go-to kicks are from Clarks, Converse, COMUNITYmade and Karhu (yep, a few of those make an appearance). I really like a lot of the work from brands that may not be as familiar. I hope you discover a few kicks you haven’t seen before and check out the brands on the list.
Why These Shoes Were Chosen
NOTE: When you see this logo, the shoe was made to be more sustainable than traditional releases. This doesn’t mean that it’s perfect for the environment, but it does show that a brand is being more thoughtful.
M.A.P.P.S.
Materials – Premium materials are important to me… very important.
Aesthetics – the way the shoe looks, colorway, cut… some of the shoes that could have made the list didn’t because I’m officially calling empty toebox/forefoot designs LAZY.
Price – Premium materials = a high price, but sometimes a company keeps it premium and cost effective and this will rank them higher.
Packaging – When a company follows through and delivers you a pair of shoes and the packaging is dope along with the shoe itself, it’s a win-win.
Storytelling – What was the creation process and why was the shoe developed? What’s the shoe’s story?
F.I.N.S
Functionality – While this doesn’t rate as high on my list as it should, I few of the shoes here were designed for use and in creating the shoe for use the design stood out.
Interesting Design Elements – Last year materials were really influential. That remains true this year, but I know one of these shoes the everyday person, and even sneaker culture may not have ever heard about before. The shoe has to make you double take.
Narrative – There aren’t many retro models on the list. The models that are retro have a dope narrative around them. As a matter of fact all of the shoes have a great story attached. Storytelling in footwear is becoming a lost art as brands are relying heavily on Instagram and imagery primarily to sell kicks. That’s not a good thing when an image is the only thing to drive interest.
Sales – I sold over 6,000 pair this year (That’s as a one man buying, packing and shipping department). A couple of these shoes are here because they caught fire and stood out as something completely different from what is assumed to be a hyped model.
#20 Sia At 35 she wins a Bronze in the 400m
Somewhere in America began as a brand copying more popular brands. It transitioned to a limited drop brand delivering a higher quality sneaker via some of the most compelling marketing on Instagram. The company works off of the tried and true model of supply and demand, but that doesn’t guarantee success. As one of two Black-owned companies on this list, SIA is a model for small business and should be studied for how they’ve been able to accomplish what Kickstarter does for countless brands starting up. The drops are ‘word of mouth’ and they only last a limited time. Go to the website now and there aren’t any products available. When they are gone, they are gone. I usually avoid listing shoes that aren’t attainable, but there are a few on this list. I placed them here because they don’t look like anything else, or they use materials other brands are utilizing, but there isn’t any risk for bigger brands to venture outside of the box with materials. For a smaller brand, taking risks with an almost all cork upper, is a bold move. While I don’t think anyone would skate this, the Vultr Kickflip doesn’t look like anything else dropped this year. |
#19 Veja V-10 Suede MultiColor Natural Babe
Veja is a brand rooted in a better method of make, but they aren’t really considered popular until they create a collab of some sort. While there aren’t any Air Force 1s on this list, you can see the clear inspiration of 80s court shoes in the design. Why did I add a retro styled shoe similar to the AF1 instead of hyped AF1? Because this outsole: Amazonian rubber (31%), rice waste (22%) and recycled rubber (12%), and the upper combine to be both beautiful and better for the environment. While there are Nike Air Force 1s with Grind material, they are “up to” 20% recycled. This shoe has been designed from end to end with thoughtfulness. It’s just a fresh color too. |
#18 Filling Pieces Curb Era
This pair is sold out, but it’s not in resale anywhere. You won’t be able to pick it up anywhere and I regret that I didn’t pull the trigger, but in a year where the Nike Dunk has become a resale staple hitting numbers as high as 600 per pair for synthetic leather sneakers, The Curb Era is an alternative that is just plain dope. When placed side by side, the Dunk looks like what it is, an inexpensive heritage model from Nike that has been given a hyped status because of who is wearing it, not because of how it’s made. Possibly the only classic court style that could stand up is the NB 550, but then again, the materials there can’t compete either. FP has created a line named 683 that discusses how they are moving all of their styles to a more eco-conscious method of make, so the Curb Era is here for that reason as an acknowledgement of that decision. |
#17 Ecco Chunky (Multicolor/Toffee) – Women’s
The ECCO Chunky is a highly unlikely sneaker to make a top 20 shoes list. The brand isn’t as prominent as most sneaker brands, but for a company that manufacturers their own shoes, they are by default a lot more sustainable than other brands. When you add the development of their Dri-Tan innovation which uses less water for tanning leather, their eco-friendly approach to making kicks is an added bonus which could see the company, with the correct steps, become a serious player in the U.S. market with releases like the Chunky. The shoe has a Yeezy aesthetic with much better materials. |
#16 New Balance BB9000 At 35 she wins a Bronze in the 400m
When this shoe was introduced, it got hardly any hype, which was surprising. I guess the collabs with Aime and Salehe on the 550 kind of pushed this lifestyle model to the side. I had an extremely difficult time not putting this shoe in the top 10. What New Balance did was to create a new silhouette in basketball lifestyle. It was a bold move since hoops sneakers aren’t selling very well in the U.S.(there is an exception here and it’s in the top 10) and to be honest their signature Kawhi basketball shoe is a dud if it’s a GR. This shoe though… should be the collab model for New Balance and it should be redesigned as a true hoops model. Basketball kicks are fairly boring now. They all tend to be made with mesh, or knit, with overlays for strength. There isn’t any old school design being carried over to capture some of the OG elements which inspired interest in kicks. New Balance has a model that should be taken and redesigned by a number of designers. This shoe feels like the future and like a classic at the same damn time. |
#15 Erem Xerocole™ Expedition Boot
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#14 Brandblack Milspec White
While I do have a tendency to lean to functionality and sustainability in design, sometimes I just place a sneaker on a list because it’s dope. Brandblack is a brand that functions like a farm. They produce products that inspire other brands. The two man team helps to give Vibram a testing ground for their outsoles and the outcome is that other brands seem to benefit more than Brandblack. I own four pair. One I can’t wear because it’s too small and I need to sell or donate it, but the rest are straight up fashion staples I wear to flex and make people take a second look. In the intro I listed my go-to sneakers. I forgot to say Brandblack. This Milspec feels like a sneaker that Virgil (RIP) wanted to make, but didn’t get around to. It doesn’t look like anything else and with a Vibram Wraptech outsole, it probably doesn’t perform like anything else. The joint is also water resistant. If you think I’m lying about the Milspec, go find a picture of the Nike Blazer Jumbo and then come back and look at the Milspec. |
#13 Salomon Fell Raiser for GR10K Bleached Sand / Kangaroo / Vanilla Ice
On first glance you would think this shoe is a waterproof hiker ready for an adventure. It’s not. It’s a limited collab and although I tend to avoid listing shoes that will be difficult to find, I keep coming back to the look of this shoe. In the middle of these sneaker boots, if this model had a better explanation of sustainable qualities, it would be higher. I think it’s made of recycled uniforms, but that’s a bit unclear. It doesn’t get my green leaf, but it definitely gets my #personalfavorite As much as I’d like to stop buying shoes, when I see the Milspec and this shoe, it puts me in my urban hiking bag and I want to rock these on a city excursion. |
#12 adidas Terrex Free Hiker Made to be Remade
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#11 Clearweather® Contera Galaga
I’m not choosing this because I was a huge fan of the video game Galaga, I’m choosing it because building a sneaker that doesn’t look like anything on the market is difficult. Building that shoe with premium materials and a price to match is almost sneakercide for a new brand. Clearweather’s sneakers should be more highly regarded. Sizing is always an issue with the brand, but they have a great return policy and once a year they mark down some of their dopest releases to invite people who just discovered the brand to check them out. This shoe reminds me of Nike’s heyday win they rolled out cross training sneakers and ACG models like the Mowabb with a similar color palette, but the comparison ends there. The Contera is an eye catching pair and when compared with other shoes on this list, it stands out for both materials and design. |
#10 COMUNITYmade Traction 2.0 Brick
This sneaker began in my top 20 but moved into the top 10. It’s made with a 85% recycled midsole. That’s an extraordinary number. The shoe is also made once you order. It’s not shipped from China or Vietnam, it’s made in Downtown Los Angeles. The shoe is handcrafted and if you decide to customize it, that can be done as well. When you consider the distance and power it takes to build sneakers in another country and then import them to the U.S., you probably don’t think about how much carbon is generated. COMUNITYmade is a #personalfavorite of mine and I own several pair which stay in the rotation. I don’t have the Traction 2.0 yet… but an all white with grey suede is definitely on my menu. It moved up for one reason major reason, functionality. While it isn’t listed as a performance option, this is the brands move towards making performance sneakers. They have a few pair being tested for skate and they’ve added a lot of Vibram outsoles. If they venture into performance and gain enough traction to decrease the price a bit, this brand will scale. |
#9 Clarks Tor Run
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#8 Nike Zoom Alphafly Next Nature
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#7 Under Armour HOVR Summit FT
We have two pair of these in the house. My wife and I have owned them since they first released in 2020. They arrived in a ridiculously limited drop from UA and to Friends and Family. The shoe finally got a broader release this year and most people wouldn’t expect it, but the shoe sold through in 6 different colors. There are only broken sizes remaining in a few of the less bold colors. This model is in no way a quiet and subtle option. It’s a straight up Killer Bee combination that would have had my money, but the size 13s were gone on the first day and I missed the drop. HOVR FT is one of the bounciest, cushioned rides you can find. My wife has a salmon pair and hers came with the zip-off collar which makes the shoe look like something an urban ninja would wear. It’s easily the best shoe Under Armour has ever made. |
#6 Veja V-10 Suede Storm Hydro
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#5 The North Face Traction 2.0 Brick
When The North Face announced it was getting into the running business, I said ‘huh’? When TNF said that the shoe would be an ultra-running model, it made sense. I had a chance to view the wear testing videos when they were launching the shoe. There were videos on the homepage of the site and it was one of the best looking introductions to new tech this year. Vectiv is the cushioning system which is built as a rocker meant to propel you forward. TNF also implemented a 3D TPU plate for stability. Trail running is a taxing sport. The distances are long and the terrain causes the foot to shift in every direction. While I wouldn’t expect many people to be interested in an ultra-running trail shoe, you’ll find this version a bit more people friendly with suede overlays; it’s beautifully crafted. I’ve said this once before on this list, the designer of this shoe was undoubtedly inspired by the ACG Mowabb. Nike dropped that shoe again this year and it should be on this list, but by my own rules I had to leave it off. I guess the Vectiv and Contera are both my way of paying homage to what I think was one of the best retro releases of the year. Don’t get me wrong, this shoe stands on its own, and when paired with TNF apparel, it’s fly asf. |
#4 Allbirds x adidas Futurecraft.FootNike Air Zoom
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#3 Top 20 Sneakers of 2021 GT Cut
It’s not made sustainably. It’s not a Jordan. I have to be honest, the moment I held this shoe I said Nike designed this for Kobe. I haven’t wanted to hoop again more than when the GT Cut came into the shop. From the moment this shoe dropped it was one of the biggest shoes in resale and while many people are completely unaware that it released, when you begin looking at the technical aspects of the shoe, you understand why it ended up here. The Zoom Air Strobel which showed up first in a KD model, arrives here. It also has a Kobe like drop in React cushioning midsole. The heel is then given a bit more cushion with a Zoom Air heel unit. I’m sure someone is reading this and saying how is this the #3 sneaker in 2021? I really do feel that the model belongs to Kobe. On the lateral side are dots similar to Kobe code and the molding on the side creates lines that hint at a carbon fiber midsole. Maybe it’s my hope that Vanessa will work out an arrangement with Nike and the Kobe line will return and this model will become Ja Morant’s signature sneaker. But take a look up and down this list and you won’t find better lines on a single sneaker on this list. This shoe looks like speed. How can I put it in the top 5? This is the model where Nike recaptured the spirit of the late 00s when Nike Basketball was killing it. We were getting packs that included Kobe, KD and LeBron. Basketball shoes were still a part of sneaker culture. That time has passed, but this shoe felt like a moment and with a Gold medal, it’s a part of sports history at a time when the world is catching up with USA basketball… The GT Cut is a quiet understated moment from a brand that hasn’t really been innovative in hoops in a while. I also think it’s a last hooray as USA basketball probably won’t win gold the next go around. |
#2 Off White x Air Jordan 2 Retro Low
I know, I know, I said I wouldn’t put a retro on the list, but… Virgil. Is this a sentimental pick? Yes. Is it based on a bit of hype? Of course. Is it rooted in a shoe I love that most people really don’t like at all? Definitely. If you take a moment to look at my videos on this site, you’ll see in the background a lot of Jordans on the wall of my office. Those pictures were taken by my daughter a couple of years ago when she was 11 years old. We took my Jordans and visited different areas around the city and she would drop the kicks and take pictures. One of those shoes is my Air Jordan 2 Retro QF 2010. For years while I was working on my own brands, I couldn’t wear other sneakers. I was trying to build something. I finally broke down and bought a shoe that I’ve always admired since I saw a friend be the only person in school with them. The Air Jordan 2 looked like a luxury vehicle when it first arrived. Only the dope boys could afford them. I was an adidas head, but I always wanted the Jordan 2, hell I wanted all Jordans, but the way our family finances worked, we ate fried bologna sandwhiches… In 2010 while I was working on my basketball shoe for my brand arch, I got the QF version. I didn’t get to wear them much. When my son hit 13 years old his foot also hit size 13. I gave him all of the shoes that I had collected, but couldn’t wear. One of those was the 2010 QF. He destroyed that sneaker. Come to think of it, he destroyed some heat, lol. My daughter took a picture of that Jordan 2, and it hangs on my wall. That’s what sneaker culture is about, the stories. While no one ever really had a shot at getting the Virgil Retro 2 Low, I respected that he chose that model to put his spin on. I respect it even more now that Virgil is an ancestor. Is this kind of a copout? Not really… I didn’t make it number one, because this story doesn’t hold up against the number one shoe in 2021 for arch. Keep reading. RIP Virgil Abloh |
# 1 Saysh One/Saysh Track Spike
One of the greatest athletes in the history of track and field, gets pregnant with her first child. Her sponsor and the brand she’s repped for years, cuts her funding because she’s pregnant. That same brand is later found to sponsor a track and field program that ended the careers of women sprinters and abused those same women. The world gives Nike a pass and celebrates every drop making Nike the biggest sportswear brand in the world. The athlete leaves Nike behind. She has to get a C-section to deliver her baby girl. She begins to train again. A Gap Brand, Athleta, steps in to sponsor and endorse this athlete who could be on the road to becoming the most decorated track and field athlete of all time, but she has to fight back as one of the oldest athletes in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. She fights her way back and makes it to the Olympics. At 35 she wins a Bronze in the 400m individual. She then runs second leg in the 4x400m and wins gold. The amazing thing is, she accomplishes all of this as the first athlete to ever medal wearing their own shoes. Find another story like this in sneakers and challenge me on this. Allyson Felix won “11 medals which leaves her as the most decorated woman in Olympic track and field history, and with more athletics medals than any other American,” and she did it in a brand she developed. |