15 Best Sneaker Brands in 2023: Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and More | GQ
What are the best sneaker brands? The answer is kind of complicated. The sneaker market is vast and multi-varied, and, let’s face it, “best” is a tad too definitive. We could rattle off a list of the largest sneaker brands by sales per square foot or some other arbitrary metric of commercial success, but bigger isn’t always better. (Though, yes, some of the biggest sneaker brands in the world also happen to be some of the best.) In the sneaker game, cult-loved boutique labels routinely go toe to toe with billion-dollar sportswear behemoths in a cutthroat competition for sneakerhead attention—that’s what makes keeping track of it all such a blast.
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The Best Sneaker Brands, at a Glance
So what truly separates the companies making waves in the sneaker space from the names that could drop a new silhouette overnight without the internet making a peep? A longstanding history of innovation always helps. A deep roster of beloved retro styles to fall back on never hurts. Above all else, though, a reputation for consistently providing a high-quality product tends to do the trick, whether you’re hawking running shoes available at every Foot Locker in the world or high-end, limited-edition kicks that resell for quadruple their asking price.
So consider this, if not a definitive list, then at least a comprehensive breakdown of who’s who and what’s what in today’s sneaker market. Below you’ll find 20 of the best sneaker brands you need to know—including the requisite Nike, Adidas, and New Balance shoutouts—along with a whole bunch of styles they’re famous for. From Italian-made suede low-tops to dependable canvas high-tops, one of these brands is guaranteed to have what you need.
Don’t miss GQ’s definitive guide to everything kicks—from the types of sneakers always worth copping to the best ways to score the next hot drop.
Nike
Suffice to say Nike didn’t become the biggest, baddest name in the sneaker business by making an inferior product. The Swoosh earned its placed at the top of this list through sheer consistency, building out a deep roster of iconic sneakers it’s hard for any other brand to compete with. After over 50 years in the sneaker game, Nike is still the one to beat.
Nike Air Max 90 GTX shoes
$160
Nike
Nike “Blazer” mid ’77 vintage sneakers
$100
Nike
Nike Air Force 1 ’07 sneakers
$110
Nike
Nike Dunk low sneakers
$200
StockX
Nike x Stüssy Air Penny 2
$180
StockX
Air Jordan 1 High ’85 shoes
$200
Nike
Adidas
From retro-leaning styles like the Samba to forward-looking silhouettes like the Ultraboost, Adidas has worked tirelessly to establish itself as a serious player in the sneaker space, hardly content to play second fiddle to Nike’s daunting presence. Over the last few years in particular, the Three Stripes has emerged as the preferred collaborator for some of fashion’s most interesting minds and wildest dressers, linking and building with the likes of Blondey McCoy and Kerwin Frost.
Adidas UltraBoost 22 sneakers
$195
$135
End Clothing
Adidas Gazelle shoes
$100
Adidas
Adidas Originals “Superstar” sneakers
$95
Amazon
Adidas Forum 84 shoes
$130
Adidas
New Balance
Since the early 1900s, the quintessential dad shoe brand has inspired countless imitators, near-singlehandedly catalyzing a craze for unabashedly chunky sneakers that has yet to fully abate. With a Made in the USA line helmed by Aimé Leon Dore’s Teddy Santis and collaborations with the some of the buzziest names in streetwear, New Balance remains an arbiter of geriatric good looks. Wearing the brand’s sneakers is the most effective way to borrow the considerable swagger of a semi-retired Upper East Sider with a penchant for ultra-comfortable, high-quality kicks.
New Balance 990v5 sneakers
$180
Amazon
New Balance 993 sneakers
$200
New Balance
New Balance 2002R shoe
$150
New Balance
New Balance 327 sneakers
$100
New Balance
New Balance 550 shoe
$120
New Balance
New Balance Rainer URAINOG shoes
$175
End. Clothing
Converse
Frankly, the enduring appeal of the Chuck Taylor alone would be enough to merit Converse’s inclusion on this list, but the brand has more to offer than its all-star (heh) product. Go to Converse for OG basketball shoes dripping in retro charm or classic canvas kicks that—yes—will only look better the more beat up they get.
Converse Chuck 70 high top shoe
$90
Converse
Converse One Star Pro shoe
$75
Converse
Converse x Louie Lopez Pro Mid x FA skate shoe
$80
Converse
Converse “Jack Purcell” sneakers
$70
Converse
Converse x Rick Owens DRKSHDW DRKSTAR hi shoes
$265
StockX
Converse Chuck 70 mule
$85
$50
Converse
Vans
Vans are authentic in a way most sneakers can only pretend to be. (The brand’s signature style is, fittingly, the Authentic.) Founded in the late ’60s to service the West Coast skate scene, the company’s affordable, unpretentious sneakers immediately took off among locals and then eventually the whole country, somehow retaining their associations with the counter-culture in the process. To fully harness their power today, make like Harry Styles, who wears his with flared trousers and statement outerwear, or mimic the millions of skaters who adopted the sneakers before you and throw on a pair of Dickies and a big, boxy tee. Their off-the-wall good looks will anchor all your big fits with ease.
Vans “Old Skool” classic sneakers
$70
Zappos
Vans “Authentic” core classic sneakers
$60
$48
Zappos
Vans Sk8-Hi classic sneakers
$80
Zappos
Vans Vault UA OG Authentic LX stressed shoes
$95
End. Clothing
Vans UA Half Cab 33 DX Jungle Clash shoes
$109
End. Clothing
Vans Vault OG Classic Slip-On LX sneakers
$80
SSENSE
Reebok
Founded in Britain, based in Boston, and bought by Germany’s own Adidas in the mid-aughts, Reebok is an international brand through and through, with designs that reflect its far-reaching roots. The brand’s Club C style remains an enduring hallmark of modern sneaker history, a go-to of megawatt A-listers and tapped-in tastemakers alike. If you’re looking for a pair of sneakers with plenty of fashion credibility at a bargain price, Reebok won’t steer you wrong.
Reebok Club C sneakers
$90
Reebok
Reebok x A$AP NAST Zig Kinetica 2.5 shoes
$180
Reebok
Reebok classic leather sneaker
$80
Reebok
Reebok Question mid basketball shoes
$160
Reebok
Reebok BB 4000 II basketball shoes
$90
Reebok
Reebok Nano X2 TR Adventure shoe
$140
Zappos
Puma
When Rudolf Dassler founded Puma in 1948, he set the stage for the most legendary rivalry in sportswear. Up until that point, Rudolf had been working together with his brother Adi on a shoe company headquartered in Germany, before the relationship deteriorated and the two decided to go their separate ways. (Adi went on to lend his name to Adidas, the second-largest sportswear company in the world. Don’t shed any tears for Adi.) Today, Puma is a sneaker powerhouse with a formidable selection of retro-inflected lace-ups, one that remains largely impervious to the type of sneaker trends that cause other brands to change their entire aesthetic identities on a whim.
Puma “Clyde” core foil sneakers
$70
Puma
Puma “Suede” classic xxi sneakers
$75
Puma
Saucony
With over a century’s worth of sneaker-making experience under its belt, Saucony isn’t exactly slept-on. But the brand tends to get a little less shine than some of its glossier, household-name counterparts, despite a roster full of low-key bangers. The sneaker-loving masses’ loss is your gain.
Saucony Originals “Jazz ’81” sneakers
$80
Zappos
Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 shoes
$225
Zappos
Saucony Shadow Original Retro Mountain shoes
$130
Saucony
Saucony Jazz Court shoes
$100
Saucony
Saucony Originals “Shadow 6000” sneakers
$110
Zappos
Saucony ProGrid Triumph 4 shoes
$150
Saucony
Asics
Asics is beloved by the world’s most elite runners for a reason: The brand’s sneakers deliver unparalleled performance all without compromising on the support and all-important cushioning that makes them such a fan favorite. More recently, the fashion crowd has cottoned on to their appeal, yielding delightfully freaky collaborations with industry firebrands like Vivienne Westwood and Kiko Kostadinov.
Asics x Brain Dead x Gel-Nimbus 9 shoes
$200
Asics
Asics Gel-Quantum 180 VII shoes
$130
Asics
Hoka
If it seems odd to turn to France—a country that subsists mostly on caffeine and nicotine—to score your next pair of workout shoes, we get it. But Hoka’s sneakers have always been a little odd. Founded by two ex-Salomon employees in 2009, the brand’s chunky, heavily-cushioned shoes became a fast sensation, favored by long-distance trail runners and StairMaster hounds alike. The biggest testament to Hoka’s influence? When they first debuted, the brand’s distinct outsoles were easy to spot from a mile away. But by 2022, so many brands have copied their signature geometry it’s harder than ever to tell them apart—until, that is, you take a pair from the OG out for a spin.
Hoka Kaha 2 GTX hiking boot
$240
Backcountry
Hoka Torrent 3 running shoe
$130
Hoka
Hoka Bondi 8 shoes
$165
Zappos
Hoka One One Ora recovery sandals
$74
$60
Amazon
Hoka Mafate Speed 4 shoes
$185
Zappos
Hoka Anacapa low Gore-Tex shoes
$170
Zappos
On Running
In a little over a decade, Zurich-based On has established itself as a formidable presence in the running shoe space, chewing off a sizable piece of the market in the process. (Roger Federer signed on as a shareholder in 2019.) Even for brands like Nike and Adidas, getting customers excited about the latest innovation in sneaker technology can be a herculean task, which makes On’s meteoric growth doubly impressive. The key to its success? Cloudtec, a proprietary cushioning technology that promises an explosive take-off without compromising on comfort or impact protection. Fair warning: once you try a pair, it’s hard for your feet to forget.
On Cloud X training shoes
$140
Nordstrom
On X South2 West8 Cloudaway printed mesh trainers
$145
Matches Fashion
On Cloudmonster mesh running trainers
$198
Matches Fashion
On Roger advantage tennis sneakers
$140
Nordstrom
Salomon
Salomon emerged as a fashion-crowd favorite relatively recently (we named the brand’s XT-6 style our sneaker of the year back in 2019) but the French sports brand has been churning out tactical, trail-ready shoes since its founding in 1947. Turns out, all the tired tropes about looking “as good on the slopes as it does on the streets” are entirely true: If you need a sneaker ready-made to take on any terrain, chances are Salomon makes it.
Salomon ACS Pro Advanced sneakers
$174
StockX
Salomon S/Lab Pulsar SG shoes
$180
Zappos
Salomon XT wings sneakers
$160
$96
Salomon
Salomon Acs Pro shoes
$230
Salomon
Salomon XT-Quest 2 shoes
$225
Mr Porter
Salomon RX Advanced slip-on shoes
$140
Mr Porter
Jordan Brand
The industry has changed a lot since Nike introduced the Air Jordan 1 in ’84, but the brand hasn’t stopped coming with the heat since. Today, Jordan Brand counts a roster of sneakerhead-approved styles to its name, but the AJ1 remains the brand’s hero product, a perennial favorite of the biggest names in the design world and the ideal canvas for their wildest interpretations. The Air Jordan 1 birthed modern sneaker culture, and there’s still no silhouette more influential—and few brands with the same cachet.
Jordan 1 Retro Royal sneakers
$372
StockX
Jordan x A Ma Maniére 3 Retro sneakers
$404
StockX
Jordan 4 Retro University Blue sneakers
$444
StockX
Jordan x Off-White 5 Retro sneakers
$315
StockX
Jordan 1 low Fragment x Travis Scott sneakers
$1,110
StockX
Jordan 11 Retro sneakers
$217
StockX
Common Projects
Long before minimalist white sneakers were a bona fide thing, as ubiquitous as fast-casual salad joints, Common Projects was using the type of leather typically reserved for dress shoes to make its trademark streamlined sneaks. Today, CP has no shortage of imitators, but when it comes to simple, quality kicks, the brand with the signature gold serial number still reigns supreme.
Common Projects Decades full-grain leather sneakers
$625
Mr Porter
Common Projects Track 80 sneakers
$560
Mr Porter
Common Projects Original Achilles sneaker
$447
Nordstrom
Common Projects Bball sneakers
$530
Mr Porter
Luxury Designers
Luxury sneakers used to be an oxymoron. No longer. Over the last decade, capital-D designer brands like Gucci and Balenciaga capitalized on the sneaker craze with gusto, churning out hit after hit like Lil Baby halfway through a long night in the studio. Today, every fashion house worth its weight in gratis champagne offers an extensive sneaker selection—some of ’em very good. (Though be warned: they tend to come with a correspondingly sky-high price tag).
Tom Ford “James” sneakers
$990
SSENSE
Moncler Trailgrip sneakers
$750
Mr Porter
Rick Owens Geobasket sneakers
$1,005
SSENSE
Celine CT-05 leather high-top sneakers
$850
Mr Porter
Gucci “Ace” sneakers
$750
Nordstrom
Visvim “Logan” Deck II G. sneakers
$1,035
Mr Porter
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