Each year trends and fads are different, but the search to find the perfect pair of sneakers is without a doubt continuous! You may be looking for the best classic sneaker, the best sneaker for summer, the pair of sneakers with the best leather or retro look, or your all around, any time of day, any occasion shoe. But how does one find the perfect pair of sneakers? Here is a list of the top 3 pairs of sneakers in 2024.

To honestly analyze the top 3 sneakers of the year, research, such as finding the comfiest shoe, the slickest looking shoe, the shoe with the most durability and the one that tops the cake in popularity needs to be conducted. But how do we do this? The majority of people don’t have the time and/or budget to go on a hunt for the perfect pair of shoes, because as we all know, the options are endless and overwhelming. So maybe it’s time to consider other opinions on the snazziest shoes of the year. 

There are six major categories of consideration: timeless classics & retros, style duality, most comfortable, best for athletics and work wear, best back to school sneakers, and best overall. Are any of your favorite shoes on this list?

Timeless Classics & Retros

When we think of a timeless pair of shoes we think of shoes that are hard to forget because of nostalgia! Shoes in popular movie scenes, shoes worn by our favorite singers, actors and TV personalities, shoes that have been fan favorites since long ago. But what makes up this group? 

P.F. Flyers worn by Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez: It’s been almost 35 years since the launch of the internationally loved movie The Sandlot. The 1993 P.F. Flyers worn by Benny is one of the most recognized sneakers in movie history. The classic shoe style has vintage-inspired design elements that can almost guarantee making any of your outfits instantly cooler, and, as said in the film, “shoes guaranteed to make a kid run faster and jump higher…” This classic set of sneakers is automatically placed in the timeless classics & retros category.

Keds worn by Baby in Dirty Dancing: In Dirty Dancing, Jennifer Grey (who plays Baby Houseman in the film), wore the white sneakers to practice her dance routines and started a trend that everyone followed shortly after Dirty Dancing was released. Emily Culp, CMO of Keds spoke out about  the impact Baby’s white Champions had on the company. “It drove over 10 times the average revenue growth for us [at the time].” Although the movie came out 37 years ago, the shoes still prove to have moxie in fashion as they are currently resurfacing.

Tom Hanks film career spent in Nikes: According to Forbes Tom Hanks has been in just over 100 films and has produced 25 himself. In addition to acting in and producing movies, Tom Hanks has also been quite the trendsetter when it comes to wearing iconic Nike shoes. As seen in Big, Tom Hanks wore the Nike Air Force 2s. The pair of hightops showed up in more than 10 scenes in the movie. Another iconic shoe worn by Hanks is the Nike 1972 Cortez sneakers seen in Forrest Gump. Nike decided to do a re-release of the shoe in 2017, 32 years after the movie came out. Now we know the exact shoes Forrest was running in!

Style Duality

Style duality is an important category. You may be interested in the perfect pair of sneakers that you can dress up and down. In 2024, there are two pairs of sneakers in particular that stood out. 

Adidas Original Samba OG: “The Samba is a timeless icon of street style. This silhouette stays true to its legacy with a tasteful, low-profile, soft leather upper, suede overlays and gum sole, making it a staple in everyone’s closet.” The Samba shoe was originally released in 1949, and grew in popularity in the 1970s. Well, that is, until now… Adidas sneakers have been a massive rage since November of 2023. They range in price from $95 – $7,000. There are more than one hundred different editions of the shoe which makes them extremely versatile. Countless public figures have been caught wearing the shoes!

Nike Dunk Low: The old school basketball shoe has taken on a new life as the most popular silhouette in the world over the past few years. This pair of sneakers has been a closet staple for many people! RunRepeat, the athletic shoe brand, expresses their feelings about the shoe with pleasure: “We just couldn’t get enough of this sneaker’s retro aesthetics! The shoe elevated our style no matter what we paired it with.” We’ve seen rappers, supermodels, and even olympic athletes wearing this pair of Nike sneakers.

Most Comfortable

Finding the perfect pair of comfortable sneakers is extremely important! They allow us to have better posture, support the plantar surface of our feet, help to prevent injury, and above all else make us feel comfortable while completing school, work, and home tasks. The following is a list of the comfiest sneakers of 2024…

New Balance 9060’s: Marketed as a “universal unisex lifestyle shoe”, this pair of sneakers has been nothing but a rage in 2024! This pair of New Balance’s has dual density cushioning, pigskin/mesh, a logo on the tongue inspired by the original 1990’s Lace jewel New Balance sneakers, a visible Y2K aesthetic, and a slurry of different color combinations. On average, this pair of sneakers cost $149.99 U.S dollars. It captures the classic New Balance look, and is said to be a beautiful mashup of their most popular previous pairs of shoes. Seth Fowler, an industrial designer turned sneakerhead youtuber, says the shoe is “pretty comfortable on foot […]. It’s not the most breathable shoe in the world but it is nicely padded […].The midsole of the shoe features absorb cushioning, which makes it soft underfoot and definitely the kind of sneaker you can rock all day with no problems whatsoever!” The popularity of this lifestyle comfort shoe has grown widely in 2024.

Hoka Clifton 9: This pair of sneakers is designed to look chunky and big, but is surprisingly very lightweight, which makes it perfect for running and walking performance. The shoes wide base makes it stable for running, and its mesh upper makes it nice and breathable for that cooling effect after a good workout. Over the past several years, Hokas have been number one in lifestyle shoe wear, mainly because of the endless color options they come in. Celebrities like Jennifer Garner and Blake Lively have been caught wearing this comfy pair of sneakers many times!

On Cloudtilt: On Cloud is very quickly becoming everyone’s favorite sneaker brand. The brand’s shoes are marketed as “the Swiss-engineered performance shoes that can make you feel like you’re walking on clouds.” We commonly find that On’s shoes are designed for running, but the Cloudtilt is the only sneaker the brand offers designed specifically for comfort and walking, which makes it a perfect everyday, lifestyle sneaker. The midsole of the shoe is comfortable underfoot, but not too rocker shaped (so you don’t feel like you’re rolling into every step), and it features On Clouds smart sock construction, which means the laces are tied at the end so you can literally just slip the shoe on! Zendaya has become one of the company’s ambassadors, and has been seen wearing the Cloudtilts on a day-to-day basis, which of course has spread the brand’s popularity quite a bit.

Best for Athletics and Work Wear

Finding the best pairs of sneakers for workwear and athletics is important when considering buying a new pair of shoes. For workwear you may want a supportive shoe, a duality in style, and a shoe comfortable around the heel and toes” – “it’s crucial to find this shoe if you are on your feet everyday. For athletics, something that is sleek and aerodynamic, something supportive, and something hip.

Mizuno wave rider beta: This is a type of shoe you can work out in, and then go to work in. The wave rider beta shoe by mizuno features very premium materials. The shoe is springy and takes a lot of pressure off the sole of your foot. This pair of sneakers is on the pricier side at $175, but Mizuno often has really good sales.

On Cloud Cloudmonster 2: On Cloud made our list again! But this time with more cushioning, more propulsion, and added energy return. This pair of sneakers is ideal for both long hours at work, and working out! The cloudmaster 2 has literal gaps of air in the shoe’s sole which gains compression in the shoe to support your feet and bounce your movements.

Nike Zoom Vomero 5: The zoom Vomero 5 features zoom air cushioning to give support in the midsole of the shoe. The shoe came out in the early 2000’s but was sold out multiple times over the past couple of years. The sneakers have a combination of breathable and durable materials that can conquer any mission. The Vomero 5 also has a 4.9 star rating on the Nike website. Pretty impressive!

New Balance Fuel Cell Rebel V4: This shoe is not only insanely light and breathable, but it’s also incredibly comfortable underfoot. This pair of New Balance sneakers has a new technology the brand has launched called Fuelcell. Fuelcell  creates an incredibly adaptive responsive underfoot that can quickly adapt from long, steady runs to something shorter and more spontaneous. Its many colors and interesting silhouette adds fun to your workout, run, or workday.

Best Back to School Sneakers

Along with backpacks, books, pencils, markers and pens, shoes are a very important part of back to school! Ideally, you want a pair of sneakers that are  comfortable, durable and stylish. That being said, this category is pretty broad! Here are the 7 best shoes for the back to school season. 

Adidas Gazelle: We could easily place Sambas, Spezial and Gazelles in this category. But the Gazelle was picked mainly because of its bountiful and wild colors and editions. It’s a sneaker anybody could like! The Gazelle has lace closure, suede and synthetic leather upper, rubber outsole, and can come in some crazy designs. There are the classic Gazelles, the Gazelle bold shoes, and the Gazelle indoor shoes. The sneakers feature chunky padding around the heel to support activities such as skateboarding (the original purpose for the shoe). They pair great with wide leg pants or shorts.

Adidas enlisted industry icon, Kate Moss, became the face of the Gazelle in 2016, “Gazelles were THE trainer we all wore in the 90s… I was and always have been an Adidas girl.” -Kate Moss

Nike Air Force 1 low: This is one of the most well loved and well known sneakers on the list, and most of you reading probably already have a pair or have owned a pair of Air Force 1s. The most popular colorway is obviously the triple white. They match with anything,  can be worn anytime of the year, and they are also surprisingly comfortable. They have an air unit in the upper midsole that feels great on foot. Not to mention, there are also other height options available. In addition to the lows, there are the Air Force mids and highs as well. While their popularity has grown, their price has as well. At retail, the shoe now costs $115 (previously costed $90), for a white pair of sneakers that are bound to get messy going back to school, the price can be a little steep!

Adidas Sambas (again): It looks good, it’s classic, and in terms of money, it doesn’t break the bank because it retails for just $100.

Nike Air Max 270: This pair of sneakers features Nikes visible air technology in its heel to provide extra support and cushioning. This air-max sneaker has been a hit with athletes and collectors by offering both striking colors and lightweight cushioning. It’s a great choice for back to school! 

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star: With this pair of shoes, it seems that no matter how (or when) your style changes, you can always come back to the classic Converse. The shoe includes durable canvas upper for that classic chucks look and feel, ortholite cushioning that helps provide optimal comfort, the iconic ankle patch and All Star license plate, metal eyelets, and a diamond patterned outsole. The shoe comes in many fun colors, and can be matched with any outfit. Public figures such as Billie Eilish and Tyler the Creator have worked with the brand previously, however Converse just released their brand new campaign with singer-songwriter Charli XCX.

Nike Blazers: The old-school look of Nike basketball with a vintage midsole finish. Throwback style with modern materials means you can run, skip and jump into comfort. You can find this shoe most commonly on middle school girls, as it is paired with a hoodie, leggings, and Nikes crew socks. The shoe comes in plenty of fun colors that are cool for back to school. They are also one of the more inexpensive shoes on the list. They retail at $85.

Converse One Star Pro Suede: This pair of sneakers give you both style and performance. The shoe was designed for skateboarding, but this durable, comfortable, and lightweight shoe is great for back to school. It has CX foam cushioning that helps provide next-level impact absorption, elastic bands that lock the tongue in place to provide a good fit and comfort, poly/cotton laces, and the iconic One Star logo. This pair of sneakers retails at $75.

Best Overall

After research, reviews and opinions, these are the top three pairs of shoes for 2024…

Adidas Sambas overview: The Samba sneakers are modern and stylish but still keep that classic original look. Its upgraded premium materials and design make it perfect for everyday wear, as it’s also incredibly comfortable! With its cool 70’s style, flexibility, durability, and fairly reasonable price point, who wouldn’t want a pair of these iconic sneakers? They are totally worth the $100 price point! The only disadvantages of the shoe seem to be it’s slightly narrow for those who have flatter and wider feet, and lacks arch support due to its original purpose, that is, soccer and skateboarding.

Nike Zoom Vomero 5 overview: This Nike shoe is a great example of a shoe meant for running, but surprisingly works as a comfortable and casual sneaker. Its well cushioned interiors keep its wearers comfy and cozy all day. Its Y2K vibes fit perfectly in 2024’s style evolution. The only found cons seem to be thatits mesh upper is easy to tear and or frey, not great for overpronation, and is a little pricey as it sits on the Nike website at $160.

On Cloudtilt overview: The Cloudtilt (a.k.a. The Zendaya shoe) is included in the top three for its crisp and clean style and superior comfort, top 16% most popular walking shoes, top pick in best pair of shoes for walking and standing, and top pick in best shoes for nurses. Along with its Swiss engineering, it also obtains a Swiss price tag, as it’s on the pricier side and costs roughly $160. The On’s only cons seems to be that they are not the most breathable sneakers. But overall, it seems to be a great pair of shoes.

To conclude, these are the assumed top pairs of shoes for 2024. What is your opinion? What are your predictions for the top shoes of 2025? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section down below.