2024 was quite the year in sneakers. We got more evidence that the pandemic-era sneaker bubble has burst, Jordan retros are sitting on shelves and it’s been the year of the mesh runner with Asics and New Balance suddenly the belle of the ball.
Unlike previous years there was no undisputed Sneaker of the Year. Last year, the Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 was a lock. The year before, despite a terrible release experience the Air Jordan 1 Lost and Found was the runaway champ. This year? Too close to call. That’s why I decided to team up with DraftKings Network’s Ryan Wohl and Bill Yin to take a look at the top sneakers of 2024. We’re different ages and come at sneakers from different points of view. What followed was three totally different lists, and it’s hard to say anyone is right or wrong, which is as it should be. Wear what you like without reservation.
We each listed our top five sneakers of the year and will break those down below. Enjoy!
2024 Sneaker of the Year: No. 5
Bill: Air Jordan 3 Black Cement
The Black Cement kicks off my list at No. 5, but I imagine many people had this shoe a bit higher than I do. This 2024 version of a 1988 icon doesn’t change much from the original and is a remaster of a timeless classic. As a bonus, this shoe doesn’t include the fake “worn out” sail outsole as seen on the White Cement Reimagined from 2023. From Michael Jordan’s feet in the All-Star game to yours, you simply can’t go wrong with this holiday banger.
Ryan: Nike Air Zoom Spiridon OG Sport Red
The OG red colorway of the original Spiridon is back for the fourth time since its initial release in 1997. These sneakers last came out in 2018. This pair has the traditional shiny red Nike swoosh with a white sole and is an excellent shoe with a simple, but great colorway.
Andy: Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue
The Air Jordan 11 is always one of the biggest releases of the year. It’s the most mass-produced Jordan of the year and is one that usually gets leaked at least a year in advance to drive hype. This year was no different, with the Legend Blue colorway returning for the first time in a decade.
I’ve written before that the Air Jordan 11 is my favorite Jordan model, and it’s the design GOAT Tinker Hatfield’s too. MJ was back in No. 23 and back in full effect when this shoe dropped in 1996. It’s an icon, thanks in part to MJ’s MVP-worthy performance in the Columbia Blues in the 1996 All-Star Game.
The 2024 edition of the Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue is said to come the closest to matching the OG Columbia Blues. The colorway is super clean, with the all-white upper pairing the trademark patent leather mudguard with white leather in place of the traditional ballistic mesh found on other colorways of the Air Jordan 11. Even if it isn’t my favorite OG colorway, an 11 is an 11 and it makes my list.
2024 Sneaker of the Year: No. 4
Ryan: Kobe Bryant x Nike Air Force 1 “Home”
Kobe Bryant always had an interesting pair of sneakers throughout his playing career. But before he signed with Nike, he famously wore the Adidas The KOBE (now-known as the Crazy 1s). But in 2003, while experimenting with different brands as part of his legendary sneaker free agency, he wore a pair of white Air Force 1 Mids. The pair had a gold swoosh outlined by Lakers purple.
Twenty-two years after Bryant wore this pair, Nike has finally released them. Although they aren’t the exact pair Bryant wore, they are similar enough. Nike came out with an Air Force 1 Low version with Kobe’s Sheath logo under the swoosh and his signature on the tongue. His then-No. 8 is on the back of one shoe, and his logo is on the other to further make it clear who these shoes are paying tribute to.
Bill: Hidden NY x Asics Gel-NYC
Hidden NY is an Instagram mood board and clothing/accessories brand specializing in footwear, streetwear and pop culture. This Gel-NYC is a beautiful collab that released earlier this year that celebrates Adobe suite; hence the pixelated tiger stripe on the side panel. This shoe hearkens back to the comfort-first, dad-running-shoe Y2K vibe that seems to be resurgent lately in other popular shoe models such as New Balance’s 860v2 and Nike’s Zoom Vomero 5. These are comfortable, high quality and super clean.
Andy: Adidas AE 1
Adidas did a masterful job with Anthony Edwards’ first signature sneaker. Not only did the brand generate buzz with a pitch-perfect ad campaign that got people talking, Ant-Man backed it up on the court blossoming into one the NBA’s biggest names. All the stars aligned perfectly for the Three Stripes.
Of course, none of it would have mattered if the shoe was ugly. But thankfully, Adidas hit a home run with its design as well. For the first time in recent memory, people were hyped for a modern-day GR hoops shoe, with multiple colorways selling out and some even going for above retail on the secondary market. Adidas appeared directionless after the end of Yeezy a few years back, but the Three Stripes might be on its way to riding Ant-Man’s coattails to new heights.
2024 Sneaker of the Year: No. 3
Andy: Asics x Kith x Marvel Venom/Spider-Man Battle Spectra GT-2160 two-pack
This was the year of the mesh runner. It would have been ridiculous not to have that trend represented on this list. StockX earlier this year reported that Asics saw a whopping 600% increase in trade growth in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023, making it the fastest-rising brand on the platform. And it’s easy to see why between material quality and comfort. But for me, the special Asics x Kith x Marvel capsule around San Diego Comic-Con took things to the next level by combining Marvel icons with popular models like the GT-2160, Gel-Kayano 14 and Gel-1130. For the purposes of this article, I’ll have the Venom/Spider-Man Battle Spectra GT-2160 two-pack represent the capsule.
This was the second year in a row that Marvel, Kith and Asics collaborated and this time the theme was Villians. You had the Magneto Gel-1130, the Green Goblin GT-2160, the Silver Surfer Gel-Kayano 14 and the Venom/Spider-Man two-pack. These not only came in special packaging, but they also came with a special edition comic book, some of which were incredibly rare and graded. As always, Kith didn’t miss a single detail and this collaboration was extremely wearable, unique and true to their inspiration. Excelsior!
Bill: Salehe Bembury x New Balance 1906r Heat Be Hot Magma
Salehe Bembury’s vibrant “Heat Be Hot” pack isn’t one for subtlety. In fact, nothing in Bembury’s entire catalog of New Balance collaborations has any semblance of subtlety. Some call these the “Spiderman” pair, and again, nothing subtle about these. The cyan blue lines wrapping around the toe cap all the way around the side panel to the back of the shoe contrast beautifully with the fiery red mesh. The colors here just work. The tooling of the 1906r is the same as other models such as the 2002r and the 860v2, so in other words, these are also extremely comfortable. They’re loud, they’re bold and they pop. Merry Christmas.
Ryan: Action Bronson x New Balance 1906r
In the last two years, legendary New York rapper Action Bronson has collaborated with New Balance to create seven new shoes. He has released three different colorways of the 1906R, two 990v6, one Minimus Trail Action and FuelCell Rebels.
In June, the Medusa Azul pair of 1906Rs was released, featuring a blue upper with a white and silver New Balance logo. Each pair of Action Bronson shoes has unique differences and similarities and remain sought after on the secondary market.
2024 Sneaker of the Year: No. 2
Bill: New Balance 990v4 Made in the USA Arctic Grey
Let’s step away from the hype and the collabs. The 990v4 Arctic Greys were a general release that flew off the shelves immediately. The silver mesh on this pair complements the grey-blue suede that covers most of the shoe. The black N-logo also matches the black accents used in the stitching throughout and creates a cohesive, perfect winter shoe. I also particularly love the blue rope laces which feature hits of grey.
Ryan: Jordan Jumpman Jack
Popular rapper Travis Scott has had a very successful relationship with Nike. They have created multiple Jordan 1 colorways, but this sneaker was the turning point for me. Many celebrities and athletes have gotten their own PE made, but making your unique silhouette is a significant achievement.
This sail colorway features Scott’s usual colors of brown and off-white in an exciting new package. Scott has revolutionized the art of collaboration with a major brand and this signature model shows why.
Andy: Air Jordan 4 Industrial Blue
The Air Jordan 4 celebrated its 35th anniversary this year and did it in style, with not only the Bred 4 Reimagined but also the Industrial Blue (f/k/a Military Blue), which I consider to be the greatest OG colorway of this shoe.
As I wrote earlier this year, even with the name change to “Industrial Blue,” this colorway has all your customary AJ4 things — iconic Nike Air branding on the back heel tab, the famous wings on the back toward the heel, the netting in the middle of the upper, the Jumpman Flight logo branding on the tongue as well as a unique lacing system that allows for a number of different lacing patterns. It’s everything you can ask for in an Air Jordan 4 in a colorway that is almost universally beloved. The Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 was my runaway Sneaker of the Year last year, and the Industrial Blue is a worthy successor.
2024 Sneaker of the Year: No. 1
Andy: Air Jordan 3 Black Cement
The Air Jordan 3 isn’t my favorite Air Jordan model (although it’s close) but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again here. The Air Jordan 3 is the shoe that saved not only the Air Jordan line, but also likely Nike in general. The Air Jordan 3 is an icon and the Black Cement is its most iconic colorway.
Tinker Hatfield hit it out of the park when he designed the 3, taking MJ’s input seriously to create one of the greatest shoes of all time that kept His Airness in Nikes. The 2024 retro is a worthy successor to the Black Cement 3 heritage, with Jordan Brand claiming it is “as close to the feel, fit and shape of the original that released in ’88.” These Black Cement 3s have all the classic Air Jordan elements you would expect, from a tumbled leather upper featuring the iconic elephant print accents to the white midsole with the visible air units to Nike Air branding on the heel. The Air Jordan 3 is a shoe that looks good right out of the box or in its 1,000th wear and there was never any doubt in my mind that it would be my Sneaker of the Year.
Ryan: Air Jordan 3 Black Cement
This was an easy choice for my 2024 Sneaker of the Year. Returning for the first time since 2018, the iconic Black Cement Jordan 3 was on Michael Jordan’s feet for his fourth NBA season, during which he won his first NBA MVP award as well as the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest in Chicago and MVP honors in the All-Star Game itself.
The simple black design, with the original Nike Air logo on the back and the iconic cement print throughout the bottom half of the shoe, makes for a perfect, clean colorway.
Bill: New Balance 991v2 Made in England Inertia
For my sneaker of the year, I went with this colorway of the 991v2, the next evolution of the timeless 991 series by New Balance. This was one of the most sought-after colorways of this shoe and a dazzling introduction to the 991v2 series. The colors here all work beautifully. The hits of rose on the tongue and the outsole contrast with the silver-blue pigskin suede used throughout. The cream synthetic overlay ties everything together. The colors used on this shoe are soft and understated; such is rarely the case when you use red and blue together on the same shoe.
That’s our list. Tell us what you think about our picks, what we missed and what’s on your list of the top sneakers of 2024. Let us know on X at @ByAndySilva, @ryan__wohl, @Fantasy_Yin and @DKNetwork!
To see more of this month’s releases, check out our release date calendar.
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