Best Sneakers of All Time Lifestyle
Air Force 1
The Nike Air Force 1 feels like as good a place as any from which to start this list. It is an understatement to call this an important piece of basketball history. The modern basketball sneaker takes many cues from this on-court icon. Debuting in a leather construction with ankle protection and cushion, it is the foundation of basketball’s “Golden Era.”
The Air Force 1’s success continues today. Leading names in today’s hip-hop scene show reverence for this model regularly. Most notably, Travis Scott brings about a breath of fresh air for this unmistakable silhouette.
Air Max 1
The Air Max line is the historical backbone of Nike’s running revolution. The brand does start off as a running experiment to kit out track athletes. This eventually grows into the design and development of recreational running shoes. Still, the Air Max line pushes that to a whole new level.
The audacity of exposed Air bubbles is a concept that debuts on the Air Max 1. What also makes this one of the best Nike sneakers of the modern era is how it remains in our conscience. This runner is a favorite of both avid OG collectors and consumers of contemporary hype. Versions like the AM1 Parra, the hybrid Air Max 1 Safari, are just two of the latest highlights.
Air Jordan 1
In the early days of Jordan Brand, they exist under the Swoosh’s umbrella. This critical model is what eventually sells Michael Jordan on staying with the brand for the foreseeable future. Fascinatingly, the man who loved the low-riding Converse Chucks is swayed into the robust midsoles of the Air Jordan 1.
Air Huarache
Today, it’s common to see a sneaker boast that it’s “breaking things down to essentials.” Well, the first major release in this category is the Nike Air Huarache. In 1991, this is one of Tinker’s grand achievements. The one-piece neoprene construction and caging come together beautifully, making this yet another coup of the early 90s runners market.
It’s also a running combo of some older best Nike sneakers design practices. Today, it maintains its position as a go-to even for those of us who don’t count sneakers as an obsession. In fact, the Nike Air Huarache is one of the top sellers for the brand in 2018.
Nike Waffle Racer
It’s far from the first thing that comes to mind on a list of the best Nike sneakers of all time. Regardless, the Waffle Racer is about as pivotal to the brand’s history and progress as it gets. The story behind it is unbeatable as well. Bill Bowerman is sitting with his wife for breakfast when he notices their waffle iron as it works.
In those days, he’s still looking for a way to change how track athletes see their performance footwear. The waffle pattern prompts him to get off his seat and head straight into his in-house lab. Taking a urethane mix, he pours it into the waffle iron and a running revolution is born. How’s that for a background?
Nike Cortez
The Cortez isn’t immediately a candidate for one of Nike’s best sneakers. It’s still worth noting that its initial release sees positive reviews. This is Nike’s first real attempt at sweeping through the market with an option for track runners.
As solid as it is from a functional standpoint, the Nike Cortez finds itself in the wider culture-sphere only after its appearance in an equally legendary movie. Today, this sneaker stands in a conflicting spot in terms of its reputation. While still among the best Nike sneakers for many collectors, it’s also a bit of a harbinger in other parts of the world.
Air Jordan 11
It’s hard to understate the importance of the Air Jordan 11 in any context. It represents one of the many iconic moments in Michael Jordan’s history, but it brings more to the table as well. The Air Jordan 11 is the first major basketball sneaker to adopt patent leather on its upper.
The material is a dream come true in terms of its visual appeal. It’s also a huge win because it doesn’t negatively impact performance qualities either. To this day, the Air Jordan 11 is still a go-to for many professional basketball players. At the highest level of the sport, it’s all over the place.
Nike Air Max 90
The Air Max 90 debuts originally under quite a bit of stress. Though the Air Max 1 is a hit, it’s following drops – the Air Max 2 – bring the AM line down a bit. In that contest, the Air Max 90 has to bring up both spirits and revenue.
When it debuts, it sweeps stores and sells out quickly wherever it releases. When it initially drops, it’s known as the Air Max 3. It’s only in 2005 that it starts to carry the name we’ve all come to know and love.
When you talk about the future of footwear, one of the inevitable topics is the Nike Air Mag. This is, after all, one of our first glimpses into a futuristic sneaker industry that seems remotely possible.
Surely that notion gets more than a little help from its movie cameo. In fact, the original version of this shoe makes for interesting news not too long ago. It goes to quite the bid at an auction, thanks in part to that cinematic history.
More importantly for sneakerheads, the Mag effectively ushers in the more recent HyperAdapt.
Nike Air Yeezy 1 and 2
Though their relationship does eventually sour, Nike and Kanye West are responsible for a few remarkable releases. The signature looks the superstar rapper originally plans are a bit lackluster. But, leading up to the Yeezy 1, this all changes.
In an interesting twist, this shoe is allegedly not a big hit internally. Nike executives are initially quite skeptical of the design. In their defense, it was a fairly shocking stray from footwear norms at the time.
Still, iterations such as the “Red October” version of the Yeezy 2 prove that this initial disapproval is premature to say the very least.
Air Jordan 3
This is an easy one. Not only is it one of the best Nike sneaker sneakers of all time, it’s also a mainstay on many people’s lists when it comes to Jordans. From OG’s in the collecting game to those of us new to the Jumpman, the Air Jordan 3 is a no-doubt hit.
This shoe is the first in the entire collection that sports Tinker’s inspiration. It’s also the first time we see the official Jumpman logo, beginning to bring MJ’s brand into its own.
A tumbled leather upper comes together with eye-popping features like that elephant print mudguard to make for a distinct look. It’s an easy way to get that Air Jordan collection of yours finally started!
Nike Blazer
Before their efforts with the Air Force 1, the Blazer is Nike’s first real go at a performance basketball sneaker. This happens in the midst of Converse’s domination in this category.
The results eventually become too great for competing brands to keep up with. At least part of this was thanks to a gentleman we know as The Iceman.
Nike Air Max 97
The story of the Air Max 97 is in two major parts: function and reputation. Firstly, Christian Tresser’s design on this shoe is all about aerodynamics. Nike has at this point figured out what to do about the shoe’s midsole. But the aerodynamics pushed the shoe’s performance to a new level.
It takes inspiration from Japanese silver bullet trains. It also eventually flies from store shelves just as quickly. From a reputation standpoint, it becomes one of the most popular Nike sneakers out there. Italy’s love of this shoe is responsible for a major part of the story. It was there that it finds its cultural footing. It even adopts a nickname: La Silver.
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