Complex’s Favorite Sneakers of 2025

Ben Felderstein

5. Market x Reebok Club C

This is the most obscure pick in my top 5. The Reebok Club C is my favorite go-to, every day sneaker. There was a period in time where I think I wore a pair for just about six straight months. The classic white is the perfect sneaker for any occasion, but this remixed version by Market covered in wilderness camo is a great twist on a time-tested classic. I don’t even know what Market is, but the second I saw these I knew they were an instant cop.

4. Undefeated x Air Jordan 4

I feel like I’ve written these exact words like seven times at this point. One of the greatest shoes of all time, 72 pairs, they brought it back, people got pissed, those people are annoying, etc, etc. All I know is I own a pair of Undefeated Air Jordan 4s. If you told me that at literally any other point in my life, I’d have assumed that I won the lottery.

3. Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 1 Low

Without question, this is the sneaker I’ve put the most miles in this year. They’re comfy, they go with everything, and I was lucky enough to join Nigel and his team on his Go Ride in all three cities this year, so I have a personal connection to the pair. Jordan 1 Lows are better than Highs folks, Kevin Durant was right all along.

2. Nike Air Max 95 "Mandarin"

This is actually the only sneaker on my personal top 5 that I don’t own, which is crazy if you know anything about me. I’m a sucker for an orange sneaker. It’s become a joke in the Sneakers Slack at this point. I’m not too sure why I don’t own this shoe, but it’s just a matter of time before I finally pull the trigger on Brendan DunneX. In a year packed to the brim with Air Max 95s, this OG return happens to be my favorite.

1. Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 "Brick by Brick"

My personal SOTY doesn’t always align with the consensus, but this year it happened to. It’d be difficult to find someone who had a better 2025 than Nigel Sylvester. The “Brick by Brick” Jordan 4s took over the sneaker world and even the pop culture sphere, hitting the feet of Roman Reigns, Mookie Betts, and more. The Bricks started the year as the SOTY, and they’re ending it that way. Wire to wire.

Breeana Walker

5. Converse Shai 001

As an avid basketball sneaker lover, it’s a no-brainer that I would put the Shai 001 on this list. I was lucky enough to wear-test this shoe before its release, both on and off the court, and it’s truly a multipurpose silhouette. As a retired hooper who also likes to put together a fit, this shoe makes a seamless transition from lifestyle to performance. I can’t choose a specific colorway because they’re all great to me. However, Shai and Converse creating different colorways as a nod to his loved ones is both genius and meaningful.

4. Pharrell x Adidas Virginia Adistar Jellyfish

I don’t think Adidas and Pharrell have had a major hit in a while, but that changed in 2025. Just as sneaker trends shifted toward slimmer silhouettes, they dropped the chunky Adistar Jellyfish—and it works. It’s easily one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn, and despite its structure, it looks surprisingly small on foot. The release had a similar energy to the original NMD HU. I didn’t expect an Adidas shoe to make my top five this year, but it’s clean, insanely comfortable, and one of the best sneakers of 2025.

3. JJJJound x Salomon XT-6

I think this is going to be one of those sleeper silhouettes we talk about in the following year, and these JJJJound x Salomon XT-6 Nautical Blue Lemon sneakers were amazing. Although I haven’t gotten my hands on them just yet, the shoe is a work of art. The bright blue, yellow, and red, paired with black, create such a vibrant colorway. The bold primary colors feel nostalgic and bring a sense of joy to my inner child.

2. Awake NY x Air Jordan 5 "Arctic Pink"

Coming in at #2 has to be the Awake Jordan 5s. Despite not loving the color pink or 5s for that matter, this shoe is just hard. The perfect shade of pink combined with the Awake “A” logo on the upper is something different that we don’t usually see on the Jordan 5. Along with the rollout of the launch, from the Awake Deli to a full block party, Awake did an incredible job of bringing the community into everything they do, making this one of my favorite sneaker drops and moments of the year.

1. Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 "Brick by Brick"

My #1 sneaker of the year would have to go to Nigel Sylvester’s "Brick by Brick" Jordan 4s. I’m a sucker for details and great storytelling behind a product, and what Nigel and Jordan Brand did with this shoe was one of the best designs and marketing campaigns we’ve seen in a while. Trucking a giant brick around NYC was epic, involving the community cross-country was beautiful, and the perfect brick-red suede on a classic Jordan 4 was an incredible yet simple design. It’s a shoe that encompasses great design and great storytelling, and it sends a universal message about what it means to build yourself—brick by brick.

Douglas Jase

5. Air Jordan 3 "El Vuelo"

It was tough for me to narrow this down to a top five, and honestly, this pair couldn’t be left out. I grew up in a Mexican household, and this Air Jordan did everything right. This is one of those pairs my grandma actually loved. She’s not into sneakers at all, but she’s into luchadores and where she’s from, so it meant something to her. That alone made this pair top five. I haven’t broken them out yet, but I’m saving them for the right occasion. They’ve been calling my name like the Green Goblin mask.

4. Pharrell x Adidas Virginia Adistar Jellyfish "Green"

Despite the hype, the Jellyfish can be a little polarizing, but this pair is abstract in the best way and incredibly comfortable. The glow-in-the-dark detail honestly sold me, too. It gives off a luxury but cozy vibe, which is a balance I really love, and it’s a shoe I wear on an off day. Hopefully I can get my hands on more colorways in the future, because that tan pair I’ve seen Pharrell wear is very good.

3. Bad Bunny x Adidas Gazelle Indoor "Cabo Rojo"

Growing up and listening to Latin music my whole life, I’ve followed Bad Bunny for a while and he’s consistently landed in my top three on Apple Music Replay. Now he’s also in the top three on my sneaker list. I was never super drawn to his previous shoes, but this collection, paired with the album, was a true love letter to Puerto Rico. I managed to get my hands on this pair and the fit is perfect for me. I’ve never really been an Adidas Gazelle guy, but the small details on these like the laces and tongue make me want to grab more colorways. These are definitely going to see a lot more wears this summer.

2. Converse Shai 001 "Butter"

I’ll be honest, as a hooper this isn’t my daily driver. That being said, it’s easily the most versatile pair in my collection and it shows up in my rotation often. I can hoop in them, throw fits with them, and people still stop to ask questions and show love. The Reebok Answer 4 is the sneaker that originally got me into sneakers, and I feel that this pair shares that same DNA. And yes, I own every colorway in these ‘cause the tonal approach makes them easy to style. But the Butter colorway is the one I keep going back to.

1. Infinite Archives x Air Jordan 17 Low

This might be biased, but growing up in the Midwest, RSVP Gallery was my first real experience seeing sneaker culture at its peak in person. Easy absolutely cooked. I was hyped from the teaser pairs he wore, and the final product ended up being a masterpiece. I love sneakers that tell a story or that share history and pairs you can really geek out over—and this one checked every box for me. Still heavy in my rotation.

John Marcelo

5. Undefeated x Air Jordan 4

The ultimate grail. I’m genuinely glad they brought these back and made them widely available instead of keeping them in the vault. I got lucky and picked up two pairs, which is something I haven’t done in years. One to wear and one to keep on ice. It feels like the right way to honor a sneaker of this caliber.

4. Levi's x Nike Air Max 95

I’m obsessed with denim on sneakers. As someone who nerds out over raw denim and is currently deep in the hunt for vintage Levi’s jeans, this pair hits a very specific nerve for me. The 14oz indigo denim upper feels considered and authentic rather than decorative, which is exactly what I want from a Levi’s sneaker crossover.

3. Nike Vomero Plus "Orange Pulse"

As a runner, this is easily my most worn pair on the list. The “Orange Pulse” colorway feels very true to Nike Running’s heritage of introducing new lines with a vibrant hero colorway. It’s a high-mileage sneaker, and the ZoomX sole is plush and responsive, making it my go-to for long runs and recovery runs.

2. Atmos x Nike Air Max 95 "Harajuku"

At ComplexCon, where brands brought their strongest drops, this was the one that stuck out for me, and I was fortunate enough to grab a pair early at the event. With the Air Max 95’s deep roots in Tokyo’s sneaker and streetwear scene, paying homage to the OG “Neon” 95 felt inevitable, and Atmos executed its own take perfectly.

1. Corteiz x Nike Air Max 95 "Honey Blacks"

I always wanted Corteiz’s first Air Max 95 collaboration from 2023, but I could never justify the resale prices. True to Corteiz and its hyper-engaged global community, Clint turned the “Honey Black” rollout into a full moment with activations in London and NYC. I wasn’t outside, but I ended up grabbing this pair on the secondary market for significantly less than the original trio.

Matt Welty

5. Air Jordan 11 "Mojave"

I love NASCAR. I love NASCAR cars that look like sneakers. I love Denny Hamlin and 23XI Racing. I kind of like Air Jordan 11s. But I really love NASCAR. So, to see this sneaker debut at the Las Vegas race did it for me.

4. Nike SB Dunk Low "Rodeo"

I love Nike SB Dunk Low (when they’re good). I love rodeos. I love Western culture. I wasn’t expecting a yee-haw sneaker this year that would be so good, and we got one.

3. Action Bronson x New Balance 990v6 "Untitled"

I love Action Bronson. I love New Balance 990s. I love sneakers that you can wear and that look good. These are all of those in one.

2. Up There x New Balance 991v2

I love Up There. I love New Balance. I love 991s. I love 991v2s even more than 991s. I love premium leather and gum soles. These have all of it.

1. Levi's x Nike Air Max 95

I love Air Max 95s. I love Big Bubbles. I love denim. I love Levi’s (but like Wrangler more). I love Americana. This sneaker blends all of that into one. Easy choice for me.

Mike DeStefano

5. Nike Air Zoom Spiridon

Yes, these technically came out in December 2024, but I didn’t actually wear them until this year. This is the pair that I’ve worn most in 2025. These are classics that look just as good with jeans as they do with some sweats. These aren’t a collab and they didn’t immediately sell out when they dropped at the top of the year. Sometimes a good shoe is just a good shoe.

4. Converse Shai 001 "Hail Clay"

It hasn’t been easy to get a pair of Shai 001s, but I was finally able to. I’m happy I did. What made me want them so much is their lifestyle-friendly design and monochromatic colorways. When I was in high school, wearing LeBron and KDs with jeans was normal, so I’ve always enjoyed when a hoops sneaker comes around that can easily cross over into everyday wear. The Shai 001 restores that feeling perfectly.

3. Adidas Anthony Edwards 1 Low "Champagne"

The AE 1 continued its run into 2025 with some solid low-top releases. The one I scooped up was this variation with a shiny champagne gold upper. Not only did these become a go-to for me with some black sweats for weekend errands, they also hold some sentimental value. Earlier this year, I wrote my first cover story on Anthony Edwards. This is one of the pairs he wore in the shoot. They will always remind me of a proud moment in my career.

2. Basketcase x New Balance 204L

Basketcase has been releasing great products for years, so it was cool to see a major brand finally give them a nod to work on footwear. For its first official retail release with New Balance (and fourth project overall), the Los Angeles-based brand flipped the low-profile 204L with a classic hiker boot-inspired colorway that’s perfect for the wintertime. I’ve worn these almost everyday since I got my hands on them. These were a buzzer beater.

1. Yu-Gi-Oh! x Nike Air Max 95

I wanted to keep my top five list to sneakers I actually own. That’s true for the previous four, but I couldn’t leave this one off. Yu-Gi-Oh! was one of my favorite shows growing up. I had tins full of cards. So, this collab immediately got me excited when I saw the news of its release.

The dotSwoosh team brought Joey Wheeler’s Air Muscles to life. These were perfectly executed, from the special logo hits on the shoe to the limited edition Red Eyes Black Dragon card that came with them. It proved that not every pop culture collab results in something corny or childish. Hopefully, I’m able to add them to my personal collection soon.

Oruny Choi

5. Adidas EVO SL "White/Royal Blue"

Another shoe that took over the running space is the Adidas EVO SL. They first dropped in late 2024 but released in earnest and finally had its moment this year. The people couldn’t get enough of them. The EVO SL is arguably the best new silhouette of 2025 and a shoe that stamped Adidas in a crowded everyday running category. I’m personally very excited to try the water-repellent Adizero Evo SL ATR.

4. Nike Vomero Plus

Nike won back running with the year they had in 2025, and the Vomero Plus was a shoe I saw on people’s feet at every group run or jog in Central Park. I don’t personally own a pair but it’s a shoe that broke through this year in terms of casual wear and performance. These were everywhere.

3. Action Bronson x New Balance 990v6 "Amazonia"

One of my favorite shoes to wear this year. Action has a true gift to bring colors together in a way that the normal person would never think to combine. The “Amazonia” 990v6 is a damn near perfect shoe and was the one no-brainer on my list.

2. Yu-Gi-Oh! x Nike Air Max 95

Anime and sneaker culture have always had an unspoken relationship, so credit to the dotSWOOSH team for nailing this collaboration. Most licensing “collaborations” fall completely flat but this one nailed it on the head. A true “if you know you know” moment brought to life for all Yu-Gi-Oh! and sneaker fans to enjoy.

1. Air Jordan 3 "Seoul 2.0"

As a Korean-American, the Air Jordan 3 “Seoul” 2.0 means something to me. The first iteration of this sneaker was always the one that got away, so to have another chance at it and for it to be much more accessible lands this shoe in my personal Sneaker of the Year list.

Victor Deng

5. Yu-Gi-Oh! x Nike Air Max 95

The Yu-Gi-Oh! x Nike Air Max 95 was one of my favorite sneakers this year, based purely on nostalgia. But unfortunately, like many sneaker fans, I struck out on release day. That being said, I couldn’t justify it being higher than the other pairs on this list, which I actually ended up buying at retail or for a reasonable price on the secondary marketplace.

4. Norda 001A

Norda is probably a brand you’ve never heard of, but for context, it’s a Canadian-based sneaker company specializing in trail footwear. The brand released its new 001A trail runner this year and it’s easily one of the most versatile sneakers I’ve worn, whether it be for a casual walk or exploring the outdoors with the people who are important in my life.

3. Bad Bunny x Adidas Gazelle Indoor "Cabo Rojo"

The storytelling behind Bad Bunny’s three Puerto Rico-inspired Adidas Gazelle Indoors was my favorite this year and it helps that they’re great-looking sneakers. The "Cabo Rojo" colorway specifically was also fairly accessible, which is always a plus.

2. LAAMS x Nike Air Force 1 Low

The LAAMS x Nike Air Force 1 is such a quintessential New York City shoe, and as a native New Yorker it was a no-brainer for me to try and buy a pair. The color scheme is inspired by the green scaffolding regularly seen across the city. It’s such a simple design that just works well on the Air Force 1.

1. Nike Vomero Premium

The Nike Vomero Premium was an easy choice at the first spot for me. I’ve easily put 200+ miles on this shoe since it was released in October, and it is one of my favorite running shoes this year. It’s one of the more daring sneaker designs this year and I think it’s an awesome silhouette overall.

Zac Dubasik

5. Nike Pegasus Premium "Black/White"

The Nike Pegasus Premium looked like something special when it was originally teased in 2024, and turned out to be just that. What I really appreciated though was the way it managed to look unmistakably tech-y without having the borderline comical proportions of many modern running shoes. This particular colorway even had a bit of a Virgil Abloh feel thanks to some extra detailing.

4. Bad Bunny x Adidas Gazelle Indoor "Cabo Rojo"

I love Bad Bunny’s take on the Adidas Gazelle Indoor because it’s subtle while actually changing the pattern of the shoe with its twisted toe design. The “Cabo Rojo” was my favorite of the colorways, and thankfully more accessible than the ones limited to his residency shows.

3. Futura x Nike Air Force 1 Low "70th Birthday"

Nike honoring Futura with a shoe to celebrate his 70th birthday is a great story and worthy celebration, but this shoe is so high on my list simply because I think it looks so cool. The color, material, and graphic package works perfectly, making it one of my favorite Futura x Nike shoes in the duos’ long collaborative history.

2. Air Jordan 5 "Black Metallic Reimagined"

The success of the “Black Metallic Reimagined” Air Jordan 5 is really an anomaly amongst modern retros. In an era where brands are making shoes more and more accurate to the original, it’s ironic that one that purposely changed some details now feels like the definitive release of a sneaker. As far as I’m concerned, if you want a “Black Metallic” 5, this is the only one to get.

1. Atmos x Nike Air Max 95 "Harajuku"

In a year overflowing with Air Max 95s, the Atmos x Nike Air Max 95 “Harajuku” was easily my favorite. It paid homage to the original “Neon” colorway while switching up enough to stand completely on its own. Sure, it’s yet another flip on the colorway most associated with the model, but the change in materials and blocking made it feel like a worthy project that retained the magic of the original and added enough new detail to feel exciting.