Top 10 Old School Sneakers
Looking for that ultimate list of the best old-school sneakers out there? Looking to find the Top 10 Old School Sneakers? We have them all here.
Whether if it is a retro Air Max or some vintage Nike clothing, it all comes down to diving into brand’s archives and discovering great pieces of footwear design. Plain old-school sneakers are for sure one of the most interesting subjects to address when it comes to sneakers culture.
For sure, there are dozens of experts and collectors out there that know all about a certain model or version. But, what about the others? The ones that just want to grab that great looking shoe that they once saw at a sports store and simply can’t name it?
Nike Air Zoom Spiridon
I have to be honest here, I did not have a great initial reaction to these when NikeLab decided to bring them back. At first glance, they really looked like the most modern effort at a “Dad shoe”, still old school Nike shoes still have all the magic in them.
But, I went ahead and tried on a pair (after seeing thousands of pictures on Instagram) and was struck by the comfort level. Perhaps equally important was how great these looked on feet. Luckily, we can expect some more stellar colorways from retailers like asphaltgold.
Nike Air Max 97 “Silver Bullet”
Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t finish this list without an AM 97 La Silver reference. The Air Max 97 is, as most of us know, more of a cultural symbol than a sneaker.
It stands for a bygone era in Italy, a country that seemed to fall deeply in love with the shoe. Moreover, it’s undeniably gorgeous and represents some of the best of the Air Max line.
Nike Air Max 1
No specific colorway for these because it’s hard to go wrong. A top choice among a huge fanbase, the AM1 is a go-to even for those of us who aren’t necessarily crazy about sneakers.
A versatile aesthetic held up by that legendary bubble, make this model as relevant as it has ever been. Modern releases involve some materials experimentation, like this one.
New Balance 1500
Another easy go-to in this regard, New Balance is all about quality. Over the years, we’ve seen jaw-dropping release after jaw-dropping release.
The “Made in UK” label certainly helps, marking out Flimby’s handmade influence. NB’s current run is starting to emphasize more current releases, including some next-gen runners.
But, the brand isn’t foolish enough to completely steer away from solid pieces like the 1500. Check out one of my favorite colorways now available.
ASICS Gel Respector
The GEL cushioning system alone is enough to help ASICS models stand out. Luckily for us, they bring even more to the table. In particular, the Gel-Respector presents a beautiful silhouette and excellent use of materials.
Thanks to its competent impact protection, this is actually the rare oldie that can work surprisingly well on your runs. Still, for my purposes, this is just another piece of aesthetic brilliance from the brand.
A Birch pair is a prime example – find it now.
Nike Internationalist
First seen in the 1982 NYC Marathon, the Internationalist has been arguably my most recommended sneaker for anyone new to the runners game. The appeal here is simple. The Internationalist makes great use of the mesh-and-suede combo that was prevalent in runners from the 1980’s.
At its relatively low price point, the quality is rather surprising. This takes nothing away from comfort, an aspect that this model scores highly on.
From bright and bold to underplayed, your color options are quite open as well. A variety of those is currently available.
adidas Haven
adidas Haven
This is a model that will likely not have even occurred to you as you were going through this list. Honestly, you can’t really be blamed. The fact of the matter is that some major brands today have some spectacular shoes in their archives.
Unfortunately, they’ve more or less fallen by the wayside as we make our way through more modern heat. The adidas Haven is a great example of this. Dressed in a smooth overlay of suede, a mesh base keeps this shoe versatile and lightweight. Check out this bold iteration now.
New Balance 998
One more time for NB. On a personal note, this is my favorite non-basketball sneaker at the moment. The reasons for that echo what we’ve mentioned on all of the previous pairs.
With a vast majority of the 998’s release under the “Made in UK” or Made in USA” collection, the quality of the materials is undeniable. On most 998’s, you’ll notice a plush suede overlaying a relatively lightweight mesh. If that’s not enough for you, it’s pretty darn comfortable as well. You can find yourself a pair now.
Diadora N9000
Most recently the subject of a few high-grade collabs, Diadora’s N9000 has been making a huge comeback. Then again, it was never quite in danger of losing relevance in the first place.
Though a tad bit older than the previous models we mentioned – the N9000 was originally dropped back in 1990 – this shoe still shares a few basic aspects we see in the 80’s releases.
Known for their craftsmanship, Diadora almost always suits their N9000’s up in lush cuts of suede or premium nubuck. Some collabs, particularly alongside Feature Sneaker Boutique, even see the shoe covered in nothing but Italian leathers. Find a few colorways for yourself now.
Saucony Grid 8000
Much like any of the above-mentioned brands, Saucony has more than a few bangers to choose from. Another company that’s been at it for a ridiculously long time, the brand has developed its own little niche, part of which includes innovations like the G.R.I.D. running system.
It’s specially designed to work with the midsole to not only provide extra impact protection, but also superior balance. To add on, we also get a nice helping of great materials and a lovely shape for a pretty reasonable price.
New Releases vs Retro Sneakers
We haven’t seen a ton of material variation from the top brands recently. We’re currently experiencing the huge popularity of woven uppers, as well as brands trying to catch up with demand. Older brands are delivering modern silhouettes and new brands are just trying to keep up, delivering models that are far from being really innovative.
Yet, there’s value in the older generation of runners that I just can’t seem to let go of. Therefore our Top 10 Old School Running Sneakers is, really, a must read. It’s hard to go wrong with any of these classic old school sneakers. In light of that, shop around for a pair that catches your eye (maybe even one on sale!) and rock it with confidence.