The Best Sneakers of 2024

In some ways, 2024 was a sneaker year just like any other. There were a handful of high-profile retro re-releases—some of which we never thought would ever actually happen, like the Nike Dunk High ‘Wu-Tang Clan’ and the ‘Silver Surfer’ SB Dunk Low. (Editor’s note: We decided to only consider entirely new sneaker drops for this list—i.e. first-release colorways or shoe models—which is why neither of those kicks, or other retro heavy-hitters like the Air Jordan 3 ‘Black Cement,’ made the cut.) There were more transparent bids for sneaker virality. And there were a handful of perennial faves—OG Sambas and Vans—that hung around and stayed relevant.

But there were also a whole lot of new developments in the sneaker world worth getting excited about, too. After years of oversized dad shoes dominating, a handful of ultra-slim silhouettes broke through in a big way. An instant-classic signature shoe emerged on the hardwood. And designers seemed to put a greater emphasis on strong storytelling, clean design, and premium materials in their footwear than we’ve seen in years.

All of that added up to a strong calendar of kicks worth celebrating. These are the best sneakers of 2024.

Bode x Nike Astro Grabber

For Bode’s debut Nike collaboration, Emily Adams Bode Aujla savvily dug deep into the Swoosh’s archives to uncover the Astro Grabber, a long-forgotten football shoe from the 1970s. The sneaker has, in the months since this much-hyped limited release, found itself elevated back to legend status. It is, without question, the shoe of the season—to the point that you might already be sick of it popping up on your IG feed. More than a hype-fueled flash in the pan, the Bode x Nike Astro Grabber is a true classic in the making, doing for the silhouette what Wales Bonner did for the Samba a few years back.

JJJJound x Adidas Samba