The Ultimate Guide To Sneakers & Sneaker Brands
Sneakers are an absolutely huge topic, there’re so many sneakers out there that if you want to become knowledgeable on the subject then it’s hard to know where to start. I intend to keep it basic.
I’ll be talking about the types of sneakers, popular sneaker brands, and where to get them.
Sneaker Types
When it comes to sneakers, there are three main categories that they can fall into, low-top, mid-top, and high-top.
Low-tops
Low-tops are sneakers that do not cover the ankle.
Traditionally, they’ll be relatively lightweight and slim, making them better for summer than winter.
This is probably the type of sneaker you’ll see the most in day to day life.
Types of low-tops:
Runners: Runners are quite possibly the most popular sneaker type on the market right now. Runners really just blew up in the last 5 years thanks to the popularity of the Nike Roshe Run.
This shoe caused almost every sneaker brand under the sun to create some sort of athletic sneaker that was more geared towards fashion than sports.
One of the primary advantages of these shoes is the comfort.
Not only are they designed to look like running shoes, but they’re designed to feel like them too. The most popular runners today are probably the Adidas Ultraboost and the Adidas NMD.
Nike Roshe Run
Adidas Ultra Boost
Adidas NMD
Adidas NMD Collabs
Common Projects Achilles Low
Skate Shoes: Skate shoes are typically quite lightweight and made of canvas or leather.
They also often have thick soles which make them rather durable.
These definitely aren’t as comfortable as running shoes but they provide a completely different look that may appeal more to some people.
The most popular skate shoe brand by a mile is Vans.
They make a huge variety of shoes, but the Old Skool and the Era are probably the most iconic.
Vans Old Skool
Vans Checkered Slip Ons
Vans Era
Nike Killshot 2
Other low-tops: Obviously there’s a lot of other types of low-top, but the categories are a little too specific to go into in much detail, so here’s some examples of popular low tops that I haven’t yet mentioned
Adidas Stan Smith
Nike Air Force One
Maison Margiela
Adidas Gazelle
Adidas NMD and Adidas x Raf Simons
Ozweegos
Mid-Tops
There honestly isn’t much to say about mid-tops. Basically a mid-top is anything between a high top, which cover the ankle, and a low-top, that doesn’t.
This is still a really unexplored area but we are seeing more and more really awesome sneakers coming out in mid top like the latest Nike Air Presto x Acronym and Yeezy Boost 550.
Nike Air Presto
Adidas Tubulars
Adidas Tubular
Adidas Stan Smith Mid
High-Tops
High-tops are sneakers that do cover the ankle.
Traditionally, they’ll be relatively bulky and a bit heavier on foot, making them better for winter than summer.
High-tops are not often seen outside of streetwear. They’re usually less understated than a nice, clean low top, and they don’t really look right with more formal outfits.
You’re not likely to see many high tops in menswear.
Yeezy 750 Boots
Types of high-top:
Basketball Sneakers: These are essentially the running shoes of the high top category.
Very casual, very comfortable, and they have a very athletic look.
Air Jordan 1s
Without a doubt, the most popular basketball sneakers in streetwear are Air Jordans. Most notably the 1’s, the 3’s, the 4’s and the 11’s.
Other High Tops: High tops come in a variety of different forms. Often a certain basketball inspiration can be seen, but the styles are so vastly different that they are hard to categorize.
You have very simple high tops like Converse & Sk8 Hi’s, you have Nike’s non-basketball related offerings such as the Blazer, you have crazy designer high tops like the Margiela Future & the Geobasket, and you have so much more options that it would be impossible to list them all.
Converse
Vans Sk8 Hi
Nike Blazer
Margiela Future
Rick Owens Geobasket
Air Jordan 1 Shadow
Best Sneaker Brands
Nike: Nike are without a doubt the most successful sneaker brand of all time because they make shoes for absolutely everyone.
I’d be very surprised if you couldn’t find at least one Nike shoe that you like. Additionally, they created the most successful line of basketball sneakers of all time, the Air Jordans.
Basically, Nike do it all, so if you’re looking for a dope sneaker, they probably have the shoe for you.
Adidas: Although I said Nike are the most successful sneaker brand of all time, Adidas probably have more appeal in the fashion world right now.
With their countless designer collabs and the increasing popularity of shoes featuring their boost technology, their definitely killing it right now and the streetwear scene is showing its appreciation.
Vans: Vans, although they predominantly just make skate shoes, have a huge presence in streetwear.
This is thanks to their knack for creating sneakers with a simple, versatile, but attractive silhouette.
If you’re looking for a basic, durable pair of shoes, then Vans are for you.
Other Brands: These three are probably the biggest, but there’s plenty other great brands out there. I’ll list a few below.
ConversePumaNew BalanceSauconyAsicsFilling PiecesCommon Projects
Designer Sneakers: If you have the money, plenty of designers also make great sneakers. I’ll list a few below.
Raf SimonsRick OwensMargielaBalenciagaFear of GodDolce & Gabbana
Where To Buy Sneakers Online
There’s countless sneaker stores out there, but some are significantly better than others. Below, I’m going to list what are, in my opinion, the 10 best online sneaker stores right now.
SSENSE (Huge selection of designer sneakers and regular runners)
Flight Club (Easily accessible exclusive sneakers)
Hanon (Good variety, excellent sales)
Footpatrol (huge variety, occasionally decent sales, slightly higher end)
Footlocker (Its popular for a reason, it has one of the biggest selections of athletic sneakers out there)
Sneakersnstuff (Really nice collabs, good selection of sneakers ranging from affordable to high end)
Size? (Massive affordable selection, nice collabs)
Kith (Amazing collabs, decent selection of mid-high priced sneakers)
Concepts (Amazing collabs, huge range of sneakers from low-high end)
Extra Butter (Super nice physical location, decent selection)
So, there you have it, my introductory guide to sneakers. Obviously, there’s a lot more to know about than just what is here, but this covers most of the basics that you’ll need to know to start getting into sneaker culture!
Sneaker Terminology | SneakerFiles
DS – Deadstock
OG – Original or Original Release
NDS – Near Deadstock
VNDS – Very Near Deadstock
SB’s – Nike Skateboarding Shoes
SE – Special Edition
PE – Player Exclusive
AF1 – Air Force 1
G-Nikes – Air Force 1
FSR – Full Size Run
NWT – New With Tags
Bred or Bread – Black/Red Colorway (Usually Bulls)
Hypebeast= Someone that likes a pair of shoes because they are rare, limited, or just because someone else likes them.
COJP – Concept Japan
NWOT – New With out Tags
OBO– Or Best Offer
NT– Niketalk
ISS– Instyleshoes
SOLE– Solecollector
NIB – New In Box
Mules-a model of shoe that has been mader in a slipper
Retro– a model of original air jordan that had been re released to the public
J’s – Jordans
GR– General Release
Beaters – shoes you wear without caring for condition
Holy Grail – Most desired sneaker that you most likely will never attain
Uptowns – Air Force 1s
NDC= (or Nike Dot Com)
Heat= Hot/Rare Shoes
Roman Numerals
(Mainly used for Air Jordans)
I – 1 Air Jordan I
II – 2 Air Jordan II
III – 3 Air Jordan III
IV – 4 Air Jordan IV
V – 5 Air Jordan V
VI – 6 Air Jordan VI
VII – 7 Air Jordan VII
VIII – 8 Air Jordan VIII
IX – 9 Air Jordan IX
X – 10 Air Jordan X
XI – 11 Air Jordan XI
XII – 12 Air Jordan XII
XIII – 13 Air Jordan XIII
XIV – 14 Air Jordan XIV
XV – 15 Air Jordan XV
XVI – 16 Air Jordan XVI
XVII – 17 Air Jordan XVII
XVIII – 18 Air Jordan XVIII
XIX – 19 Air Jordan XIX
XX – 20 Air Jordan XX
XXI – 21 Air Jordan XXI
XXII – 22 Air Jordan XXII
Jordan Nicknames
Blacktoes or Black Toe= Air Jordan I’s
True Blue= Jordan III’s
Cement= On Jordan III’s and IV’s
Militaries= Jordan IV’s
Laneys= Jordan V’s (Michael Jordan’s High School Colors)
Fire Red= Jordan V’s
Infared= Air Jordan VI’s
Carmines= Air Jordan VI’s
Maroons= Air Jordan VI
September Blues= Air Jordan VI
Bordeaux= Air Jordan VII’s
Charcoals= Air Jordan VII’s
Hares= Air Jordan VII’s
Cardinals= Air Jordan VII’s
Aquas= Air Jordan VIII’s
Steels= Air Jordan X’s
Chicago’s= Air Jordan X (Or any white/black/red colorway Jordan)
Ice= Clear blue on X’s (other models as well)
Columbia’s= Air Jordan XI
Space Jam’s/SJ= Air Jordan XI (Michael Jordan Wore them in the movie “Space Jam)
Concord’s= Air Jordan XI
Snake Skin= Air Jordan XI (Or any Air Jordan with a snake skin colorway)
Playoffs= Jordan XII/XIII (Or black/white colorway)
Taxis= Air Jordan XII’s
Altitudes= Air Jordan XIII’s
Flint’s= Air Jordan XIII
Indiglos= Jordan XIV’s
Oxys= Jordan XIV’s
Stealths= Air Jordan XX’s
DMP= Defining Moments Package
L’Style= LifeStyle (Comes with lots of matching clothes)
JB= Jordan Brand
Melo= Carmelo Anthony’s Shoes
BMP= Beginning Moments Package, a nickname for the Old Love New Love Air Jordan 1 Pack.
Shoe Store Nicknames
Undftd=
Atmos=
JD=
Samplekickz=
Hawkandhunter=
CT/Crookedtongues=
Altsnk/Alternative Sneakers=
Chapterworld=
Juebankongjian=
Concept Shop=
Cliquenmove=
Kix-Files=
Stay246=
Number (N)ine=
Trust Nobody=
We Sold Out =
Jumpman=
Nike=
Reebok=
Adidas=
Converse=
Puma=
Nort Berlin=
Amazingkicks=
Home Run Kicks=
JB Classics=
JKickz=
Kickzstore=
Skiptomyshoe=
PYS/Pick Your Shoes=
Sneakerhead=
Nike Dunk SB/Skateboarding Nicknames
Cali’s
Tiffs
Jedis
Homers
Black Packs
Minerals
Neptunes
Golfs
Send Helps
BICs
Criminsons
Lunars
Aqua net
Sandal Wood
Hawaiis
Pusheads
De La Soul Highs
De La Soul Lows
BTTYS/Be True To Your School
UNLV
Syracuse
Kentucky
Michigan
Avengers Purple
Avengers Blue
Avengers Patent Leather
Shanghai 1
Shanghai 2
Slam City
Melvins
Stussy
Shy Pinks
Bandaids
Cinco De Mayo
Boca’s
Fogs
St. Pattys Days
Oompa Loompa
J-Packs/Jordan Packs
T-19s
Home Rayguns
Away Rayguns
Grits
Hufs
Hunters
Shimizu
Tweed Low
Tweed High
Unkles/Dunkles
Medicom 1
Medicom 2
Medicom 3
Luckies
Unluckies
Sea Crystals
Bonsai Hemps
Maroon Hemps
Blue Hemps
Ghosts
Bucks
Brown Packs
Paul Browns
Ebay Dunk
Barfs
Irons
Broncos
Supreme Red
Supreme Blue
Supreme Orange
Vamps
True Reds
Heinys/Heineken
Bison
Hulks
Takashi
Futura
Denims
Lodons
Wheat HIs/Highs
Sharks
Flashs
Supreme Low Black
Supreme Low White
Zoo York
Forbe’s
Supra’s
Pigeons
Chocolate
Tokyo
Iron Maiden
Puf n Stuf
Purple Pigeons
SBTG
Camo
Wieger
Mork and Mindy
Aqua Chalk
Mafia High
Mafia Low
Dia La Muertos
Comfort Above All – the 3 Benefits of Wearing Sneakers
When it comes to buying a new pair of shoes, usually, most people make their choice based on how they look rather than how they feel on their feet. However, your feet are the base that holds your body weight throughout the day, which means that it is of the utmost importance to opt for a quality yet comfortable pair of shoes that will protect your feet and also make you feel like walking on Cloud 9. Especially for women, who are often torn between the dilemma of whether they should dress up and wear heels or just go with a tomboy look and wear sneakers. Of course, this decision will be usually impacted by the events they have in their day, however, for simple tasks such as running errands, meeting friends for a casual coffee chat and similar, getting a cool pair of sneakers for women is the obvious choice. Here’s why. VersatilitySneakers come in so many styles and that’s what makes them perfect for a variety of activities. For example, they can be used for casual walks in the park, for exercising and you can also wear them on casual Fridays at the office (if you have that). Leather sneakers, on the other hand, can be worn with more formal attire in some cases, but it’s never a good idea to wear them with your gym outfit. The sneakers you should work out with are a category of their own as they need to have some specific features that will make your time blowing off steam more effective and safer. The truth of the matter is, there really is a vast array of sneakers for women that you can choose from and combine with different outfits, so all you need to know is what you like best and what do you plan to wear them pportNo matter whether you are doing high-intensity exercises, running or playing any sport, a good pair of sneakers will provide your feet with all the needed support. Moreover, sneakers provide more stability when compared to any other type of footwear making it easier for you to jump or walk with more confidence. Feet injuries can be painful and they may take some time to heal which can be quite frustrating. Also, there are some models that are specifically designed to suit the needs of people who have flat feet as they have the tendency to fall over easily while walking or running. With the right pair of shoes, the chances of that happening will be much, much eathabilitySneakers are breathable, especially if you buy ones that are made of mesh. This material allows for air to circulate, thus allowing your feet to breath. This is very important, especially during the summer when the weather is hot. If your feet do not breath, there is a chance that they will be soaked in sweat. Letting your feet to stay in such a condition for a long period may cause feet odour and you may even develop some infection.
Frequently Asked Questions about sneaker knowledge
What se means in sneaker?
OG – Original or Original Release. NDS – Near Deadstock. VNDS – Very Near Deadstock. SB’s – Nike Skateboarding Shoes. SE – Special Edition.
Why sneakers are so important?
Support. No matter whether you are doing high-intensity exercises, running or playing any sport, a good pair of sneakers will provide your feet with all the needed support. Moreover, sneakers provide more stability when compared to any other type of footwear making it easier for you to jump or walk with more confidence …Dec 18, 2018
What are the three parts of a sneaker?
The three main parts of a sneaker are the upper, the midsole, and the tread. Many of the materials in each part are synthetic. They are made from oil and coal. The materials used to make sneakers come from countries around the world.