It feels like I was just writing one of these last year, thatās how fast 2022 has gone. But this year had many drops to talk about. There were unexpected twists and turns on the release calendar, with brands like Salomon, Crocs, and newcomer On Running dropping quality footwear options throughout the year. There were a lot of shoes to choose from, but not all can be the best. In no particular, we compiled all of the top kicks to drop this year. Check out which shoes are worthy of being crowned the best of 2022.
Louis Vuitton Nike Air Force 1 Low By Virgil Abloh
2022 introduced a new form of Nike Air Force 1, thanks to the late designer, Nike collaborator, and Louis Vuitton Creative Director Virgil Abloh. Through their mutual connection, Louis Vuitton partnered with Nike on a collection of limited edition Air Force 1s. But their extremely limited nature wasnāt the only thing that made these sneakers special. This partnership produced Air Force 1s outside of a Nike factory for the first time ever and brought LV ateliers into the mix, which produced a collection of the most luxuriously crafted AF1s to date. Each handmade pair sports Louis Vuittonās signature LV monogram throughout the upper and utilizes premium Italian leather and gold foil debossing. Hand-painted elements are also added throughout the upper, providing an additional touch of intentionality and precision.Ā
Crocs Pollex Clog by Salehe Bembury
Designer and former Versace VP of Sneakers, Salehe Bembury, debuted his signature collab with Crocs back in 2021. But 2022 saw an abundance of colorways of the Pollex Clog release and an increase in supply, allowing many to sport the fingerprint-styled Crocs and further contribute to Crocsā current pop culture success. From rappers like Westside Gunn and AminĆ© to various fashion publications like Highsnobiety and Footwear News, Bemburyās first crack at a Crocs Clog has been a hit, making them hard to ignore and instantly desirable. The Crocs Pollex Clog by Salehe Bembury has been a popular shoe for 2022 and is sure to continue its upward momentum in the new year.
Air Jordan 1 High OG Chicago Lost and Found
The Air Jordan 1 Chicago Lost and Found is one of 2022ās most talked about drops. The Chicago 1 is considered to be Jordan Brandās most coveted release, as it was the first sneaker to launch MJ and Nikeās partnership. With that said, whenever the Chicago 1 comes around in the release pool, itās a major deal, especially since the colorway doesnāt often get restored in its original, hi-top form. The Air Jordan 1 Chicago Lost and Found also introduced a new style of the classic colorway, leaning into its 1985 birth year with aged details such as cracked leather on the upper and yellowed colored midsole to signify aging. For its epic return and distinctive concept, the Air Jordan 1 Chicago Lost and Found is a no brainer as one of this yearās most notable releases.Ā
On Running Cloudmonster
Itās rare for new, up-and-coming brands like On Running to make an impact within sneaker culture as early as they have. The Swiss brand is only a little over a decade old and has become a major competitor within the running shoe industry. Not to mention, itās already a publicly traded company with an estimated value of $7.6 Billion, which is impressive considering the competition of well-established brands like Nike, ASICS, and New Balance.
Alongside their collaborations with luxury fashion brand Loewe and Kith founder Ronnie Fieg, what has truly helped get them to the top is their characteristic Cloudtec outsole, which has been displayed to the fullest on this yearās Cloudmonster debut. Despite the On Running Cloudmonster coming in only a small variety of colors, it makes up for it in comfort, durability, and maximalist design. Not only is it considered one of the top running shoes by trusted publications like RunRepeat and Esquire, but it also has a streetwear appeal as well, as shown by popular Japanese retailer Nepenthes in their recent editorial lookbook. With the momentum that the On Running Cloudmonster has garnered this year, we can expect bigger things to come for the young running sneaker in 2023.Ā
adidas Samba Wales Bonner
Blokecore is here and now everyone wants to be a hooligan. For those that arenāt familiar with the latest trend or just donāt go on TikTok, Blokecore is essentially focused around football (or soccer, to not anger Peyton Manning) kits and accessories. Think Umbro shorts, vintage Arsenal jerseys, and a pair of quintessential footie sneakers like the adidas Samba. Thanks to this trend and also the hype of this yearās World Cup, the adidas Samba has found an uptick in popularity once again. So much so, by the looks of Google Trends, the adidas Samba has gotten its most searches in the United States since 2004. Alongside the trend, British designer, Graces Wales Bonner of her eponymous brand, has contributed to the Sambaās hype with her adidas collabs. This year, she followed up on her 2021 Samba release with three new colorways, with this yearās White Green pair being one of the more popular colorways from the pack. Each pair is constructed from a mixture of suede, nylon, and faux crocodile leather, bringing an elevated look to the signature soccer shoe.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 JJJJound
Looking at this list and other āBest Ofsā¦ā for the year, itās hard not to come across vibrant and loud sneakers that are well deserving of their status. But not all great releases have to be that way, and Canadian designer Justin Saunders (AKA JJJJound) has proven that to be true with his debut ASICS collab. The ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 JJJJound is a collaboration that follows the familiar JJJJound formula: classic, simple, and practical. The understated colorway of white, beige, chrome, and black come together to create just a solid, comfortable staple of a sneaker to wear on most occasions. No fuss, no gimmicks, and youāll have yourself a very attractive release. And of course, having JJJJoundās name on it helps.
Nike Dunk Low Retro White Black Panda
Even though the Nike Dunk Low Panda released in 2021, its consistent restocks, memes, and versatility has helped it remain a top seller in 2022. Thereās no denying that the sneaker has been saturated within the market, with it probably being difficult to go a whole day without seeing someone wearing a pair. But there is a lot to like about the sneaker; itās easy to wear with just about anything, itās perfect for most seasons (other than winter but most sneakers arenāt), and itās comfortable thanks to its insole Air technology. If youāre hoping for a Panda Dunk slow down any time soon, maybe 2024 will be your year.
Women’s UGG Tazz Slipper
Thanks to the return of Y2K styles, UGGs have seen an uptick in popularity. Styles like the Tazz Slipper helped usher in a new demographic to the brand. Thanks to its classic sherpa lining, brown suede uppers, and wedge midsole, the Tazz Slipper is one of this winterās most sought-after shoes and has exploded in popularity on StockX. Search volume for UGG on the site has been up 80% since last year, and sales have surpassed that of other big names like New Balance, proving the demand for the Californian comfort brand has only gotten stronger.Ā Ā
NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe Tom Sachs
Tom Sachs wants all of us to wear the hell out of our shoes. And this year, Sachs and Nike persuaded us all to do so by dropping their latest NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe. During promo for this sneaker release, Sachs said that āyour sneakers should not be the most exciting thing about you. They are tools.ā The sneaker follows that message pretty clearly thanks to its utilitarian design. This shoe taps into a practical side and has been designed specifically to take on any challenge you throw its way. Don’t let its sleek exterior fool you. The durable knitted upper and rugged outsole are perfect for tackling whatever life throws your way, whether it’s set up for a new art exhibition or trekking the wilderness. The NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe is a sneaker perfect for traversing life and with new colorways expected to drop in 2023, weāre excited to see how many tools weād want to add to the collection. Sorry Tom, just stop making cool shit then!
New Balance 990v3 JJJJound Olive
New Balance went back into the archives this year to re-introduce another signature model from their catalog, the New Balance 990v3. The 990v3 released in 2012 and was then the latest addition to the ever-growing 990 family. But as is the way of the sneaker industry, new iterations come and older versions await a retro treatment. 2022 saw the 990v3 get its second wind thanks to a continuous appreciation for the 990 series from the public and a slew of collaborations have helped make it an attractive piece of footwear. Alongside his release of his ASICS, JJJJound also took a crack at the 990v3, dropping four colorways throughout the year, with this Olive pair being the most notable from the bunch. Just like his past collabs, this colorway takes a āless is moreā approach by having premium suede, mesh, and leather throughout the upper and an ENCAP midsole for comfort.Ā
Salomon XT-6
The Salomon XT-6, a sneaker that originally was going to get scrapped by the brand in 2016, has found newfound love within the sneaker community. Thanks to the ongoing Gorpcore trend, which focuses on hiking-centric goods, the XT-6ās trail aesthetic fits perfectly with the outdoorsy look that many within hype fashion are looking to emulate. Fashion as a whole has gravitated towards Salomon as well, with collaborations such as Kith, Maison Martin Margiela, Hidden NY and Slam Jam all leaving their imprint on the brandās silhouettes just this year alone. As people continue to look for everyday essential footwear that looks great in the process, Salomon sneakers, and the XT-6 specifically, will probably have as major of 2023 as they have this year.
