The glory days of sneakers may have occurred in the '80s and '90s, but 2015 really was a banner year for footwear as a whole. It saw brands create new technology that looked stellar, recreate quality retro product, and even snag up celebrities to produce original shoes.
What was positive about 2015 wasn't just that Jordan Brand celebrated its 30th anniversary and made the sneakers we'd been waiting on (although that happened), but that there was a strong variety of shoes for everyone. Those who were waiting for the new flagship Air Max model weren't disappointed, neither were the folks who were waiting to see what kind of magic adidas could cook up to make a run at Nike.
Rappers had gotten their own sneakers before: some good, some downright awful. But adidas had a plan for Kanye. The brand used its Boost technology to, literally, boost West's first two sneaker designs, also using its other proprietary invention, Primeknit, to complete the Yeezy Boost 350—one of this year's most-talked-about shoes.
That wasn't even half of this calendar year, though, as there were bringbacks of Nike running sneakers, ASICS models being given premium makeovers, and more. To simplify things, there were no collaborations put on this list. With that said, here are The Best Sneakers of 2015.
The debate starts now.
25. Under Armour Curry One "MVP"
Under Armour snatched Stephen Curry away from Nike at the end of 2013, and a year and a half later they've become more relevant in basketball sneakers than ever before. The UA Curry One launched in February of 2015 in the limited-edition colorway inspired by Stephen Curry's Most Valuable Player award that stood out from the rest. The Golden State Warriors colorways of the UA Curry One sold well, but when the MVP, draped in black, white, and gold dropped in June — just as Curry and his team locked up their NBA Championship. It sold out within hours, the way we've come to expect Yeezys and Jordans to, proving that it is a game changer. Although Nike still owns 96 percent of the basketball shoe market in the U.S., the Curry One MVP release proves that Under Armour and Curry are on the right track to become competitive when it comes to basketball sneakers...eventually. —Nick Engvall
24. Nike Cortez "Forrest Gump"
For all intents and purposes, the Cortez is the sneaker that started it all for Nike. It's not the first piece of footwear ever produced by the brand, originally formed as Blue Ribbon Sports, but it's the most time-honored shoe still kicking in the company's arsenal. For 2015, Nike decided to bring back the silhouette the same way it looked in 1972, with a swooped cut around the ankle and better leather. Then the brand added the most memorable colorway the Cortez is known for: white, red, and blue, which was made famous by Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump and hadn't been on retailer's shelves in a few years.
The Cortez is a sneaker that's always going to be strong, no matter how old it gets. But it's also encouraging to see Nike dip into its archives and pull out the shoe in a way that people have been waiting for. It's a sign of good things to come, and when people complain about the quality of retros, this sneaker is, literally a conversation ender. —Matt Welty
23. ASICS GEL-Lyte III "Made in Japan"
A few years ago, it was the bright colors on highly coveted releases that were all the rage, but now it’s shifted to all-minimal-everything when it comes to footwear. ASICS laced its iconic Gel Lyte III with vegetable-tanned leather, which were crafted by hand in Japan, giving people something special for the sneaker's 25th anniversary. The price tag might have had some shook at $500, but with only 255 pairs produced, there wasn't time to hesitate on copping a pair. We are all about these and more releases like this in the future, as long as the product is just as on point as these Japan-made sneakers. —Brandon Edler
22. Nike Air Max Zero
Tinker Hatfield didn’t invent Nike Air. Instead, he did something revolutionary to the cushioning technology that would completely change the sneaker landscape for decades. With the creation of his Air Max 1 sneaker, visible Air was born and Nike finally found a way to show off its cushioning innovation. But this didn’t happen overnight—it was a process that took several designs and iterations. As part of this year’s second annual Air Max Day to celebrate 28 years since the debut of the Air Max 1, Nike went back into the archives and uncovered Hatfield’s earliest sketch of what would eventually become the Air Max 1. This was the one before the 1, the Air Max Zero. The prototype was sleek, minimal, and unlike anything you’d expect from a silhouette with a large air unit. When the sneaker finally released for Air Max Day, it provided a gateway into Hatfield’s mind and a time capsule for one of the most influential Nike franchises. —John Marcelo
21. Nike LeBron 13
Signature line sneakers are still imperative for brands' success, and Nike still has the hottest athlete on its roster. Every summer we wait for the spy shots of LeBron James' last sneaker or for him to rock a pair during some event. When the 13s were first seen on foot, it definitely made people feel some type of way. The sneaker's technological advances continue to impress, and anytime you can meet the specifications for a player that moves like an off guard with Karl Malone’s size, you are doing something right. Not to mention that you know Nike is going to drop a handful of colorways that are going to cause havoc on Saturday mornings, the LeBron 13 is tough. —Brandon Edler
20. Nike Air Max 2016
Nike’s annual Air Max release has been underrated the past few years but the 2015 model was a shift in the right direction, and it only picked up for the 2016, which released towards the tail end of this year. What made this particular version matter was that it came with a Flyknit upper featuring a forefoot Swoosh, resulting in a clean runner with mainstream appeal. It's sure to have Air Max moving units off the shelf again. If you haven’t laced up a pair, don’t sleep, this sneaker is worthy of hitting the rotation for everyday wear. —Brandon Edler
End of Part 1 ... check us again for Part 2.
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