*Editor’s review of the best. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective, not an advertisement and is not a guide to purchase. Before buying, it is necessary to consult with a specialist.
Today sneakers – the most popular and widespread type of footwear, which is worn not only by professional athletes and followers of active lifestyles, but also many fashionable women in the world, combining them not only with suits, but also pants, and even skirts and dresses. Well-known designers create not just comfortable shoes. This is an important attribute that affects the entire image as a whole, and it is by this that one can judge the taste of its owner.
There are several types of sneakers that are designed for specific purposes: casual, running, basketball, soccer, tennis. Each of them has its own feature and is designed with their future use in mind. But the most important task of manufacturers is to create shoes that would perform important functions for health: to keep the muscles toned, protect the ankle, reduce the risk of damage to the joints.
Our experts, based on the opinion of professional athletes, have ranked the best sneaker brands, which combine practicality, functionality and stylish design in their models.
Rating of the best brands of sneakers
| Nomination | Place | product name | price |
| Best sneakers for running | 1 | New Balance | The most ultra-fashionable design |
| 2 | Reebok | most recognizable brand | |
| 3 | ASICS | The best sneakers for running | |
| 4 | MIZUNO | The most extensive line for all types of runners | |
| 5 | HOKA ONE ONE | The most unusual shapes for running shoes | |
| The best basketball sneakers | 1 | Jordan | The most comfortable models for basketball |
| 2 | Under Armour | The most original colors | |
| 3 | uma | the best innovations | |
| 4 | ANTA | The best latest cushioning systems | |
| 5 | Converse | The legendary basketball sneakers of the last century | |
| The best casual sneakers | 1 | Adidas | The highest quality and most durable models |
| 2 | Nike | The most popular sneakers | |
| 3 | Timberland | The most legendary shoe | |
| 4 | Tommy Hilfiger | The best classics | |
| 5 | Lacoste | The most stylish and comfortable shoes for every day |
The best running shoes
Many famous brands sport running shoes. The lines include both inexpensive models available to the general population, and the premium shoes, in which distinguished athletes train. Despite their differences in price range, these sneakers offer all the necessary features for a useful sport: stiff heel, high breathability, flexible uppers and a special sole shape that protects against injury.
New Balance
Over a hundred years of history, the American company has become a global brand preferred by professional athletes and lovers of the highest quality comfortable footwear. Founder William Riley, already in the beginning of the twentieth century, developed a special form of footbed that gives maximum stability and excellent balance when walking. Beginning in 1930, custom shoes for basketball players, boxers and tennis players.
A new kind of sneakers for running with a special grooved sole made New Balance innovator of the time, this form has not produced any company in the world. Today, the brand’s signature logo – N – adorns comfortable and stylish shoes that feature innovative technologies introduced in their production, high protective features against injury, and ultra-fashionable design.
Reebok
Reebok – the oldest company in the rating, which is known to every fan of comfortable and stylish shoes around the world. The creator of the ASICS sneaker at the beginning of the last century equipped it with spikes for better grip. It was a know-how, no other company had ever produced such a thing. So began the history of the world famous brand, which was named after African antelope, distinguished by beauty and grace.
The company was the first to introduce a women’s collection of aerobic sneakers, which began to gain popularity in the 1980s. These models are so popular with the ladies, that they are produced to this day. Brand designers develop shoes for all occasions, a wide range includes running shoes, fitness, tourism. Everyday, every-season models.
ASICS
The Japanese brand was founded in 1949 and his shoes wanted to inspire young people to do sports in the harsh postwar years. Today ASICS is a leader among running shoes manufacturers, and every second European customer chooses them. It provides equipment for athletes participating in the Olympics and world competitions. Great victories were won in these sneakers, which have gone down in sports history.
The company’s technologists and developers take into account the physiology of the human body and create comfortable shoes for marathons, cross-country running, and triathlons. But the main pride of the brand is its long-distance running shoes. They offer maximum protection from injuries, create a good grip on the surface, and are distinguished by their high quality and diverse design.
Mizuno
The company started work in 1906. At first, it was a small store in Osaka selling Western sportswear. Today Mizuno is an international concern, producing sneakers of the highest quality. It is based on numerous studies and takes into account in each model the intensity of training, coverage, physiological characteristics of the athlete.
Production covered all levels of training: from amateurs to professionals. But the competition is key and it is an area where the Japanese brand has made the biggest strides. The most famous detail of running shoes Mizuno – composite Wave. This technology, patented in 1997, is still used today, but with better cushioning and stabilization of the foot. Legendary women’s and men’s running models still in production today: the Rider (1997) and the Mizuno (1997).), Creation (1999.), Aero (2002.), Inspire (2004).).
HOKA ONE ONE
The fifth-ranked brand appeared a little more than 10 years ago, but its creator was able to embody all the wishes of runners-athletes. As a result, Hoka One One is on par with the world’s top manufacturers. The name accurately conveys the idea of super marathoner Nicolas Mermoux, which became the main strategy: “Flying above the ground”. The introduction of the first range has confused athletes everywhere. It didn’t look like a lightweight sneaker, but a heavy shoe with a thick sole.
But after the first tests, everything falls into place. The weight of the product due to the use of innovative materials has not increased, but the transition from heel to toe (6 mm) has been significantly reduced, which was required for long races and high-speed downhill. The company patented many technologies, one of which was the ProFLY. It has a consistent balance between shock mitigation and energy return. Today an expanded range of sneakers for all types of exertion: slow running, sprinting, long walking.
The best basketball sneakers
Basketball is a world-class sport, and the equipment for it develops the best manufacturers of comfortable and comfortable shoes. Since this is a particularly traumatic type, then the sneakers are created with the maximum protection of the ankle from damage and injury. They take into account all anatomic features of the foot. Thanks to the height, which is significantly different from conventional models, the shoes help athletes when running and jumping, does not create discomfort throughout the game or during training. We have listed below the best manufacturers of equipment for professional and amateur basketball players.
Jordan
The famous athlete launched his own line of shoes in cooperation with the famous brand Nike. In 1985, Michael Jordan promoted the brand by wearing the sneakers not only on the sports field but also in everyday life. The company has gradually regained its leading position after the crisis and sales downturn. Over time, the leadership of Nike decided to allocate a separate brand, which produces comfortable and modern models for sports and everyday wear.
Sneakers brand since its founding have become the best selling basketball shoes in the world. Technologists use the knowledge and experience of the legendary athlete to create perfect models. Production takes into account individual foot features, giving you maximum ankle protection from damage. A variety of designs make the shoes not only comfortable but also stylish.
Under Armour
The former soccer player Kevin Plank created the brand in 1996, and today Under Armour is known worldwide as the company using the most innovative and effective materials in the manufacture of sports equipment. It is preferred by people with active lifestyle who appreciate comfort and convenience. And, of course, the brand’s high-tech sneakers are an inevitable attribute of basketball players, adapted to the maximum extent possible for sports activities.
The light weight and excellent air permeability and cushioning make these models popular among professionals, and their very affordable price is a definite plus for active lifestyle lovers. They provide a good fit, maximum ankle support and high traction. All lines come in a wide color range.
uma
The German brand included in our ranking dates back to 1948. At the moment this is the most famous brand for the production of equipment for athletes and fans of outdoor activities. Technologists and designers create models based on anatomic features of the foot, taking into account the opinion of famous athletes and implementing the latest technologies in production.
Velcro fasteners developed by the company caused a furor in the world. Cushioning technology
ANTA
Founded in 1991 the company has developed rapidly. Nine years later, it is the official sponsor of the Sydney Summer Olympics. In 2002 the first contract was signed with an NBA player. Later many athletes switched to ANTA sneakers. Today the brand is the third most valuable asset in the world. It was chosen as the official outfitting partner of the Beijing Winter Games in 2022. An international team of designers from different countries worked on the creation of the models.
Designers offer the latest in cutting-edge technology to meet the demands of the extra-professional. In its own large research laboratory, they develop footwear for national teams, including champions and stars of the sporting world. The company patented A-FLASHFOAM system which is considered to be the best shock-absorbing material today. The outsole not only softens shock loads as much as possible, but also provides a vigorous upward thrust.
Converse
For many people “Converse” is associated with the fashionable youth shoes, and not everyone knows that the most famous athletes have performed and continue to perform in Converse shoes. The history of the company began in 1908. 1917 g. Was marked by the release of the first batch of sneakers for basketball players. These were the All-Stars, which over the decades have been upgraded and led to undeniable success for all the players who wore them. Then came the Pro Leather, worn by the legendary Julius Irving, and after him the sneaker became known as The Dr. J.
In the following years the range expanded. There were models for tennis, soccer, athletics and other sports. The company was unable to compete with global brands for innovation, went bankrupt, and was bought out by NIKE in the early 2000s. Recent decades have helped rebuild Converse’s reputation. Today the company produces collections not only for everyday wear, but has already signed contracts with promising NBA athletes.
The best casual sneakers
Sneakers have become such a popular shoe that we can’t imagine our everyday life without them. Originally designed for sports, they have become a daily essential. They were designed with lightweight, breathable materials, the sole perfectly distributes the load on the foot. A variety of design allows you to choose models for long walks, outdoor activities. Sneakers, created by famous brands for special occasions, are especially worth mentioning. They are made of premium materials and feature models hitting the catwalks and international stars on the carpet.
Adidas
Established in the middle of the last century the brand became a leader in the production of sportswear, shoes and accessories. The company was the first to create cleats with removable cleats, and it was in these that the German soccer team won the World Cup in 1954, bringing recognition to the brand. Adidas is the first to produce a molded polyurethane sole, and today this technology is already used everywhere. The brand creates unique orthopedic models with innovative technology that are comfortable to wear, even after long walks the foot is not stressed.
In addition to models for sports the company presents a wide range of collections for everyday use. The original design, the use of the latest technology, high durability made the brand products widely known and popular throughout the world. There are lines for men, women and children.
Nike
Nike is included in the ranking as the undisputed leader in producing quality sports shoes. The brand has become the most recognizable and popular, it is chosen by both professional athletes and connoisseurs of active lifestyle. For more than half a century the company has achieved incredible heights, introducing advanced technologies and developing new materials. The winged goddess Nika became the embodiment of the company and it was accepted to name the successfully developing brand after her.
The brand becomes an innovator of many ideas: it is the first to produce lightweight sneakers for running, the upper of which is made not of the usual material – leather, but of a new development of those times – nylon; it creates a new model with a “waffle” sole with increased traction and resistance to wear. And what about the famous Air MAX collection! The feature of this sneaker is a transparent window on the sole, through which you can see the shock-absorbing lining.
Timberland
American company was founded by an immigrant from Odessa in 1952. The invented new technology was the starting point of the conquest of the sporting goods market. It provided seamless connection of the upper and the sole of sneakers, which greatly increases their water resistance and durability. The first model was released in yellow, because it showed all the advantages of shoes. The name of the company translates as a forest plot, the logo with the image of an American oak means stability and quality. This principle the brand adheres to strictly, producing excellent products for outdoor activities and sports.
Today the brand shoes are sold worldwide. A sneaker chosen by men for its extreme durability and excellent performance, and models for fashionistas, which are created in collaboration with famous designers, become an instant sales hit.
Tommy Hilfiger
This rather young company is included in our rating for many reasons. Its founder in its thirty-year history has managed to achieve unprecedented success and make it one of the most successful and recognizable brands. Tommy Hilfiger managed to create a classic style, without abusing excessive decorative elements, too bright colors and avant-garde forms. Its collections combine style and sophistication. The main colors of the brand: white, blue and red.
The brand’s sneakers are a combination of classic and sporty design. They have a good fit, they take into account all the features of the foot, on long walks there is no fatigue or discomfort. Innovative materials in the production process increase their resistance to wear and tear. A distinction is made between the Denim and Sportwear lines. The first is designed for formal occasions and create festive bows. The second one is preferred by professional athletes and casual style amateurs.
Lacoste
In 1933 the famous tennis player Rene Lacoste founded the eponymous brand which, thanks to his experience and knowledge, has become an iconic brand for the production of clothing, shoes, perfumes and accessories. The sportsman was nicknamed “Alligator” for his unwavering character, so the well-known logo was not coincidentally created. Our shoes are comfortable and elegant at the same time. It is suitable for long-term wear, will not create discomfort, while its appearance will complement any image.
Lacoste sneakers – a stylish shoe in suede and leather, suitable for both sports and everyday wear. High cushioning properties, anatomic shapes, quality materials are appreciated by fans around the world. The models look appropriate with any style, they cannot be confused with any other well-known brand.
