The 20 Best Sneaker Blogs

Before the internet ruled the world, people were getting their sneaker knowledge from barbershops, connected friends, and water cooler word-of-mouth type talk. Being in the know is everything, and luckily it’s easier than ever these days. We know you have a few good sites down (you’re here, right?) but there are a few out there that you may not have in your steady rotation. Complex decided to get you up to speed with the best blogs regarding your favorite subject matter: kicks. Hit the jump and check out The 20 Best Sneaker Blogs and let us know who holds it down best and other ones you’re checking for regularly.

Follow @ComplexSneakers

RELATED: The Best Sneaker Resale Websites

Sneaker Report is new to the game in 2012, but should already be a favorite thanks to a more technical approach to sneakers. Plenty of sites out there focus on style, but if you're looking to get the best kicks for your respective sport, this is where you want to be. Fear not, though, they still look back at the classics too, just with performance in mind.

Translator in Google Chrome is a must to surf through the Italian Hypebeast-type site if you're not multi-lingual (you don't just read American sites, do you?). If you're getting Euros — or just like to keep tabs on what's dropping across the pond — this might be the best place for you to visit to stay up on more worldwide news.

Who aggregates the aggregators? US11 is based out of Japan, and thanks to the time zone difference is a logical first stop daily. And seeing that much of the content is just photos and links, you don't even have to read Japanese.

If you're doing a dissertation paper about obscure sneakers from the past few decades, welp, here you go. The site is a wealth of past sneaker knowledge and hard-to-find information and ads. Organization is random, but tags will get you where you want to go. Converse denim kicks from the '96 Kentucky Wildcats era, yup.

Nick Santora opened Classic Kicks as a shop on Elizabeth Street in downtown NYC, and it quickly became the go-to spot for hard-to-find joints from, among many others, Vans and Puma. Long before UNDFTD flipped the Clyde, this was the place to go for all variations. The shop unfortunately closed down, but Classic Kicks the site lives on as a repository of sneaker history — from ads to catalog scans to vintage action shots. Lose yourself.

Clyde Edwards has been running this blog proper for years now, actually taking and posting hi-res shots of the sneakers dropping at Mr. R Sports in Miami rather than just relying on pick-up. It also supports the sneaker community via events, and posts from other notable sites. Whether it is hypebeast BAPE collabs or the latest retro Js, this site has it on lock.

Modern Notoriety is pretty new to the scene in comparison to some other sites but it has earned a rep for being one of the first sites to legit news on your favorite kicks. They also scan eBay for hidden gems both old and new, so get your PayPal up.

Spy status. Run by the aptly named John Brilliant, Counter Kicks is another strong site with daily news, a great layout, and other intelligence for the avid sneaker reader. There's even actual reporting! Also, they're known to post catalog shots so early that shoe company employees might actually see their creations here first.

The name says it all — a site dedicated to Jordan kicks only. Well, and apparel. And athletes. Whether you're looking for vintage track suits or what your favorite NFL player wore on Sunday, if it's got a Jumpman (or ball and wings) on it, you'll find it here.

Sneaker Watch has a rep for being one of the first to report news, whether it is a review of a sneaker dropping in months or celebrity spotteds — they are a must to have in your sneaker rotation. Check for interviews and collection shots, too.

A Yu-Ming Wu production (with Dan Hwang), so you know it's proper. Keep it fresh and keep it locked here. Freshness Mag is another site that does a perfect job reporting the daily business and with a great display and strong writing you won't regret checking them out daily. They have a broader scope than just sneakers, but don't you?

Rich "MaZe" Lopez ain't new to this. He's been running Kix and the City out of the NYC area for years, and doing it well — with the words, the photos and the video. As for his bona fides, he's got a storage unit of kicks that exemplifies dedication to the game.

Kicks on Fire hits you with a good mix of performance and style, keeping readers updated with daily sneaker information and entertaining features as well — definitely a good read. Their reference game is mean, too — peep their history and release date pages for information you need to know.

The grandaddy of streetwear sites, assuming your grandaddy is really young. Kevin Ma paved the way for most, and the OG site still gets it done. Hypebeast has always been on top of the hottest shit in the streets and it doesn't stop with kicks.

Highsnob has been a go-to site for all aspects of style including kicks since you knew what blogging was. The clean layout (one of the best-looking sites, period) and great aggregate posts make it easy to navigate and read through for hours. Original photography makes posts pop.

When it came to sneaker deals there was no one better at finding them than Andy Oliver. Last fall he created a site dedicated to finding the best online deals and putting them all in one place so you didn't have to spend an hour trying to find your favorite shoe for 20 percent off. He has passed the crown to Ian Hofler and the site continues to connect the people with our favorite shoes and save a little bit of that hard earned cash...or credit.

The layout is impressive, the features are always great, and the marketplace beats eBay any day. Sole Collector has been a heavyweight in the sneaker blog game since you were able to browse on your iPhone — doesn't look like that is going to change. And extra props for iPad editions and (something dear to our heart) good old fashioned print.

Word to Woody. The Australian print magazine has also crossed over and killed it on the digital side. Breaking news and great interviews is the site's (and magazine's) forte, and you can't read a page without feeling their passion and dedication to sneakers. They know what's good in the streets.

One of the first dedicated sneaker-only blogs (hence how they got the just-the-facts name), Sneaker News is well-respected in the blogosphere for great daily information and their NBA and NCAA Feet franchises. If you ever need to know what your alma mater is rocking, this is your best bet — unless you went to some Division III school in Minnesota, just ask them on Twitter. They also get props for clean photo tags that don't go across half the shoe — sounds minor, but it means a lot. Thank you, Aaron.

You already know — king of kings. Matt Halfhill and his stellar crew have been doing it better than everyone else for years. Some new franchises, including the re-vamped Kicks on the Court segment, have Nice Kicks looking stronger than ever. George Kiel's "Olympic Diaries" interviews were super on-point. And the retail store in Austin gives regular readers a pilgrimage spot. Number one.