10 Sneaker Brands You Should Be More Aware Of Than You Are Right Now

Let's be real for minute. It's easy to get caught up in the hype of what drops next. So much so, that we can often forget what other options are out there. The fact of the matter is, most lame sneakerheads sit at home bitching about quality or lines because they're to narrow minded. It doesn't take much to open your eyes to some of the awesome brands that are making sneakers right now. Yeah, you may not find all of your friends in line trying to get the same old shit. And if looking like a bunch of Stans is your thing, more power to you, though. Really, bruh. If you have some balls to step outside the norm, here's 10 Sneaker Brands You Should Be More Aware Of Than You Are Right Now.

Brand: Le Coq Sportif
Key Models: Noah 89, Noah 3.0, Eclat

Joakim Noah is no joke, and neither are his sneakers. Le Coq Sportif makes some quality kicks for the basketball court but don't sleep on their old school runners. The Eclat is one of the best sneakers of 2013 thus far, and you probably didn't even know its name. The old school runner is out in a handful of colors, and you should own a pair, if not more.

Brand: BucketFeet
Key Models: Slip-On, Lace-Up

BucketFeet was created as a way for artists to share their creativity through sneaker designs in 2011. They've now partnered with artists from around the world, and the designs can be found in their catalog. The affordable designs are simple and comfortable, but at the same time, they're helping to put emerging artists on the map. Who knows, you may cop a pair of kicks and end up buying a piece for the crib a few months down the road from the same artist.

Brand: iPath
Key Models: Cat, Cat Rod, Iconic, Westwing 2

If you've been sleeping on iPath, it's time to wake the f*ck up! Seriously, bro. The Cat or its sibling the Cat Rod are classy styles that will have the girls respecting your grown man sneaker game. Plus, iPath has that partnership with Vibram, which means you can find some of the most comfortable and durable outsoles in the game, on the bottom of styles like the Iconic XL. But if you're really ready to step your manhood up, check out the Westwing 2, as the name implies, that's some presidential shit.

Brand: Babolat
Key Models: Propulse III, Propulse IV, V Pro 2 All Court

Tennis shoes get the cold shoulder by most of you lame sneakerheads nowadays but reality is, some of the best made sneakers are designed for the courts. But consider, aside from basketball, what sport can carry a signature sneaker line long past the career of its namesake has ended? Babolat was lacing Andy Roddick with signature tennis shoes before he decided to hang it up last year. Roddick's signature model, the Propulse lives on with the newly released fourth version. If you're not a Roddick fan (what's wrong with you?), check out the Pro 2. Durable kicks, dope designs and probably better made than anything you currently own.

Brand: Montrail
Key Models: Rogue Fly, FluidFlex

Montrail is a slept on brand that makes some dope running sneakers. The Rogue Fly is a style that would have kids lining up on Mercer if it were wearing a different label. That's exactly why it should be on your radar. Rock a pair of these and people will be asking about them. Want something a little more low-key, check the FluidFlex. With any luck it will have you getting off the Internet and hitting the trail, er, treadmill.

Brand: Project Canvas
Key Models: Boat Shoe, Hi-Top,

Project Canvas is a company that has taken on the challenging task of blending art with sneakers and bringing it to a broader audience. The future models from Project Canvas, including high-top and boat shoe designs, are going to open up a new range of possibilities for those looking for truly custom footwear. Plus, Project Canvas uses some of their revenue to give back to the youth, through public school art programs. You can't go wrong with doing something for the kids, the ladies love that more than Cool J.

Brand: Diadora
Key Models: Borg Elite, Mi Basket, Trident, Davis

Diadora may be more known now for its soccer boots but the companies catalog is probably more filled with history than your favorite college professor. The best thing about models like the Borg Elite and Mi Basket, aside from the backstory, is that the quality is better than most of them fancy shits in your closet. You show up to that local sneaker show with some Borg Elites on and the dudes you been thinkin' are fresh will be giving you daps.

Brand: K1X
Key Models: Anti-Gravity, 80s

K1X has had their ups and downs but 2013 is looking bright and not just in colorways. The newly released K1X Anti-Gravity dropped in some eye-popping tonal colorways to set K1X back on the right path. The silhouette has a '90s basketball feel that is hard to resist and if you're able to overlook the details, there's probably something wrong with you. If throwback styles are more your style, the aptly-named, 80s silhouette is a timeless shape that will stand out amongst the plethora of sneakerheads that seem to buy the same shit week after week.

Brand: Emerica
Key Models: Tempster, Herman G6, G-Code!!!, LOL

While éS Skateboarding may have taken a hiatus, Emerica is ready to come up on the skaters that are looking for that "stick it to the man" brand. Peep the G-Code!!! and the white/gum colorway of the Herman G6, two of the dopest silhouettes in the line up. If you're looking to go green (always a good move when you're hollerin' at females), the Tempster is a vegan joint that you can wear to your next quinoa and cous cous dinner date. Not worried about going vegan? Check out the LOL, yep, that's the name of it and only Emerica has the balls to name a sneaker LOL, maybe you can learn from them.

Brand: Under Armour
Key Models: Cam Trainer, Spine BBall, Bloodline,

The Cam Trainer is the current Under Armour flagship model. If you haven't taken a good look at the details of the shoe, your'e missing the boat. With recent news that Tom Luedecke joined the UA team, that boat is probably going to run your ass over in the next couple of years. Luedecke was behind sneakers like the Nike Zoom Kobe VI and Air Jordan 2011 before UA made an offer he couldn't resist. With the potential of sneakers like Brandon Jenning's Bloodline, the move should have you wondering what's next from UA.