The 50 Best Sneakers of 2013

The final countdown.

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Picking out the best sneakers of the year used to be easy. Imagine, for example, figuring out the best sneakers of 1988. There were no retros, no collaborations. And even the biggest releases of the year only dropped in three or four colorways, max. The 50 best releases of 1988? That would have been more or less all of them.

Now? Good luck. With major releases happening virtually every weekend, it's hard to even keep track anymore. And by the time December rolls around, the big hits of January and February are all but forgotten, buried under a virtual avalanche of can't-miss this and must-cop that. But that's why we're here. To ensure that this was the best of the best, we sat down with a large group of editors and considered tons of sneakers. If it doesn't correlate to other previously published lists, that's why. And to be fair, we only discussed sneakers that have been out already. (So no Gamma Blue Air Jordan XIs or Black/Red Air Jordan Is). From the most true-to-the-original retros to the wildest collabs, from the most advanced modern basketball sneakers to hybrid runners, from EMZ to HTM, these were The 50 Best Sneakers of 2013.

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50. Nike Free Flyknit

49. Nike Lunar LDV Trail Low QS

48. DJ Clark Kent x Nike SB Dunk

47. Air Jordan V "Shanghai"

46. Palace x Reebok Workout Low

45. adidas Mutombo

44. A$AP Rocky x Jeremy Scott x adidas Originals JS Wings 2.0 "Black Flag"

43. Supreme x Nike Flyknit Lunar 1

42. Brooklyn Projects x Nike SB Dunk Low "Walk of Fame"

41. Nike Air Jordan I OG "Black/Gold"

40. mastermind JAPAN x adidas Originals Superstar 80s

39. emerica Westgate

Pro skater Brandon Westgate had a monster year in 2013. First, he dominated of footage full of damn near perfect tricks. Then, Emerica dropped a fresh, innovative new sneaker with his name on it, and for the first time in a long time the core skate brand had truly covetable kicks on the market. With nods to the athletic styling of the '90s, the Westgate had a distinct look thanks to the flexible, running shoe-esque cup sole, and a clean one-piece suede toe-box. Now here's a GIF of Westgate doing what he does best:
 

38. size? x Nike Air Max 180

37. ASICS Kayano 20th Anniversary Pack

36. size? x Nike Air Max Light Mowabb

35. Margiela x Converse Jack Purcell

34. Nike SB Zoom Janoski "Digi Floral"

33. Tyler the Creator x Vans Old Skool

32. size? x Nike Air Huarache

31. adidas Stan Smith

30. Nike Trainerendor

29. Ice-T x Vans Syndicate Sk8-Hi

28. Air Jordan XX8 SE

27. Ronnie Fieg x ASICS Gel Lyte III "ECP"

26. Nike Flyknit Racer multicolor

25. Nike Air Max 90 Hyperfuse "Independence Day Pack"

24. Air Jordan IV "Fear Pack"

23. Undefeated x Nike Hyperdunk "Bringback Pack"

22. Nike Air Max Lunar 90

21. Nike Kobe 8 Year of the Snake Pack

20. Supreme x Vans "Power, Corruption & Lies"

19. Operator EMZ x adidas Originals Pro Model "Collectors Project"

18. Air Jordan V Doernbecher

17. BWGH x Puma R968

16. Ronnie Fieg x ASICS Gel Lyte V "Volcano"

15. Norse Projects x New Balance 1500

14. Nike Air Tech Challenge II "US Open"

13. Air Jordan IV "Toro"

12. Packer Shoes x Reebok Question "For Player Use Only"

11. size? x Nike Air Max 93

10. atmos x Nike Air Max 1

9. BAPE x UNDFTD x adidas Originals ZX5000

8. Sole Collector x Nike Air Zoom "The Glove"

7. Nike LeBron X "Cork"

6. Ronnie Fieg x New Balance 1600 "Daytona"

5. Concepts x New Balance 998 "C-Note"

4. Nike HTM Flyknit Chukka

3. Air Jordan III "88"

2. Nike LeBron XI

1. Air Jordan I Black/Royal