No. 10 – Raf Simons Panelled Running Sneaker
Baller factor: 4 out of 5
Why you shouldn’t run in them: There’s a reason so many running shoes today have seamless uppers.
Raf Simons cooked up some interesting stuff with adidas, but before his work with the Three Stripes his dropped this “Panelled Running Sneaker” on his own. We can’t imagine why anyone would need all those panels, but damn if they don’t look dope. Too bad our feet are already sweating from looking at them.
No. 9 – Louis Vuitton Runaway Sneaker
Baller factor: 5 out of 5
Why you shouldn’t run in them: They’ll go from the “Runaways” to the “Sweatboxes” real quick.
Suede calf leather. Different patchworked leathers throughout. Metallic gold and black patent. Yup, these things are baller as hell. Although they sorta have a running shoe silhouette, you’d be foolish to pound the pavement in these pricey kicks.
No. 8 – Nike Air Huarache
Baller factor: 2 out of 5
Why you shouldn’t run in them: The tech is far too outdated at this point.
We love the Air Huarache. In fact, we wouldn’t have anything against doing some light jogging in them. However, for anything serious, they’re just not cut out for the job. The retro version has been watered down considerably, and dozens of owners have reported durability issues after light casual use. In 1992? Sure thing. In 2014? Nah, bruh.
No. 7 – Brooks x Cncpts Chariot “Merlot”
Baller factor: 3 out of 5
Why you shouldn’t run in them: Suede is for stuntin’, not running.
We were psyched when Boston’s Cncpts linked up with Brooks Running for this wine-inspired take on the Chariot model from 1982. Brooks has a deep archive that deserves exploring, and the fact that they worked with one of the best boutiques in the game is a great sign of things to come. Unfortunately, these runners have some extremely outdated tech and enough suede to turn your run into a sweat free-for-all.
No. 6 – Y-3 Qasa Racer
Baller factor: 4 out of 5
Why you shouldn’t run in them: There’s just not enough support in the upper.
The Y-3 Qasa Racer is one of our favorite lifestyle designs, and they almost look like they’d be a great running shoe, but there’s just not enough holding them together for serious use. They’re great for walking around town, but picking up the pace in these could mean damaging your investment or suffering an injury.
No. 5 – Common Projects Track Shoe
Baller factor: 4 out of 5
Why you shouldn’t run in them: The cushioning can’t hold up.
Common Projects make some outstanding products. Their clean, minimal aesthetic is the sort of timeless look that #menswear heads flock to in droves. Many of their sneakers are inspired by iconic athletic sneakers, like this Track Shoe take on a traditional runner. They’ve got enough mesh to add breathability to the suede based upper, but the cushioning and overall construction just isn’t built for serious mileage.
No. 4 – Asics x Ronnie Fieg Gel Lyte V “Sage”
Baller factor: 3 out of 5
Why you shouldn’t run in them: The Gel Lyte V originally dropped in 1993, it’s old enough to drink.
The Asics Gel Lyte V is an awesome shoe, and the numerous collaborations make the classic model even sweeter. One of our favorite recent takes was Ronnie Fieg’s “Sage” rendition, with its watery tones and light hues. Still, as great as they are, these things are over two decades old. Asics’ current offerings are much more suitable for the modern runner.
No. 3 – New Balance 997
Baller factor: 3 out of 5
Why you shouldn’t run in them: We can’t stress it enough: suede=sweat.
The New Balance 997 was a presidential hit, seen on the feet of Bill Clinton and Al Gore. But that was 1991, and in today’s world of open mesh and fused synthetic uppers, running in suede based kicks is just foolish. The New Balance 997 is perfectly comfortable for walking, but don’t even think about going all out on the pavement in them.
No. 2 – Nike Air Max 90 “Independence Day”
Baller factor: 3 out of 5
Why you shouldn’t run in them: The cushioning setup is probably older than you are.
The Air Max 90 “Independence Day” pack features a Hyperfuse upgrade that makes it a lot lighter and more breathable than standard AM 90 models. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that the cushioning is prehistoric by running shoe standards. It doesn’t matter if you choose red, white, or blue, none of these should be laced up for running.
No. 1 – adidas x Rick Owens Tech Runner
Baller factor: 4 out of 5
Why you shouldn’t run in them: Just look at them!
Rick Owens has exploded in popularity over the last few years. His dark, drapey designs were seen on nearly every relevant celebrity and helped him earn the attention of adidas. The resulting collaboration led to several styles, including this Tech Runner model. Don’t let the name fool you, there’s nothing “tech” or “runner” about these. In fact, you’d have a hard time doing anything other than swagging out with that massive protruding sole.
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