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: