10 Dope Sneakers From 2013 You Already Forgot About

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Release: November 22, 2013

Saucony's running back catalog is best celebrated right now, and while the Hangtime isn't exactly a Saucony sneaker (it was first released under Spotbilt), it's still one of the best sneakers that the brand is re-releasing right now. Packer Shoes, never one to play it safe when it comes to its collaborations, took a non-basketball-inspired take on the Hangtime, and added a "Woodland Snake" print to the silhouette. This idea was executed by applying an almost-RealTree camo print that was paired with a scaly texture. But Packer dropped so much heat in 2013. If these sneakers got lost in the mix, it's OK, but they could have been the shining star in certain heads' rotations.

Release: October 2013

The tragedy that took place at the 2013 Boston Marathon was heartbreaking. But New Balance also produced an amazing sneaker for the running event: a pair of purple suede 990s with a light orange bottom that had Paul Revere on the heel. With such a connection to a great sneaker, it's easy to overlook that New Balance also made a very similar 990 for the New York City marathon. The NYC edition 990 had a blue suede instead of orange, and had a corresponding orange sole. They came in the infamous Mets and Knicks color scheme that the city is known for. Last year belonged to Boston. But these Made in USA New Balances were #bostonstrong in their own right. They just repped a different city.

Release: March 2013

When people think about sneaker collaborations, they're usually transported to this concept of applying crazy or themed designs to classic silhouettes, which, ultimately, make them cooler. But mita did something different when it worked on the adidas zx8000 in 2013. The Japanese boutique brought it back adidas' '90s running heritage and turned out a Torsion sneaker with a familiar grey, white, black, and green "Equipment" color scheme. These aren't the type of details that usually get people drooling over sneaker collaborations, but mita did things right. Even if these sneakers don't stand out with a bright factor, they continue what makes adidas' running sneakers great. And that has to count for something. (Plus, as adidas retros their Equipment line in 2014, remember that these came first.) 

Release: August 2013

Number-one NBA draft picks don't always pan out, but the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves an iconoclast of a basketball player in Allen Iverson. To commemorate his days with the Sixers and the team's choice to pick Iverson #1, Reebok put together a "#1 Draft Pick" edition of the Question Mid—the sneaker best attached to Iverson's NBA legacy. With a blue nubuck upper accented with red branding and a speckled midsole, this was one of the best Question Mids to release in 2013. But so many Questions released in 2013. In a sea of sneakers that are missing context, the "#1 Draft Pick" is rich of meaning to Iverson and the Sixers.

Release: January 2013

Any Nike sneaker with a direct link to the U.S.A Olympic Track and Field team is usually great, and the Air Max 2013 "USTAF" didn't disappoint. But it wasn't exactly a USA-inspired sneaker that was gung-ho on Americana. It was a grey and black sneaker that read, "USTAF," on one heel, and "13" on the other. Anyone who wanted something that was more in tune with "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan or when the Dream Team annihilated the world and, subsequently, birthed competitive international basketball, purchased the USTAF Air Pegasus 92. But those who didn't want a sneaker that were fitting for over-the-top Fourth of July outfits, picked up the Air Max 2013. Now, they just need to brush off some dusty boxes to find their pair.

Release: January 2013

Crosstraining is a weird category. How is one sneaker supposed to encompass so many athletic pursuits and still look "normal"? Nike invented the category of crosstraining, and continued to dominate it in the '90s, even when the other brands stepped in the arena. One of these sneakers was the Huarache Trainer 94. It utilized the water-skiing-inspired technology, but had a huge strap across the midfoot. The sneakers got re-released in 2013, and instead of a triumphant comeback, it just kind of came out. But the Huarache Trainer 94 is pure Nike innovation. It's about taking an idea and relating it to different athletes and connecting everything in the middle, which is exactly what a crosstrainer is meant to do.

Release: May 25, 2013

All of the hype in 2013 for the Air Jordan 1 was built up by the Breds, Royals, and Black and Golds (maybe the Shadows, too), so it's easy to forget that one of the best Air Jordan 1 color schemes of all time, the Black Toes, released. These are the sneakers that people will wear everyday and make part of their uniform, they're that great. But with so many retro releases, it's easy to overlook some of the lesser-hyped (and more limited) releases of 2013. Unfortunately, the Black Toe 1s were a victim. They shouldn't have been, though. These are the sneakers that Mike was wearing in the original "Jumpman" ad.

Release: March 30, 2013

Concepts released a slew of praiseworthy collaborations in 2013. And the Cambridge, Mass. shop's Vans Syndicate Sk8 Hi was on par with the New Balance, Nike, and ASICS collaborations that it put out. But when a shop releases so many great things, it's easy for certain sneakers to fall through the cracks—in our memories, at least. But, hey, everyone can only retain so much information. The concept behind the sneaker was to pay tribute to "The Combat Zone," which was, more or less, Boston's red light district. Besides the sneakers pink satin lining and black suede upper, the sneaker was lasered on the upper, had a translucent sole with a checkerboard bottom, and, its most defining characteristic, two seductive female legs with an all-seeing eye between them.

Release: February 2013 

Nike is known for doing special sneakers for Black History Month. This also includes Jordan Brand, which has released great sneakers to coincide with the month. 2013 saw the Jordan Spizike get a Volt makeover, and although these sneakers were hard to miss (literally, just take a look at them), they're not one of the Jordan releases from 2013 that everyone lost their minds over. Maybe the Spizike cooled down a little bit, but this is one of the better color schemes to ever grace the silhouette.

Release: June 21, 2013

Eight years ago or so, it would have been crazy to think that a pair of ASICS would cause people to camp out or line up on release day. Nowadays, if a well-known boutique works on a Gel Lyte III, or any ASICS for that matter, it's insane to think that it's not going to be one of the year's most sought-after non-Nike releases. But the Saint Alfred x Gel Lyte III is a unique case. 2013 saw a shift in interest towards other ASICS models such as the Gel Lyte V. Also, the sneaker was supposed to release on June 8 at Saint Alfred and June 15 worldwide, but the Chicago retailer didn't get to release its sneakers until June 21 at 6 p.m. This release day mix-up, sadly, made the sneakers lose a little bit of steam. But they shouldn't have. The Gel Lyte III it worked on represents the beach and ocean with a sandy gum sole and a light blue suede upper. The color combination works well with the silhouette.