Mayer Hawthorne's Top 25 Sneakers of All Time

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25. Nike Air Odyssey

Mayer says: "I had put actual runners in here. I used to rock a lot of sneakers like this back in the day. I’m actually trying to get another pair of these right now. I wore these to death. They’re just really a classic-looking, old-school running shoe that you don’t see anymore. The Nike runners are the foundation of what sneakers are today.”

24. Nike Dunk High "Medicine Ball Trainer III"

Mayer says: "This was part of the Bo Knows campaign that they did and they’re basically a nod to the Trainer IIIs. It’s the same colorway but in a Dunk. They’re fuckin’ awesome, I can’t get away with the Trainers these days — it’s a little too sporty to rock with a suit — but the Dunks I can wear those with anything. That colorway is such a crazy colorway, but it works.”

23. Nike Dunk Mid SB Crew "Linoleum"

Mayer says: "Every time I wear these people are like 'what the fuck are those?' I don’t even know the story behind these, there’s another one, like a blue one too — the 'Peacocks' which I see but never the 'Linoleums.' I grabbed these at Flight Club and they totally broke my neck when I saw them. I didn’t even have to pay that much for them because most people aren't even up on these. They’re stupid rare and definitely I’m all about the red. They go really dope with suits.” 

22. Reebok Pump Omni Lite 

Mayer says: "Dee Brown ’91 Dunk Contest, when he pumped those up and won the dunk contest — changed the world.”

21. Solebox x Reebok Pump Omni Zone 

Mayer says: "I was really scrambling to get these when they first came out. They light up — it just takes you back to your childhood but they don’t flash too much so you can feel grown with them. It’s that futuristic shit that I love.” 

20. Air Jordan V "White/Fire Red/Black"

Mayer says: "The white and red Vs, a homie of mine gave them to me as a gift. I loved the Vs — always have — but the black ones were always my shit. I never had the white and reds but the more I wore them the more they really grew on me and now are some of my favorite kicks. Why don’t I wear these more often?”

19. Air Jordan IV "Military Blue"

Mayer says: "I forgot about these until I saw they were about to release again soon. I like these better than the 'True Blue' IIIs which just missed making my list. I didn’t want to just have IIIs, IVs and Vs on this list but the 'Military' IVs colorway and silhouette just looks so fresh to me.” 

18. Nike Air Flight '89 "Black/Red"

Mayer says: "The Flight ‘89s, I had them when they first came out and it’s basically a Jordan IV because of the bottom. Automatically I was sold because you could afford them a lot easier. That was a shoe that really stood the test of time. It’s still every bit as good now as it was when they originally released.” 

17. Nike ACG Air Wildwood LE "Anthracite/Grey/Neon"

Mayer says: "This is part of that ’95 inspired pack and another sleeper. When I’m wearing these around people are always asking me what they are, I bought them when they first came out and I love all of the ACGs. It’s a really different-looking sneaker and really dope.” 

16. Nike Dunk High Premium "DJ AM"

Mayer says: "Rest in peace to my homie DJ AM. These not only have sentimental value to me just from getting to DJ with AM, but they’re also one of the dopest sneakers ever. Just the turntable pattern on the back alone, damn, the details on the sneaker are some of the greatest of all time.”  

15. Nike Court Force High "Neon Green"

Mayer says: "I am trying to get another pair of these right now, I wore these things to death — I love these shoes. It was a nod to the 95 Air Max with the colorway, the neon and gradient grey, but its closer to a Dunk silhouette. I remember Andre Agassi wore those joints back in the day. These are a real sleeper.” 

14. adidas x Jeremy Scott ObyO Wings 1.0 "Black/Silver"

Mayer: "The very first ones, I bought those when they came out. When I first saw those I was like 'damn, how come no one has ever thought of those before?' They’re revolutionary. Your boy Jeremy Scott is taking things to another level. He is really doing some amazingly creative things with sneakers. I still think the original black and silver wings are his best work yet though.”  

13. Air Jordan III "Doernbecher" 

Mayer says: "These are relatively new — they were one of last year’s Doernbechers. It’s the best model of all time and when you give it that crazy reflective red, that just made it even doper. I almost put the all-red Jordan I Phats on here too because I just really love red kicks.” 

12. New Balance 576 "Harris Tweed - Dark Brown"

Mayer says: "I went through a period back in the late '90s where I exclusively wore New Balance and that was it. You would not catch me wearing anything else. The 576s with the Harris Tweed was a super-duper limited run and I got a pair of them. I paid a stupid amount of money for them. Those are my favorite New Balances that was ever made. I wish they still made New Balances like that. I’m trying to get them to do that again. [Complex: 'They have launched a New Balance custom program.'] They have New Balance IDs now? Ohhhh, it’s over.”

11. DC Life Admiral Sport "Metallic Silver"

Mayer says: "I love these shoes. I bought these shoes for a specific photo shoot that needed something crazy futuristic looking. I love anything real futuristic looking, space age. I bought the Admiral Sports for a specific photo shoot and thought I would wear them for that one shoot only — they ended up being some of my favorite kicks that I own”  

10. Air Jordan IV "White/Cement"

Mayer says: "The 'White/Cement' IVs are the most versatile shoe that I own. I had a photo shoot a few weeks ago and we were trying to find something they don’t work with, you just can’t do it. It works with anything. You can literally rock it with anything you want and it looks dope no matter what.” 

9. Air Jordan I "Bred"

Mayer says: "I mean, this is the sneaker that started it all. It’s funny, it basically a Dunk but you put the Bulls colorway on there and the Jordan symbol and it changed the whole game. I didn’t know this at the time but Jordan was getting fined for wearing those every game because of the colorway requirements for NBA games. He was like 'I’m wearing these joints, I’ll pay the fucking fine' and that is boss right there.” 

8. Nike Air Max 1 Supreme "Atmos" Safari

Mayer says: "This shoe is legendary amongst sneakerheads, this is the one where they combined every type of animal fur. It’s like leopard, cheetah, tiger, and zebra — everything in horsehair. I was in Australia when they first came out, they were $300, and I didn’t have dough like that back in 2006. I wanted them so bad and went back to the store like three times just looking at them, but couldn’t afford them at the time. I wanted those mugs so bad. It took me a while before I finally picked those up, definitely one of my favorite sneakers.”

7. Nike Dunk High Pro SB "Brian Anderson"

Mayer says: "I missed these when they first came out and that’s the longest I have ever searched for a sneaker. I just got a pair of them finally this year and I have been looking for a few years. They’re my favorite non-custom Dunk of all time.” 

6. Nike SB Dunk High "Mayer Hawthorne" by JGoods

Mayer: "I’m obviously biased, but JGoods in Minneapolis, he made me a custom pair of Dunk Highs that are one of one. A lot of people have asked me how they can get a pair — unfortunately those are one of one and they executed those perfectly.” 

5. Air Jordan I 'Opening Day - Black" 

Mayer says: "These represent Jordan when he left the league to go play baseball for a season or two — they made these with the baseball pinstripes. It’s just a really classy looking shoe to me. I don’t know why but it’s always been my favorite colorway of the Jordan Is.” 

4. Air Jordan V 'Black/Metallic Silver"

Mayer says: "The first pair of Jordans I actually owned, that I bought with my own money — I saved my lawn mowing money. My parents weren’t about to pay $120 for a pair of shoes, they made me work hard for them and buy my shoes myself. I got them when they first came out in ’90 when I was in middle school and I was the freshest kid at school because I had a pair of those. I just remember feeling like Mike at school.” 

3. Air Jordan IV "Black/Cement"

Mayer says: "These are really a tough call for me, if you asked me again next week this easily could be number one on my list. They’re doing all the IVs this year which is exciting for any Jordan fan. The little triangle by the strap is a just another Tinker classic. It’s a defining Jordan in the game — it just doesn’t get any better than that.”

2. Nike Air Max 95 "OG - Neon Green"

Mayer says: "Man, just completely its own shoe like there is nothing else like it. The gradient is such an iconic thing in the sneaker world. I remember I sold my original pair to my college roommate and they were all beat up and used and he still bought them. I was a broke college kid just trying to get a new pair.”

1. Air Jordan III "Black/Cement"

Mayer says: "I’m wearing them as we speak and for a lot of shows, that says a lot right there. They’re the best, the best sneaker of all time — Tinker Hatfield hallelujah, holla back.”