Sneakers

Joe La Puma's Top 10 Sneakers of 2013

Counting down.

Photo Removed
Complex Original

Blank pixel used during image takedowns

As Complex's director of content strategy, Joe La Puma has a hand in everything the magazine is doing— sneakers included. Joe's involvement on the sneaker level is as deep as it's ever been — and the shoe boxes in his office keep piling up. Check out Joe La Puma's Top 10 Sneakers of 2013.

RELATED: Russ Bengtson's Top 10 Sneakers of 2013
RELATED: Nick DePaula's Top 10 Sneakers of 2013
RELATED: Jay Corbin's Top 10 Sneakers of 2013
RELATED: Gary Warnett's Top 10 Sneakers of 2013
RELATED: Lawrence Schlossman's Top 10 Sneakers of 2013

Nike Air Tech Challenge II "US Open"

"I went nuts over these when they dropped, and wore them a lot this year. I ended up getting two pairs, and it was nice to wear something a lot that wasn't an Air Jordan."

Advertisement

Bape x adidas x Undefeated x ZX500

"Adidas and Bape couldn't get the release right for these the first time around, but when they finally dropped—they were great. The Bape camo set it off with red, white, and blue stripes. Really sick."

Nike Lunar Flyknit Chukka "University Red"

"I think the Flyknit Chukka's got a little played out towards the end of the year because there were too many colorways dropping, but this is the one that really made the silo go pop. I remember getting these in February, and I wore the shit out of them. I still wear them on the weekend. They're as close to house shoes I'll ever come."

Advertisement

Air Jordan IV "Toro"

"Everyone that knows me, knows that the Jordan IV is one of my top sneakers of all-time, and that red sneakers are my go-to. I'm hoping one day we'll see a fully all-red Jordan IV—midsole and everything, but these were a good holdover."

Y-3 Qasa high

"I didn't get these this year, unfortunately, but they were one of my favorites of 2013. It was like a fashion-forward Nike Roshe, done better. Y-3 killed it with this. I expect to see this silo around for a while."

Advertisement

Size? x Nike Air Max 93 Teal

"Size? has been consistent all year, and this late addition to the fold was my personal favorite. Everything about this sneaker is dope: the teal upper, the purple swoosh, and that dark sole with the teal air bubble."

Ronnie Fieg East Coast Project x Asics gel Lyte III "Miami"

"Every year I say I'm not going to put a Gel Lyte III on my list, and every year Ronnie proves me wrong. Note: I don't think this was the best sneaker Ronnie did this year (it was the Daytona New Balance), but I think it was the best colorway of any sneaker this year. For me, it looks the best on. Try wearing these with all black and let me know how it works out for you. Fire."

Advertisement

Balenciaga Arena

"Hate 'em or love 'em, this was the aspirational sneaker for 'sneakerheads' this year. I didn't own a pair (I almost pulled the trigger), but they were everywhere and they really were a silo that kind of changed how true sneakerheads look at lux. It was the Arena, and then the Saint Laurent highs and lows later in the year that had the biggest impact. But the Arena was the silo that set everything off."

Nike FlyKnit Racer (Multicolor)

"I jumped the gun and bought the Nike Flyknit Lunar 1+ multicolor before the Racers dropped and it was kind of a fail. Not saying the Lunar 1+ wasn't ill, but these racers are just perfect. They're the best shoe to travel in, and to me it was the best executed multicolor drop of the year."

Advertisement

Air Jordan I "Black/Royal"

"This is just one of those iconic sneakers that, when it releases, it automatically becomes the sneaker of the year. There's only a handful of sneakers that hold that much weight. The colorway on this silhouette is forever going to be number one on a lot of people's lists, whether it drops again two, five, or 10 years from now."

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App