The 10 Best Sneakers to Buy for Summer

After spending several months cooped up due to the ongoing pandemic, it’s finally time to ease up a bit and go outside. As summer quickly approaches, it’s also time to reassess the wardrobe and find some new sneakers to fit the warmer months. As you shift from sweatpants and house slippers to shorts and low-tops, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best sneakers to rock during the summer months. Most are available at retail right now, although you’ll have to splurge at resale for a few of our picks.

Sure, you can (and should) grab at least one pair of white-on-white Air Force 1s, but the key to a strong summer sneaker rotation is variety. Whether you're an outdoorsman who needs breathability and traction or a DJ who wants to stunt on your crowd at the kickback, we’ve got you covered with some of the best shoes to add to your summer lineup now.

Buy it now: $200

Slip-on shoes might be some of the most underrated sneakers to make your rotation, and the Reebok Instapump Fury Boost is a good mix of retro and futuristic style. Meshing the aesthetics of Pharrell’s Billionaire Boys Club brand and the unique shape of the Stephen Smith-designed Reebok Instapump Fury, this sneaker is suited for both lounging in the house on a rainy day and taking to the park on a warm summer afternoon.

Adidas Boost cushioning delivers an extra layer of comfort to the sneaker. Its soft palette of blue and yellow across the upper makes the Billionaire Boys Club x Reebok Instapump Fury Boost an eye-catcher from blocks away. Plus, the leather upper completes the sneaker, making it durable enough to be worn throughout the entire year. Sitting at a retail price of $200, this is a wise investment to have a sneaker that will set you apart from the rest of the pack.

Buy it now: $100

True to its name, the Nike Air Rift Breathe not only looks like an ideal summer sneaker with its crisp pure platinum colorway, but it’s built to be worn in the warm weather as well thanks to its ventilated construction. The Air Rift’s upper is threaded in breathable Nike Tech Hypermesh along with its signature split toe and plush, durable rubber outsole. The women’s shoe was designed in 1996 and drew inspiration from Kenyan runners. To that same end, its name also pays homage to the Kenyan Rift Valley Province.

The Nike Air Rift was originally introduced as a performance running shoe, but these days it’s better equipped for lifestyle use. This brathable women’s iteration of the ‘90s runner is also available in a black-and-white colorway and features adjustable straps on the top and heel of its sock-like upper. Best of all, you can wear them with or without socks.

Buy it now: $160

Initially released in 1998, the Nike Air Max Plus has withstood the test of time and has continued to live in intergenerational (and international, with a cult following in Australia) sneaker rotations for the last two decades. Created by Sean McDowell, who was inspired by the Florida sunset, palm trees, and ocean waves, this rendition of the silhouette comes layered in vibrant hues of siren red and bright mango, with etchings of black and white on the sneaker’s base and heel. Though it is primarily a lifestyle sneaker now, the Air Max Plus was originally a cutting edge performance running shoe boasting Nike’s Tuned Air cushioning.

Being one of the more unique entries in the Air Max pantheon, the Air Max Plus delivers a different, yet classic flavor to a summer rotation. The model’s original colorways are hard to beat, but this bright rendition is just right for summer wear.

Buy it now: $390-$569

It’s no secret that the Nike SB has the sneaker game in a chokehold once more, and this new collaboration with skate brand Stingwater makes for a fun, summer-friendly take on the Dunk Low. Stingwater is a skateboard brand created by Daniel Kim that plays with mushroom graphics and imagery across much of its apparel and pieces. This unique design has found its way to this Nike SB Dunk Low, with its safari speckled patterns layered across the upper meant to resemble the top of a mushroom.

The Nike SB x Stingwater “Magic Mushroom” comes dressed in a university red upper with the “Stingwater” wording trickling down the jeweled Swoosh. The sneaker’s vibrant colors and iced-out bottoms make it an excellent shoe for the warmer month. Unsurprisingly, the sneaker sold out at retail earlier this mont, but can still be picked up on the aftermarket for a premium.

Buy it now: $360-$520

No seasonal sneaker list would be complete without at least one Air Jordan, and the Air Jordan 4 “University Blue” might be a cut above the rest. Reminiscent of the Air Jordan 4 University of North Carolina PE that goes for upward of $5,000 on the secondary market, the “University Blue” is an opportunity for sneakerheads to cop the next best thing. Dressed in a university blue suede leather upper paired with a cement splattered midsole and hits of black and grey throughout, this Air Jordan 4 is suited for the summer. What the Air Jordan 4 “University Blue” lacks in classic Nike Air brandishing on the backtab, it makes up for with premium materials and a PE-adjacent flair that makes it stand out.

This was one of the more popular Air Jordan retros so far this year, so you’ll have to pay over retail on the secondary market to get your hands on a pair at this point.

Buy it now: $269-$410

Summer has always been a showcase for crispy low-top sneakers, and the Air Jordan 11 Low “Legend Blue” fits that description perfectly. This sneaker is essentially the low-top version of the classic “Columbia Blue” Air Jordan 11 that released in 1996, renamed “Legend Blue” when it dropped in 2014. Some consistencies across all three shoes include Jordan’s number 23 on the insole and heel, patent leather across the upper and mudguard, translucent blue bottoms, and checkered carbon fiber layered below it. Despite getting dirty more easily because of its white exterior, this sneaker is still versatile and can go with a variety of different fits, from shorts to sweatpants and jeans.

The Air Jordan 11 Low “Legend Blue” joins other low-top versions of classic Jordan 11s that have been released over the last 10 years, including the Air Jordan 11 Low “Bred” that released in 2015, and the Air Jordan 11 Low “Concord” that released in 2014.

Buy it now: $140

The Adidas ZX line has a history of reinvention and pioneering sneaker technology, and one of the franchise’s most iconic styles is available this summer. The Adidas ZX 8000 was a status symbol in 1989, releasing with the backdrop of the Berlin Wall falling. The original “Aqua” colorway that has been re-released now, fitted in light blue, shock yellow, and sand, pays homage to that original release as the world was entering a new era. While the Adidas ZX 8000 was one of the shoes of Summer ‘89 in Europe, the enhancements to this 2021 version make it suitable for all-day use today. The shoe’s mesh and synthetic suede sneaker is cushioned with embedded Boost foam for a modern update that’s discreet yet effective. This model and colorway have also been given an update with 4D technology, but we prefer this more OG-informed variation which can still be picked up now at retail in select sizes.

Buy it now: $70

As one of the most affordable sneakers on this list, we would be remiss not to tell you to add the women’s Reebok Club C to your summer rotation. Going for a vintage look, the leather upper and lightweight cushioning of this Reebok Club C make it both stylish and comfortable. This rendition of the classic Club C was also inspired by its tennis court roots. The vintage aesthetic that this model utilizes makes it a staple for any season, and the more durable materials that it’s built with also allow it to withstand the elements—plus it’s the sort of sneaker that will look better with some wear anyway.

This Reebok Club C also looks similar to the pack that was released two years ago to celebrate women’s empowerment. Inspired by Reebok’s “It’s A Woman’s World” ad campaign from 2001, the 2019 “It’s A Man’s World” collection featured a similar Club C, Reebok Workout, and Freestyle Hi. The new campaign aimed to highlight women who were making waves in traditionally male-dominated industries. With a simple, sleek design and affordable price point, the Reebok Club C Women’s is a low-stakes cop for the summer.

Buy it now: $230

The Salomon XT-4 Advanced is one of those silhouettes that fit any season, and the different colorways can help distinguish the ideal time to pull them out of the closet. For our best sneakers to wear during the fall, we highlighted the Salomon XT-4 Advanced with a Contagrip outsole, which makes it an ideal shoe for all of your socially distanced trekking needs. That is still true, but this mulberry colorway is just the right shade for summer. While being one of the most expensive sneakers on this list, it’s also one of the most functional. Plus, you know not everyone else is going to be wearing these when you step out of the house. With a TPU film upper matched with an EVA midsole and Contragrip outsole, the historically outdoor shoe is equipped for intense mountain hikes as much as it is for casual morning strolls.

Buy it now: $135

Coming in a variety of colors, from black spruce with timberwolf to ghost pepper with habanero and light rogue wave, the New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6 is outfitted with a TPU threaded upper that you don’t have to worry about getting dirty. Being a trail sneaker, it is also very lightweight, weighing in at around 11 oz. and benefitting from the Fresh Foam technology on the midsole as well as a rugged Vibram outsole. Not only that, but the sneaker is also eco-friendly, with a recycled upper and New Balance pledging donating 1 percent of the MSRP from every Hierro v6 sold to an organization geared toward climate change prevention and protecting the environment. With all kinds of outdoor activities now becoming more accessible, this is a great time to snag a trail running shoe that you can also pull off casually should the need arise.