The 15 Best Independent Sneaker Blogs Right Now

Not every sneaker blog has a million followers on Instagram or gets 50,000 people to read its articles. There are smaller sneaker blogs that are usually run by one (sometimes two) people, and deliver a more personal aspect to their ideas on the culture and everything that surrounds it.

We turn to these blogs to get a different perspective on sneakers or read them because they're covering a unique beat that major blogs tend to ignore. It's rare to see a larger blog that only covers New Balance, Reebok Classics, or the performance of skate shoes, but the independent blogs that dig deep into these beats can be a reliable source of expertise. There are also other sneaker blogs that cover the same info as larger sneaker blogs, but don't have the financial backing of a media outlet. But they're still good, too. We read them a lot, and so should you. If you're a good enough sneaker blog—take a look at Kix and the City—you can transcend the gap between independent and larger sneaker blogs.

If you're not up on game, here's an opportunity. Here are The 15 Best Independent Sneaker Blogs Right Now.

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What It Does Well: Leveraging access to sneakers in order to produce content.

Just because a sneaker blog isn't attached to a major media outlet doesn't mean that it can't have connections and inside sources. Inside the Sneakerbox, run by "Sneakerbox" Clyde Edwards, takes full advantage of his links with brands. The site, aside from reporting relevant sneaker news, also gets the opportunity to post original photography of unreleased sneakers and has become a source for larger blogs to occasionally get images and information from.

What It Does Well: All-Roshe-everything.

Since its launch in 2012, the Nike Roshe Run has had a cult following. In the past year or so, the Roshe has spilled over to the mass market, but still is seen as a basic go-to sneaker for cash-strapped sneakerheads. As the sneaker has become more popular (and been released in other versions), the coverage of it online has bloomed. For the hardcore Roshe heads, there are blogs like Team Roshe that takes this lightweight runner seriously. As a testament to the sneaker's growth, the website is updated on a regular basis as Roshe news and updates break.

What It Does Well: Analyzing the numbers of sneaker culture.

Numbers never lie. Or so they say. And that's what Campless chooses to cover. Probably the most unconventional sneaker blog, Campless analyzes the numbers of sneaker releases and re-sale prices on everything from Air Jordans to Concepts collaborations. If Matt Powell had a sneaker blog—and actually wore sneakers—this is what it would be.

What It Does Well: Videos with personality, and revealing exclusive content. Golf shoes.

When he's not busy blogging for Complex or shooting videos for Finish Line, Jacques Slade is running his own website, Kustoo. For those who have seen Slade's work in the past, Kustoo has the same humorous but informative approach to blogging as it covers current sneaker news in text and video format. Slade's "Today in Sneaks" videos give a quick rundown of what's been going on in sneaker culture, and he might actually be the Tiger Woods of sneaker blogging, too: Kustoo is one of the few sneaker blogs that takes a keen interest in Nike Golf.

What It Does Well: Viewing sneakers from a designer's perspective.

A lot of you might be familiar with designer Brett Golliff through his work that he's done with Complex Sneakers and Finish Line, but he has steadily been running his own blog, too. What separates Golliff's blog from the others is that it's written from a designer's point of view. That's not the only way he writes, though: He also has a sense of editorial savvy. His blog has a conceptual feel to it, as he highlights known sneakerheads' go-to sneakers. Golliff also adds in splashes of his personal taste, and puts more life into his blog.

What It Does Well: All-New Balance news and the subculture that surrounds the sneakers.

Tons of other sites post New Balance sneakers, but no one does it like Those NBs. That's all the site focuses on, and it functions as an epicenter for the happenings of New Balance aficionados. Those NBs sticks to the New Balance beat, but just doesn't re-post content from other sites. It also goes out and scores exclusive interviews with New Balance designers, retailers, and sneaker personalities like Russ Bengtson and DJ Clark Kent.

What It Does Well: An obsessive look at everything Reebok Classics - and the originals that inspired the retros.

Reebok Classics made a lot of moves last year and increased interest in the brand through limited collaborations and properly re-releasing back catalog product. When it comes to blogs that cover Reebok Classics, no one does it better than Retrobok. The site just doesn't give a quick write-up and release information to the sneakers it posts—it critically looks at them through the lens of a Reebok connoisseur. The first-person narrative of Retrobok is refreshing, and the site also serves as a historian—posting O.G. catalog scans and advertisements.

What It Does Well: Smart takes on skate shoes.

Skaters are a fickle crowd and have always looked at the sneaker industry through a skeptical eye. And that tradition is continued through Ripped Laces. Most other sneaker blogs only cover eye-catching skate sneakers from Nike SB, adidas, or Vans, but Ripped Laces is out to review skate sneakers from a performance angle. The site also asked a controversial question: "Is the price of skate shoes too damn high?" Not too many other sites are willing to tackle topics such as that.

What It Does Well: All Nike and Jordan news.

Sneakerheads can complain that some sites cover Nike and Jordan Brand too much. And if that's the case, then they'll hate Nike Blog. There is, however, a bit of admiration in someone who sticks to a beat and follows it through. For Nike Blog, the site doesn't diverge from Nike or Air Jordan news, but that's what makes it great to read. It feels like the site is the underground of Nike news, and although it posts press releases, too, it also goes for the gritty Twitter and Instagram news as well. For those who are hardcore Swoosh addicts, Nike Blog should be in their bookmarks right next to Nike, Inc.

What It Does Well: Sneakers that are below retail while mixing in new releases.

No one likes to pay over retail on sneakers, although many of us do. Sites such as Sneaker Steal stay connected to the sales racks, online deals, and Nike Outlet back walls for the best sales on sneakers that its readers want. What makes Sneaker Steal different than other sale blogs is that's not the only thing it focuses on. The blog also alerts its readers of recently-released sneakers, and where they can be purchased.

What It Does Well: Breaking information and competing with major sneaker blogs.

There are websites who simply aggregate news, and then there are ones that try to break release dates and show off early samples. Icy Sole is one of the latter. The site has a list of release dates that just don't pertain to Air Jordan releases—all while it delivers news that keeps up to date with bigger sneaker news operations.

What It Does Well: '90s sneaker nostalgia with the best of up-to-date sneaker news.

Sneaker nostalgia will always loom heavy with sneakerheads. With a majority of sneaker releases being retros, there's a desire to learn about sneakers of the past while focusing on the present. DeFY New York is a balancing act between what went down in the '80s and '90s and what sneakers are going to drop next week. DeFY New York is able to package both aspects of content in a new way and delivers its readers thoughtful content that doesn't feel like a trip to the library. The site travels from revisiting forgotten sneakers that may never be retroed to keeping people informed on Jordan releases.

What It Does Well: A European view of sneaker culture.

It feels like a lot of sneaker blogs have popped up in the past few years. While eight years is just a flash in the pan in sneaker culture, EU Kicks has been around since 2006 and is one of the longest-lasting independent sneaker blogs. What makes EU Kicks different is what its name suggests: Its European knowledge. But the blog doesn't just lean on runners and Foot Locker Europe-only releases, it combines them with sneakers that everyone across the globe wants: Drops from Nike Basketball and Air Jordan.

What It Does Well: Performance reviews; a look at sneakers from a point of playability.

Chris Chase, who goes by Nightwing2303, is the premier source when it comes to performance reviews on sneakers. His blog, Kicks on Court, is an extension of his sneaker expertise and focuses heavily on basketball content while mixing in other sneakers, too. But Kicks on Court just doesn't serve as a site that posts regular blog content—it also makes use of Nightwing's reviews. Although a lot of us aren't going to play ball in the sneakers, it's nice to know that if we did, they'd actually hold up. And a read, or watch, through Kicks on Court gives answers to these questions. For those who don't play ball, Nightwing also runs Kicks Off Court, a lifestyle-based blog.

What It Does Well: Stream of consciousness on pre-Internet sneaker culture; vintage and magazine scans.

As the personal blog of Gary Warnett, Gwarizm is a sneaker nerd's haven. The site uses old magazine scans and videos to give cultural context to sneakers that have been retroed—and some that haven't. Warnett is able to connect sneaker culture with hip-hop and the style elements that helped form streetwear. The subject matter on Warnett's blog isn't explored as in-depth on other sites, and his writing is what elevates the blog into a literary exploration of runners, O.G. Air Jordans, and technical apparel and sportswear. Each blog posts borders on a thinkpiece, and while people come for the topics covered, they stay for Warnett's writing.