The 20 Most Underrated Sneakers of 2013

Nike Roshe Runs and all of its other lightweight running sneakers had a huge year, but the Solarsoft Moccasin was super minimal and super cheap--and still went on sale. Stalley wore them on Quickstrike, and more people should have flocked to this financially efficient alternative to already low-priced sneakers. If you were lucky, you grabbed these sneakers for under $50, and have something fly to wear this upcoming spring.

Much of 2013's attention was on Nike's release of the Flyknit technology, but adidas made a knitted sneaker, too, but not as many people noticed. Adidas was able to add a splatter-like print to the knitting, and made the shoe a great alternative to not wearing the same Flyknits that the sneaker and fashion worlds both obsessed over. The Primeknits caused Nike to file a lawsuit for technology

People go crazy over hot ASICS back catalog releases, but usually its because someone like Ronnie Fieg or Saint Alfred designed a pair. But ASICS released a true-to-form Gel Lyte V in white and purple, and it should have gotten more respect than it did.

Some would say there were many excellent reasons for a velcro skate shoe to not be remembered amongst the best releases of the year-but it's safe to say that none of the people espousing those reasons ever tried on the Janoski SE. The Hong Kong-based 8FIVE2 collab in white leather was the most ostentatious drop, but the canvas and wool renditions were flames, too.

Anything that Jeff Staple puts his signature "Pigeon" logo on usually sells out like hotcakes and becomes talked about long after all the pairs have been sold, but the Puma Basket was a different story. Grey suede with orange highlights is a great color combination, and it worked well on the Basket-which is the oldest silhouette that Staple has worked on. Even though Staple's sneakers have become highly collectible, the Basket is just as wearable as less-coveted sneakers on the market. (And, as it was made in Japan, it's likely the best made of them, too.)

It's amazing that Paul Rodriguez is already on his seventh signature sneaker. It's rare to see a professional skater get that many sneakers, but his seventh signature sneaker with Nike was one of his low-key best models. For starters, it has a Lunarlon sole, and the first model issued was red and black, resembled an Air Jordan I, and had a laser-etched upper. There's no sign of P Rod and Nike slowing down their partnership, but hopefully the P Rod 7 doesn't fade into obscurity after the next few models release.

The Nike Free Flyknit revolutionized the Nike Free, and Nike tried its luck with a similar sneaker, the Hyperfeel, but it didn't gain as much popularity as the Free. It was billed as a crosstrainer, and was super low to the ground. But Flyknit uppers tend to look amazing on any sneaker, and that's why--through the right lens and perspective, the Hyperfeel can still be sported and appreciated as Nike branching out and trying its damnedest to innovate.

Weighing in at just six ounces, the Under Armour Speedform didn't have anything holding it back this year--or did it? It had a toe-like appearance on the upper, but awesome color schemes, and is the next generation of running sneakers. Oddly, these sneakers were manufactured by a bra company, but had a feel that next level doesn't have to be so scary. As crazy as the Speedform looks, it's eerily reminiscent of sneakers that came out long before it.

Darrelle Revis had to come back from a knee injury this season, and his sneaker also flew under the radar. Nike has shifted its focus from signature crosstrainers, but the Revis saw love in limited edition color schemes that weren't readily available and drew inspiration from Nike's heritage. Sole Collector outfitted the Revis to look like a pair of Talarias, and it even took on the colorblocking of the Air Jordan II. Too bad these releases didn't reach the masses or they would have been a hit.

The Nike Gato is a soccer shoe, and has a slim silhouette that can be viewed as a casual sneaker, but when NSW put a lunar sole on the sneaker and added suede to the upper, it became extremely versatile. It looked like a crosstrainer or runner, but had a luxury touch and a shape that would sit well on pants. The NSW Lunar Gato encompassed the brand's culture, and represented the sportswear culture.

For performance, Team Jordan sneakers can be hit or miss, but the Super Fly line has proven to be a winner. With all the focus on Jordan's retro sneakers, it's easy to overlook the brand's performance sneakers. For the Super Fly's second go-round, it was backed by Blake Griffin, and, like its name suggests, the sneaker was made for explosive players who need a boost to take it to the hole. Sadly, the Super.Fly 2 doesn't sell the models based off Jordan's legacy.

Nike's Free sole is easily placed on sneakers of varied purposes, and the Nike Free Trainer 5.0 proved that Nike could make a lightweight trainer that looked cool and functioned well. Not that Nike hadn't made lightweight trainers before, but this version had a Woven-like upper, and introduced the masses to a version of the niche design that has also become popular. Crosstrainers can look bulky and unappealing, but the Free Trainer 5.0 solved all these woes by stripping the sneaker down and adding a funky design.

Andre Agassi's over-the-top personality (and wig) helped him become one of tennis' most vibrant personalities, and his sneaker line with Nike has produced more than enough bangers. He made a short departure to adidas, but made his way back to Nike this year and that meant re-issuing tons of sneakers. The US Open version of the Air Tech Challenge II was one of best sneakers of the year, but the Wimbledon version was just as dope. Its white upper with a green sole (to represent Wimbledon's grass court) and French terry lining rounded out a sneaker that more people should have been up on.

Adidas' venture into Boost technology was big for the German sportswear brand, but, unfortunately, it wound up being overshadowed by the flashier Springblade. The intention of the Boost midsole was to return more energy than any other sneaker on the market, and the runner also offered adidas' Torsion fit. The Boost wasn't as fashion-friendly as other brand's revolutionary sneakers this year—but it featured a surprisingly minimal design, and was still sleek enough to be worn by non-runners.

2013 was the 30th anniversary of the Nike Air Pegasus, and instead of just re-releasing a bunch of versions of the original sneaker, Nike updated the original Pegasus for the modern foot. The Air Pegasus 83/30 had a comfortable Phylon sole and a no-sew upper. It still appealed to fans of old-school runners, but fit in perfectly with the current obsession of '90s-era sneakers--even though it has no origin in that decade. The burgundy color scheme with a crimson stripe made it a killer make-up.

It finally happened: Brian Anderson received his first pro model sneaker from Nike SB. The 6'3 shredder has had a few sneakers that he's designed on pre-existing silhouettes, but his first signature sneaker with Nike was similar to the running trend that's been crossing over into skateboarding and kind of looked like an early '00s skate shoe without the bells and whistles. Besides not looking like a traditional skate shoe, the Project BA had a gum sole, and it made the sneaker mesh together.

Reebok's DMX technology looked super futuristic when it first released in the '90s, and still looks good on-foot today. A lot of folks remember DMX for its contribution to the Iverson line, but it fit perfect with the DMX 10 Run, too. Original color schemes of the sneaker were released, and Frank the Butcher even got a crack at designing a pair that released on Black Friday. Right now, early-'90s runners are the wave, and the interest in sneakers that released in the second part of the decade hasn't piqued yet--and that's why the DMX 10 Run didn't get as much love as it should have.

Roger Federer caused waves when he wore a pair of his signature Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tours with a bright orange outsole to Wimbledon. The sneakers were actually banned by the tournament, but should have caught on on the street because of how dope they were. Modern tennis sneakers have lost some of their luster, but the colorblocking on Federer's go-to sneakers (designed by—of course—Tinker Hatfield) showed that color schemes can be just as important as a nice silhouette.

The 1992 Summer Olympics are best remembered for the Dream Team beating every other country in the world by what seemed like 100 points every game. But the Nike Air Pegasus 92 played a big role in the games, too. Nike made this the most patriotic sneaker--giving it a red, white, and blue color scheme, USA, across the tongue and heel, and gold highlights throughout. But Nike released this lightweight runner at just the right time: running sneakers have made a huge resurgence and the sneaker's white micro suede upper made it one of the flyest sneakers of the summer.

Some of the best Air Jordan 1s of all time released this year, and it made it easy for the Air Jordan 1 "Shadow" to get lost in the mix. Some people will forget that this sneaker dropped this year at all, but a black and grey Air Jordan 1 can be worn with anything and personifies what makes Jordan's signature line so successful: It's the right balance of basketball legacy and street credibility. This sneaker can be worn by anyone, and be viewed as menswear, athletics, or fashion-forward. But most just think it's dope.