The Best New Sneaker Designs of 2023 (So Far)

We’re all guilty of it. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype sometimes. With all of the big name collaborators and limited edition colorways, it’s tough not to. But doesn’t it start to feel a bit boring to look at the same sneakers from decades ago just get covered in new coats of paint over and over again? 

Yes, our coverage certainly skews that way too. We’re not saying we aren’t fans of all of those collaborations. But we can’t forget about the new sneakers that all of these brands are introducing month after month. While we generally don’t focus heavily on performance or functionality—there are other outlets who are more concerned with those aspects of footwear—that doesn’t mean that it isn’t important to acknowledge. Now, we aren’t saying all of these sneakers are the most incredible pairs on the market, remember there is still half a year to go, but they still deserve some shine nonetheless.

From the latest innovations in performance basketball to that new trail runner perfect for that next camping trip (or just to complete your gorp-y fit while you run some errands, we don’t judge), check out our favorite new sneaker designs of 2023, so far, below.

Release Date: April 19
Price: $150

Nike’s ACG Mountain Fly line, which debuted in 2020, has been a strong option for those wanting to participate in the outdoor sneaker trend that’s permeated the industry in the past few years. As opposed to the retro heritage of the most popular models from Nike’s ACG line like the Air Mowabb, the Mountain Flys have offered a more high-tech feel that's better aligned with current front-running brands like Salomon and Merrell. The ACG Mountain Fly 2 Low doesn’t look drastically different from the original. It still utilizes plate technology derived from the Vaporfly, but this time it has a simplified lacing system with a toggle and a semi-gusseted tongue that’s intended to make getting in and out easier than the bootie system of the original. It’s also less expensive than its predecessor, dropping from a retail price of $180 to $150—likely the result of losing its GORE-TEX upper and React foam. While the loss of tech is disappointing, it’s refreshing to see the savings passed on to consumers. —Zac Dubasik

Release Date: Feb. 16
Price: $350

Is it a sneaker? Not exactly. Was it one of the biggest drops of this year? Absolutely—and we don’t mean that in strictly physical terms. MSCHF’s Big Red Boot is obviously a boot, but the pair is designed with sneaker culture in mind, and belongs in the category of hype footwear made for rabid consumers and collectors as much as anything else on any of our mid-year lists. This is third-wave sneaker culture that questions the intentions of the buyer. Is the joke on us? Maybe—much of MSCHF’s work in shoes feels like a critique rather than a straightforward celebration. Did we fall for it? Yes, no question. —Brendan Dunne

Release Date: March 26
Price: $150

The Nike Air Max Pulse isn’t the most talked about sneaker. It’s essentially an update to the Air Max 270, which wasn’t the most groundbreaking shoe. Like the 270, it’s another sneaker that will likely be popular with more casual consumers. People want sneakers with visible Air bubbles that are readily available at plenty of sneaker stores, and this shoe fits the bill. There’s a white and red version that looks semi-reminiscent of original Air Max models (the shoe did debut on Air Max Day, after all), which would probably be the best option to go with. There’s also an unreleased version by influencer Zack Bia. He put a shroud on them, murdered them out in black with a touch of red, and made something pretty good. I think Nike should have done this with the model from the start and seen what it would have done. It probably would have moved it further up this list and into more sneaker convos this year. —Matt Welty

Release Date: Summer 2023
Price: $125

After a major focus was placed on the category in the late ‘90s and early 2000s with stars like Sheryl Swoopes and Dawn Staley at the forefront, it’s good to see Nike finally bring some attention back to its women’s basketball division so many years later. It started with Elena Delle Donne’s Air Deldon in 2022. This year, Nike added yet another WNBA signature sneaker to its roster in the form of Sabrina Ionescu’s Sabrina 1. 

The low-top design is minimal, as has sort of become the norm for many of Nike’s debut signature sneakers (see the Ja 1 for another example), but still features its fair share of details that make it feel personalized to the New York Liberty star. That includes a pattern on the forefoot and eyestay nodding to Ionescu’s Romanian heritage, her “S” logo stamped on the tongue, and a lowercase “i” on the heel. Tech specs include full-length React foam and a Zoom Air bag in the forefoot designed to aid Ionescu’s two-way play style. While I can’t personally speak to their on-court performance, Ionescu seems to be doing just fine in them (she recently dropped 37 points in a June 9 matchup against the Atlanta Dream). Chalk it up as another promising start to a signature line with one of basketball’s brightest young stars for Nike. —Mike DeStefano

Release Date: March 2
Price: $160

When James Harden's signature line with Adidas was launched, we were promised a collaboration that would reflect Harden's dynamic style of play and presence in the world of fashion. The Harden Vol. 7 is the best representation of that idea since the Vol. 1. Upon seeing the shoe, you're instantly reminded of puffer jackets—and that's exactly the point. The ribbed textile upper is meant to mimic one of Harden's go-to pieces of apparel in the NBA tunnel. It's a purposeful design that connects the shoe to Harden in the way that elements of royalty do for LeBron James and snake-inspired details did for Kobe Bryant. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that such a wild concept didn't take away from the Vol. 7's playability. It's a bit on the heavier side, but weight distribution helps it play lighter, and it's one of Harden's best-reviewed performance models to date. —Brandon Richard

Release Date: March 31
Price: $160

Ah, heck yeah. That’s my exact feeling about this shoe, or what I said when I first saw them. It’s no secret that I’m a huge New Balance fan. But that doesn’t mean that I blindly love everything the brand does, especially everything new. The 327 sucks, so does the 9060 most of the time. But those were two shoes created to be new lifestyle silhouettes. What about a brand new performance shoe that just looks dang cool? That’s the Fresh Foam X More Trail v3. It’s a maximalist take on a trail running shoe, similar to something you’d see from Hoka. It has a chunky sole and a simple mesh upper, but it was flipped into a lifestyle classic for New Balance’s Grey Day this year, making the shoe more akin to a 990 than a trail shoe. The two-toned midsole is a nice touch. The military-inspired pair is good, too. There’s also a non-lifestyle-looking pair that eschews the N branding. And those are still good. The trend lately has all been about outdoor footwear, and these should be in your rotation. —Matt Welty

Release Date: March 6
Price: $250

There was a time not that long ago when the top tier of Vaporfly sneakers, those made for Nike athletes trying to break the two-hour marathon barrier, were available in extremely limited quantities and could sell for thousands on the secondary market. The hype has cooled down on Nike’s Vaporfly line, and the family of racing shoes isn’t as exclusive and alluring as it once was, but that has more to do with the shoes hitting their stride and settling into a regular franchise cadence than any shortcoming on the performance side. (Of course, it may also have something to do with challenger brands like Hoka and On winning over a good amount of the running public.)

So the latest iteration, the Nike Vaporfly 3, didn’t feel as impactful when it arrived this year, but it still represents Nike at its best. It’s a sleek running shoe tuned toward pure performance. It’s a reminder how good Nike innovation can look and feel when the brand is firing on all cylinders. And, as bold as it sounds, it's part of a lineage that’s on its way to become a Swoosh mainstay a la the Air Max and Pegasus. —Brendan Dunne

Release Date: May 19
Price: $125

If there's anything more exciting than Breanna Stewart becoming the first woman with a signature sneaker in more than a decade last season, it's how quickly and confidently Puma followed up with the sequel. As explained by Stewart in an interview with Complex back in May, the Puma Stewie 2 design flowed naturally from the Stewie 1 with modification insight directly from her along the way. The Stewie 2 expands on ideas and tech introduced with its predecessor, combining it into a slightly scaled-up package height-wise. The brand's Nitro foam cushioning returns as the focal piece of tech of a design rooted in simplicity, a strategic move to ensure that the Stewie 2 is a wearable off-court option. Perhaps Stewart's most personal colorway to date, the Stewie 2 debuted in a tonal scheme dubbed "Ruby," inspired by her infant daughter.

The Stewie 2 signals that the first shoe wasn’t a “just happy to be here” moment. Puma is investing in Stewart as a long-term signature athlete, and she’s holding up her end of the bargain by being one of the world’s best basketball players. —Brandon Richard

Release Date: April 19
Price: $110

Despite the controversy surrounding Ja Morant, the Nike Ja 1 is easily one of the best new Nike basketball silhouettes of the last few years. A number of its introductory colorways have sold out, likely due to a combination of its reasonable $110 price point, its on-court functionality, and an aesthetic resemblant of successful Nike hoops creations from the past. Morant and the Swoosh were able to create a memorable moment during this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend, designing a larger-than-life ice sculpture with a store on the inside of it that was literally made of ice and featured an ice luge that delivered sneakers in style. Standout colorways of the bouncy guard’s first signature shoe include the pair that released at ASW, the “Scratch” iteration that serves as an homage to the iconic retro Grizzlies jerseys, and a Swarovski-clad “Midnight” version that came with a lofty $400 retail tag. The future of Morant’s signature line with Nike is certainly a mystery at the moment, but that shouldn’t take away from the slam dunk they have with the Ja 1. —Ben Felderstein

Release Date: April 7
Price: $120

Jordan Brand is on quite the roll lately when it comes to signing the top young talent in the NBA. They scooped up Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, Luka Dončić, and Paolo Banchero just to name a few. And now, three of those four have their own signature sneakers, with Tatum being the most recent recipient. Tatum debuted the Jordan Tatum 1 at this year’s NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, lacing up both the “Zoo” and “Pink Lemonade” colorways of his debut model. He went on to break the game’s scoring record, tallying 55 points and capturing the NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player award. Beyond that moment, the Tatum 1 is currently the lightest performance shoe in the Jordan Brand’s arsenal due in large part to its TPU frame that allowed for excess material to be stripped away. Performance aside, the Tatum 1 is the best looking new signature Jordan silhouette in recent memory, propelling itself to the top of our list.  —Ben Felderstein