25 Sneakers You Should Own Before You Die

Colorways: Black/Red/Citron
Year Released: 1994

Reebok's Pump system pushed the envelope with what people would actually wear, but in 1994, they unleashed the Insta Pump Fury. Despite Kanye's suggestion to try some new things, the Reebok Insta Pump Fury was a shoe without shoe strings. The Insta Pump inflatable bladder was all you needed to tighten these up and be on your way. The original "Citron" colorway is bright, loud and definitely bucket list worthy.

Colorways: Black/Red, White/Black/Red
Year Released: 1985

The shoe that is credited by most for starting it all, the Air Jordan I. If you don't lace up a pair of the original colorway that cost MJ $5,000 a game in fines, you should probably be banned from life.

Colorways: Grey
Year Released: 1984

Made in the USA is something you see less and less of these days. Hell, we Americans would probably outsource anything (except maybe eating) if they can find a deal on Amazon or QVC. That said, the 1300 from New Balance is not only comfortable as fuck, the Made in the USA versions support your country in this overly-connected global economy.

Colorways: White/Black, Black/White
Year Released: 1969

There isn't a more easily recognizable design element than adidas' "shell toes" rubberized toe cap that resides on the Superstar. Three Stripes and shell toes may be found on a number of the company's silhouettes but the Superstar, the version known as the Superstar 80s, is about as iconic as you can get.

Colorways: Navy/White
Year Released: 1966

Vans is THE skateboard shoe company. 1966 started with what we all know as the Authentic, a simple and waffle-soled sneaker that was the perfect choice for the So Cal surf and skate scene that would soon be taking over. Today, the Vans Authentic is still available in tons of colors but do yourself a favor and keep a pair of the classic navy versions on deck. You won't regret it. Unless of course you kick the bucket before you wear them.

Colorways: White/Neon Yellow-Black-Anthracite
Year Released: 1995

Air Max cushioning is available in almost any style now but the Neon colorway of the Air Max 95 is not to be fucked with. Aside from the cushioning and comfort, these have become a staple for sneakerheads and runners as one of the most comfortable and well-respected running shoes of all time.

Colorways: White/Red, White/Blue
Year Released: 1996

The Question is arguably the best sneaker to even come from Reebok. Thanks to Allen Iverson, the Reebok Question is just as much a head-turner on the street as it is on the court. If you were alive to see AI cross up MJ, you know how big of a deal this sneaker was. If you weren't, you probably heard about it from the older 'heads.

Colorways: White/Grey, White/White
Year Released: 1982

It's worth noting - again and again - that when the Nike Air Force 1 was first introduced in 1982, it was a high-tech, on-court basketball product, available in hightop only. The lows came soon after, and the mids were a late addition to the family. So while the classic white-on-white lows remain a summertime staple, any sneakerhead worthy of the name should cop (and wear) a pair of the highs to fully appreciate Bruce Kilgore's design genius.

Colorways: Black/White
Year Released: 1994

Skateboarding broke into main stream in the '90s and the Airwalk One was one of the game-changing sneakers of the day. Airwalk's direction as a brand, from the bulky high-tops to the simple style of the One, set the tone for the entire industry. For the ten years that followed, low-tops and extra padding became the norm for anyone who set foot on a skateboard, and the posers who just wanted the look.

Colorways: Infrared
Year Released: 1990

Three years after its introduction, the initial form of Air Max reached its pinnacle with the Air Max 90. Soon to blow out of the heel entirely in '93 (and spread to the forefoot in '95), the max-capacity Air bag in the 90 was provided further protection around the foam midsole, while a mudguard broke up the upper. The original Infrared colorway, which saw widespread use in the early '90s, is definitive.

Colorways: Tan/Beige-Black-Charcoal
Year Released: 1987

Luxury sport as a concept may have existed at Nike before the Air Safari - the Air Jordan II, produced in Italy and featuring faux iguana skin preceded it by a year - but the Safari took performance out of the equation almost entirely. Sure, you could run in the soft deerskin lows, but why would you when Nike had so many performance-first runners on the market already? You can bet Biz Markie wasn't recording splits in his.

Colorways: White/Scream Green
Year Released: 1991

Inspired by a pair of water-skiing booties, Tinker Hatfield produced one of the best-fitting (and best-looking) running shoes of the early '90s. His "Huarache" concept found its way into everything from cross-training to basketball to outdoor (and even an Air Jordan), but the runner best embodied the glove-like feel.

Colorways: Light Blue/Yellow
Year Released: 1988

The pinnacle of the adidas ZX line, the ZX 8000 featured the best of adidas' 1988 technology as well as a killer teal and yellow scheme that still pops to this day. We're not saying the colorway made the shoe, but the two are certainly inseparable.

Colorways: Black/White, White/Navy/Red
Year Released: 1923

Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars are the most universal and diverse sneaker ever made, not to mention the common ancestor of every basketball shoe since the '20s. There is no excuse for not owning a pair at some point. No matter how rebellious you are, how trendy you are, how rich you are or how gangster you are, Chucks are acceptable.

Colorways: White/Green
Year Released: 1970

Rod Laver was a hell of a tennis player, but even if his legacy were defined by his shoe alone, he'd still deserve to be considered a legend. The simple white and green mesh shoe, devoid of adidas' usual Three Stripes branding, is a timeless classic that should be a summertime staple for everyone. The perforated leather ones are cool too (what up, DOOM?), but mesh is unbeatable.

Colorways: Black/White
Year Released: 1992

If there is ever an actual sneaker hall of fame, the first person to cut down the Vans Caballero deserves to get in on the first ballot. Removing a majority of the ankle collar converted the bulky Caballero into a lean and mean skate shoe, reflecting the transition of skateboarding itself from vert to street. Twenty years after its initial introduction, the Half Cab is still considered the best skate shoe ever.

Colorways: Grey/Navy
Year Released: 1989

It didn't get much more high-tech than this. When New Balance introduced the all-new 1500 in 1988, it was part of a three-shoe pack including a tennis shoe and a basketball shoe. And while the latter two have been lost to history (and Defy NY), the 1500 runner has been elevated to the highest ranks of classic running shoes. Grey and navy is the way to go.

Colorways: Red/White, Navy/White
Year Released: 1968

PUMA Suede or PUMA Clyde, the suede low-cut has been killing 'em since the '60s. Developed for flashy Knicks point guard Walt "Clyde" Frazier, the Suedes saw a resurgence in the early '90s thanks to vintage diggers like the Beastie Boys. UNDFTD has flipped them in all sorts of ways, but there's nothing like the originals.

Colorways: White/Green/Yellow, White/Orange/Purple
Year Released: 1991

With that distinctive split tongue and the bold ASICS branding, there's no mistaking a pair of GEL-Lyte IIIs for anything else. And as ASICS continues to push into the future with high-tech models like the Kayano and Nimbus, it's good that they still recognize their roots. And there are plenty of options out there, from Ronnie Fieg collabs to original '80s neon.

Colorways: White/Black/Orange, Black/White/Orange
Year Released: 1991

When Dee Brown paused to pump up his sneakers before winning the 1991 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Reebok should have immediately cut him a huge check. Because that moment did more for Pump technology than any amount of advertising could have. It helped that the Pump Omni Lite, a lower and lighter take on the original Pump, was a dope shoe in its own right. Historic.

Colorways: Chlorophyll
Year Released: 1987

John McEnroe knew. The Nike Air Trainer 1 was developed as an across-the-board training shoe, but Johnny Mac adopted it as his own, wearing it on the biggest of stages in tennis. Doubtlessly it got run in plenty of anonymous gyms as well, but McEnroe's endorsement ensured the Air Trainer 1's legend. First and best.

Colorways: White/Navy, White/Carolina
Year Released: 1976

Worn by Michael Jordan in college and Dr. J in the pros, the Converse Pro Leather bridged the generation gap between the first high-flying superstar and his world-changing successor. The Pro Leather wasn't the first leather basketball shoe - that was the adidas Pro Model - but it was the first that was actually accessible to kids across the country. If you grew up in the '80s, the Pro Leather was probably your first "real" basketball shoe.

Colorways: White/Grey/Red, White/Grey/Blue
Year Released: 1987

The first Air Max shoe, the Nike Air Max 1 AKA Nike Air Max 87 celebrated its 25th birthday last year, and the Tinker Hatfield design still looks as fresh as it did back in 1987. There have been literally hundreds of colorways produced since, but the initial blue and red models still hold their own against any of them.

Colorways: Black/Cement, White/Cement
Year Released: 1988

Seriously.

Colorways: Black/Red, White/Black/Red
Year Released: 1989

They're not "108 with tax!" anymore (word to Buggin' Out), but the Air Jordan IV still carries a combined sport-cultural weight that few other sneakers can touch. Any of the OG colorways is worth seeking out, but the white/cement and black/cement have that Jordan/Spike pedigree that the others just don't. If you don't know, you better ask somebody. Just not Craig Ehlo - he's probably still upset.