Russ Bengtson's Top 10 Sneakers of 2011

Russ says: “Not your usual collabo, not your usual New Balance silhouette – J. Crew flips the 1400 in buttery suede for a bit of proper Americana done right.”

Russ says: “The Vans Old Skool has been done up all sorts of ways since its inception, and Supreme always does it proper. The mix of running shoe materials and classic runner colorups this time around really popped — and the Swedish yellow and royal always works for me.”

Russ says: “Canvas Clydes with metal eyelets? I’m not sure whether I would have put these on my list, except I wore them damn near every day for two months straight. I don’t wear out shoes much these days, but my pair of black and yellows is looking pretty dogged. And the subtle redesign is every bit as comfy as Eddie Cruz said it would be.”

Russ says: “Ever since the Air Jordan line switched from numbers to years — all of two models ago — something’s been missing. The 2009 and 2010 both seemed like overreaching, cases of trying to hard. For the 2011, dreamt up by Tinker Hatfield and executed by Tom Luedecke, they went back to the Jordan’s roots — luxury performance — and turned out a real leather basketball shoe that was something of a technologically advanced throwback. Incredible shoe.”

Russ says: “Reebok’s garment leather line in the ‘80s changed the direction of sneakers. Not only did the ‘workout’ category explode, but Reebok’s foray forced other companies (most notably Nike) to turn on their creativity afterburners to try and catch up. The pre-vintaged versions of the Workout Plus, Classic Leather and Ex-O-Fit High are all impressive, but the Workout Plus leads the way.”

Russ says: “2011 was a hell of a year to be a skateboarder. Along with the usual high-tech offerings from Vans and the like, the big companies — Nike, adidas and Converse — plunged full-on into the skate market, doing more than dropping reinforced retros. Apologies to Eric Koston and Dennis Busenitz, but Kenny Anderson’s KA-One was the shoe to beat.”

Russ says: “I’ve worn these every day since I’ve gotten them. That pretty much covers that.”

Russ says: “I’ve long lamented the death of the vintage hightop, as retro after retro came back either slashed or squashed to midcut height. So Frank the Butcher’s revival of the classic adidas Forum Hi in all its shin-high glory was most welcome. All three colors came out great, but the Cardinals are the ones you want.”

Russ says: “The ultimate tennis sneaker in its ultimate form. Made in Italy from kangaroo leather, with that Diadora stripe in gold and the crucial gum sole, these originally hit back when Bjorn Borg was the bjaddest on the bjlock. These re-releases were a Foot Patrol exclusive, so I’m still trying to track a pair down. Retro done so right.”

Russ says: “Sure, it’s just a blue Campus CP80. But everything on this release was done perfectly, from the material selection to the build to the super-subtle branding. An everyday sneaker that you won’t find everywhere.”