30 Iconic Sneakers That Should Always Be In Production

Originally Released: 1988

Look Jordan people, most sneakerheads consider these to be the best Jordans (heck, the best sneakers) ever made. With the opportunity to re-up monthly, if not weekly, most would. And if they were always available, say goodbye to resellers. It's a win-win!

Originally Released: 1990

Sure, the 574 has a reputation as the "two for $79 at Foot Locker" budget sneaker. So? If we could cop the grey/navy 574 at two-for-$80 year-round, we would do exactly that. So would you. Don't front.

Originally Released: 1987

Inspired by the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, Tinker Hatfield's Nike Air Max runner may not have revolutionized running, but it certainly changed the direction of running shoes. It also brought Nike into a new era, where Air wasn't just a selling point, it was a visible technology. The originals in the original colorway not only deserve respect, but a permanent place on the shelf.

Originally Released: 2005

To be perfectly honest, these black/gum Dunk SBs don't have to be a perfect stitch-for-stitch recreation of the 2005 Halloween "Black Pack." The highlights don't have to be orange, and the entire upper doesn't have to be suede. And of course the uppers can reflect the Eric Koston-made improvements that grace the latest Dunk SBs. But if the Dunk is to be recognized a legit performance skate shoe - and it is - it should always be available in black/gum. In perpetuity.

Originally Released: 1996

No matter how involved a player gets in their signature line down the road, that first shoe always holds a special place in their hearts. You grow up imagining a shoe with your name on it, and, if you're lucky and work hard - boom! - there it is. As long as the Question is in production, Allen Iverson will never forget. And he'll never be forgotten.

Originally Released: 1992

Mike won two Olympic golds in the course of his career - the first in 1984 as an about-to-be pro - but it's the second one we remember best. The Dream Team shredded Barcelona, both on and off the court, en route to a predestined championship. Everyone on the team got laced with proper PEs, but it's Jordan's Jordans that stood out the most. Keep the Dream Team memories (and shoes) alive.

Originally Released: 1965

The first leather tennis shoe still stands as the best. What we know as the Stan Smith started off as the Robert Haillet, before adidas chose to recognize a more talented player. Sorry, Bob. White and green Stan Smiths (preferably with his face on the tongue) never go out of style, so they should never go out of production either.

Originally Released: 1990

Nike's wore Infrared with pride in the late '80s and early '90s, none more convincingly (although you could make an argument for the Air Jordan VI) than the Air Max 90. A natural evolution from 1987's Air Max, the 1990 version sported more Air as well as a reinforced midsole. Everyone should have a pair of these.

Originally Released: 1987

You don't have to be John McEnroe to appreciate the Air Trainer 1. Tinker Hatfield's design is properly timeless, and while there are plenty of "better" training shoes out there now, few approach the classic beauty of 1987's Trainer 1. And as it gets retroed in countless colors, it's easy to forget that sometimes simplest is best.

Originally Released: 1979

The adidas Top Ten came out in 1979, but it was arguably the first true '80s basketball shoe. Meaning it was ahead of its time. The whole "top ten" players thing can be debated, but what can't is that the original white, blue and red makeup of the shoe should be available at all times.

Originally Released: 1985

The black/royal Air Jordan 1 may not have been the very first Air Jordan produced in non-Bulls colors (early Air Jordan history is sketchy at best), but it's the most readily remembered today - probably because it, unlike its rarer siblings, has been retroed twice already. Or maybe it's because Lance Mountain wore one (yes, one) in Animal Chin. Whatever the case, these deserve perpetual production status, even if they are in Duke colors.

Originally Released: 1997

Heck, they were good enough for Mike Bibby and Penny Hardaway. The Foamposite One has seen plenty of colorups since its 1997 intro, but none look as right as the original royal blue. It's easy to forget that for its time, the Foamposite was a piece of performance hardware - the royal pair is a proper reminder.

Originally Released:

The GEL LYTE III might get all the press (and the high-profile collaborations), but the "Fresh Blue" GT-II is a straight-out-the-box, year-round killer. Plus, it doesn't have the weird split-tongue thing. Bliss would be a new pair of these every single day.

Originally Released: 1999

If only Mike coulda left well enough alone. He could have gone out on top, that follow-through held up for essentially all of eternity, a champion to the last. Not that his Wizards days negated what had come before, but it would have made for a better story. So the least Jordan can do is keep the "Last Shot" XIVs in production all the time. Right?

Originally Released: 1991

The definitive Reebok Pump basketball shoe isn't the first one - it's the black Omni Lites that Dee Brown famously inflated before winning the 1991 NBA Slam Dunk contest. These return like clockwork, which is nice, but it would be even better to find them on shelves always.

Originally Released: 1984

New Balance's best silhouette in New Balance's best colorway. Stocking up whenever they make a rare appearance and carefully meting out wears is no way to live. Being able to get a fresh pair whenever necessary is a must.

Originally Released: 1987

In a perfect world, the Attitude, Rivalry and Conductor would all be available in the classic Knicks colorway complete with the Ewing logo on the tongue. That doesn't look likely, however - so we'll settle for Knicks Attitudes being a year-round staple. Deal?

Originally Released: 1993

Wild All-Star shoes for Mike's last All-Star game for a couple of years, the "Aqua" VIIs featured a colorway as crazy as their design. The cross-strapped uppers were hot and heavy, but - as usual - stood out always. Mike had 30 points and four steals in his. What would you do?

Originally Released: 1986

The ultimate college sneaker for the ultimate college team. The Hoyas only won one national title during the Patrick Ewing "Hoya Paranoia" era, but were oh so close to several more. It would be only fitting for their signature sneaker, the Terminator, to be available every year around March Madness time, if not year-round.

Originally Released: 1984

If you don't have the guap to floss with Gucci Tennis 84s, the cream FILA T1 is the next-best thing. They're not made in Italy like the Guccis, but they don't cost $400 either. Plus, in a pinch, these can get some run on the court. Do-everything tennis shoes.

Originally Released: 1996

There probably isn't one Chicago Bulls championship that stands out as the best - unless it's the first - but a lot can be said for the 1996 title, which came following the record 72-10 season. That record wouldn't have meant anything had the Bulls stumbled in the postseason, but they recovered their footing from 1995's misstep and defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in six. Accessing the black and red XIs Mike wore en route to his fourth Finals MVP should be as easy as accessing the memories.

Originally Released: 1969

Back in the late '60s and early '70s, shell-toe adidas were the pinnacle of basketball shoe performance. By the mid '80s they were still relevant, cast in a new role by Run-DMC. Laces are optional, Superstars aren't. And keep all those other colors, just keep the white with black stripes available.

Originally Released: 1997

Looking back, it seems like the "Obsidian" XIIs should have been Mike's All-Star shoe in 1997. He'd worn the "Columbia" XIs the year before, but that was when NBA All-Star uniforms were at their wild peak. In 1997 it was back to team uniforms, and team colors. Mike never actually wore the Obsidians in a game, but they're still perfect. Year-round.

Originally Released: 1984

The only Gucci sneaker that matters. Word to Raekwon.

Originally Released: 1996

What was Allen Iverson wearing when he famously crossed up Michael Jordan not once, but twice? That's right, blue-toe Reebok Questions. The red-tipped ones might hold the iconic "First!" status, but the rook had his most replayed moment in the blue joints. Keep 'em both out and let people pick.

Originally Released: 1995

Even as the Air bags have grown bigger and uppers have gotten sleeker, the Nike Air Max hasn't truly improved in an aesthetic sense since 1995. Sergio Lozano's masterwork still resonates today, especially in the introductory grey/neon. It's not fair to have to wait for these ever.

Originally Released: 1989

Sure, the white/cement IVs are hot (thank you, Spike), but the black IVs are damn near the perfect everyday Air Jordan. They go with everything, they're (blasphemy ahead!) more comfortable than IIIs, and they figured in a major playoff moment (hi, Craig Ehlo). What more could you want?

Originally Released: 1976

Back in the mid-'70s, the Converse Pro Leather represented the epitome of professional-level basketball shoes - heck, it was right there in the name. For many people who grew up in that era, this was their first "serious" basketball sneaker. And the white/navy version was as iconic as the black/red Air Jordan 1 would be to the next generation. Know your roots.

Originally Released: 1982

Sure, white-on-white lows are primarily a summer shoe. But what about in Miami and Los Angeles, where winter is purely theoretical? What about Australia, where winter is summer? And who says you only have to wear white-on-whites in the summer anyway? Make them a year-round thing and let consumers decide.

Originally Released: 1985

The whole "Banned" release was cool and all, but do you know what would be cooler? Do you know, do you know, do you know? The first black/red Air Jordan 1 being available everyday, everywhere. Seems like the proper fate for a shoe that changed everything. Plus, Mars Blackmon would be thrilled.