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Every year we do this, and every year it gets more difficult. Maybe it's because there are more releases every year, maybe it's because the releases get better every year—whatever the case, narrowing down a full 12 months of drops to the 10 best is a task that even Hercules himself would have a problem with. (Then again, he'd just pick 10 pairs of mandals, then go redirect a river or something.) It's easy to forget about sneakers that dropped in January, or for that matter, ones that dropped in September. So the only way to do it is to narrow things down. You will not find straightforward retros here (see my man Gary's list for an explanation of that). You will not find all the most hyped-up sneakers here. You will find ones that I wore consistently in 2013, because wearing a sneaker is the surest sign you love it. Or at least it should be. And hey, maybe 2014 will be easier. Although I highly doubt it.
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10. Size? x Nike Air Max Light "Mowabb"
Nike's classic ACG "Mowabb" colorway has been adapted to other shoes before, but UK-based Size? may have done the best job of anyone with it on the underappreciated Air Max Light. Is the Safari print on the Swoosh overkill? Perhaps. But there's a reason early ACG is still revered today.
9. Nike Lunar LDV Trail Low QS
On the low, this may be the best Lunar mash-up ever. Combine a rugged suede and mesh '70s upper with that super-comfy Lunarlon midsole and a trail-inspired outsole, and here's a sneaker for all seasons and all terrains. And considering the colors on the sneaker don't even go with each other, matching should never be a consideration.
8. Ronnie Fieg x New Balance 1600 "Daytona 1600"
A summer style shoe on Black Friday? Why not? Ronnie Fieg's take on the New Balance 1600 combined royal, pink and two-tone tan in an all-microperfed everything leather and suede build paying tribute to the unlikely locale of Daytona Beach, Florida. Did it sell out right away? Guess.
7. Nike Kobe 8 "All Star"
The lowest and lightest of the Kobe line, the Kobe 8 saw plenty of incarnations over 2013, none better than the "Area 72" All-Star makeup. Yes, the Engineered Mesh Elite models were technically a better shoe, but the swirling gas giant print on the All-Stars was impossible to beat.
6. Operator EMZ x adidas Originals Pro Model "Collector's Project"
Five collectors, five countries, five classic adidas models. And with the whole U.S. on his back, NYC's own Operator EMZ delivered a flawless '70s-correct rendition of the Pro Model, complete with an off-white mock croc upper, burgundy suede accents, and the original model number stamped on the inner ankle. A throwback to when lux was just how it was.
5. SNS x Reebok NPC II Goretex
Practicality. Sweden's Sneakersnstuff took the classic Reebok NPC II tennis shoe, wrapped it in camo canvas and lined it with Goretex, transforming a summer-only silhouette into a shoe for all seasons. Who says camouflage is dead? (Well, no one, hopefully - the green camo Air Jordan XX8 SE was a winner, too.)
4. Packer Shoes x Reebok Question "Promo Only" Pack
Two for the price of one! It's not often that a collaboration results in the release of a sneaker that had been designed previously, but the Packer Shoes x Reebok "Promo Only" pack isn't your usual collab. Yes, the Reebok Question remains Allen Iverson's shoe, but since both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James wore them in 2003 (with the Lakers and SVSM respectively), Mike Packer had the idea to bring the PEs to retail, complete with 8s on the heels of the Kobes and "LJ23" embroidery on the LeBrons.
3. Bape x UNDFTD x adidas ZX5000
Considering this shoe (and the two bookend Campus '80s) was supposed to launch in 2012, it might not appear on many best of 2013 lists. This would be unfortunate. From the BAPE camo to the gum sole to the gold branding on the heels, no detail was overlooked. And while it would be easy for a camo sneaker with red, white and blue details to be overdone, these aren't. If you were lucky enough to come up on a pair, be sure to wear them - they look even better worn in.
2. 8Five2 x Nike SB Stefan Janoski SE
This is probably the only time a pair of white leather sneakers with Velcro closures will ever appear on a Complex best-of list. But what's not to love? The Janoski silhouette is one of the best out there, all-white sneakers go with everything, and with the Velcro loose enough they're essentially slip-ons. After wearing these for much of the summer, it would be hypocritical for me to not have them on.
1. Ice T x Vans Syndicate Sk8-Hi
Even if they were just a pair of plain white and black Sk8-His with lots of Olde English embroidery (recognizing Ice T, Body Count and the Rhyme Syndicate), the Ice T Syndicate Sk8-His would be great. What sends them over the top is the packaging, consisting of a gold-plated revolver keyring and a scaled-down body bag. Syndicate, fool.
