The 20 Most Outrageous Sneaker Designs

Year: 1995

Off-center lacing isn't all that unusual now, but it was a revelation in 1995. The Footscape paired with the Rift to form one of the oddest couples in running, both of which still influence sneaker design to this day.

Year: 2010

If high is good, higher must be even better. The Supra Skytop II took the original's concept and ran with it, stretching the skate silhouette to literal new heights. How do you exaggerate a design that's already exaggerated? Like this.

Year: 1980s

Decoupling the entire shoe? Quite the bold move. Kaepa may not be a household name anymore (if it ever really was), but this quad-laced tennis shoe was a sensation.

Year: 1986

The Air Jordan II was the most quietly outrageous sneaker design ever. It was all about subtlety, from the iguana-print leather to the lack of branding. Taking the Swoosh off a Nike sneaker was inconcievable in 1987 - especially on a premium priced product - and showed the tremendous amount of faith they had in a 25-year-old basketball player to move units.

Year: 1999

The Air Jordan XV was a lot to take in all at once. The giant heel counter, the woven-style upper, the lacing that ran nearly the full length of the shoe, and, of course, that elven tongue. It was also (forgive us) kind of clunky, especially following on the heels of the Ferrari-inspired XIV. Better fit would have made it easier to accept.

Year: 1989

It was high, it was bulky, and it was futuristic. The original Reebok Pump was also prohibitively expensive, but the unprecedented fit and distinctive look made it a worthwhile investment for those who could afford it. The whole Pump system was somewhat unwieldly, but somehow the complete package worked.

Year: 2001

There are no words. A spinner in the side of a shoe powered by the wearer's steps? The ultimate in gimmickry on a signature shoe for a player (Latrell Sprewell) who was decidedly gimmick-free. We don't even WANT to know who came up with this. Please don't wear them, Drake.

Year: 2005

Shox started small, just four to six columns in the rear. Then it grew, and grew, and grew. The Shox TL1 was the pinnacle of Shox runners, with columns that ran the length of the shoe - 360 Shox, if you will. Maximalist running.

Year: 1989

Essentially the Air Trainer Huarache on steroids and HGH, the Air Carnivore was something for the gym by way of the batcave. A design so aggressive it probably woke you up in the morning.

Year: 2006

GEL to the extreme. The Kinsei series decouples the heel entirely, leaving a segmented pod under the heel. This is running re-imagined by H.R. Giger. The "Shogun" models are particularly notable.

Year: 2013

We've seen shrouded basketball shoes before, but never quite like this. The Air Jordan XX8 takes the shroud to literal new heights, turning a high-tech basketball shoe into a piece of military-grade hardware. If Navy SEALS played basketball during their covert missions, this is what they'd wear.

Year: 2001

"Skate shoes should be bulky, huh? OK, fine, let's make them bulky. Let's make them so big that a size 9 is wider than it is long. What else can we put in here? Inspired by pillows, couches and giant waterbugs - yeah, that sounds about right."

Year: 2005

Barefoot running taken to the extreme -- essentially the Vibram Five Fingers design is a thin sole that attaches to the bottom of your foot. That's it. We're willing to bet this is what the Kobe XIX will look like.

Year: 2011

Mechanical cushioning setups in running shoes is always crazy, but even the wildest Shox shoe pales in comparison to the Mizuno Wave Prophecy. The full-length Wave setup leaves mostly air (not Air) underfoot, making for a stunning presentation. This is something Wil-E Coyote would order from the ACME catalog, only with more positive results.

Year: 1995

Split-toe ninja running shoes. Nike didn't go the full Vibram, but then again it was 1995 - even the cloven-hoof look was plenty outrageous. Paired with a minimalist Lycra upper, the Air Rift wasn't appealing to the same people who were copping Air Maxes heavy. But then again it was never meant to.

Year: 2012

The future of hightops? Under Armour's articulated Charge BB is meant to act like a hightop but not feel that way. It's a lot to take in, but well worth the investment in a pair of high socks. Word to Keith Van Horn.

Year: 2012

Sneakers have featured some sort of independent suspension before, but never quite like the ATV19+. We're not going to say these would make it impossible for you to lose your balance, but you'd have to try really hard.

Year: 1997

The Foamposite may be an instant sell-through now, but things weren't so easy in 1997. Inspired by a molded coin purse [whoops, sunglass case —Ed.] of all things, the $180 shoe featured minimal branding and no visible tech aside from the carbon shank plate. Nearly 20 years later, shoe design is still catching up.

Year: 1990

Nike's answer to Reebok's Pump was McFly-level futuristic. The Air Pressure came packaged in a fancy translucent plastic box complete with a separate inflation device. Like the Pump, it was sky-high, although it was a bit sleeker thanks to its clean toebox and low-profile midsole. Space boots.

Year: 1994

It's kind of odd that the best laceless sneaker design of all time was introduced in 1994. The Insta Pump Fury still looks futuristic NOW, so it's hard to imagine what the initial reception was like back then. While not technically a minimalist runner, it is a runner stripped down to its essence, only with a fairly traditional underfoot feel. The Graphlite plate allowed for a heavily sculpted midsole, and the tongueless upper is as sleek as it gets. Nearly 20 years on, still mindblowing.