Editors' Picks: The Best Sneakers of the Month

Gerald Flores, Editor-in-Chief

Like most people, I made a scrunchy face when I first saw this sneaker on the Internet. But then Reebok invited me to London to check out what the sneaker culture is like in the U.K., get a deep dive on why the shoe was made, and try it out for myself. ​They also let me hitch a ride back to the U.S. on a private jet with Future (NBD). Reebok's largess aside, I like the shoe now. 

Brendan Dunne, News Editor

I'm very high on the Nike Air VaporMax. I thought I might be too high on the shoe at first, but its launch weekend sellout let me know that I'm not the only one. It's obviously not a pure performance runner, but it occupies the right space between that and a lifestyle silhouette. I will be buying many of these in 2017.

Zac Dubasik, Managing Editor

The Air Jordan 4 is one of my favorite Air Jordans, and the “Motorsports” 4 is one of my favorite types of Air Jordan releases–an old sample we thought would never see retail shelves. Maybe they don’t have a ton of relevance today in comparison to when they originally surfaced (considering Michael Jordan Motorsports hasn’t even been a thing since 2014), but they looked better than ever. The removal of the Mars head graphic was even a bonus over the original pairs. It may have helped tell a story on the Fire Red 4s, but never actually added to the shoe’s aesthetics. Here’s to hoping that more of these unreleased sneakers are on their way to retail soon.

Brennan Hiro Williams, Social Media Editor

I understand the uproar over the limited nature of this release, but let's not forget what made it the "Vote Back" winner in the first place: it's a great looking colorway, harkening back to an era of sneakers many of us hold dear. Nike's early-2000s Air Max collaborations with shops like Atmos and Huf were some of the first shoes to get me interested in the footwear industry beyond sports. I still remember browsing my favorite message board (let's call it National Truckers) trying to figure out how to obtain them, educating myself about the independent retail landscape in the process. Just like the first time the "Atmos Elephant" Air Max 1 released, I couldn't get a pair, but I appreciate the dose of nostalgia.

Brandon Richard, Senior Writer

Nike seems to be struggling to find the right retail sneaker colorways for its signature basketball athletes, but newcomer Paul George is the exception. Thus far, the PG1 has completely outclassed the LeBron 14, Kyrie 3, KD 9, and Kobe A.D. on that front, even when Player Exclusives are factored in. And the colorways don't necessarily have to be wild to be good. Take the "Time to Shine" PG1, for example. It's just a black shoe with iridescent branding and an icy sole, but it's the right look for this particular silhouette. Easy to wear, but with a little flair for those who covet it. At $110, this shoe in just about any color is great value.

Rich Lopez, Editorial Producer

I'm a big KAWS fan and a big Jordan fan so my mind melted when I first caught wind of this collaboration. Unfortunately, when the leaked pics hit, I was extremely disappointed. I expected to be wowed but instead, I was under whelmed. My mind changed when I saw the sneaker in-hand and on-foot. While it still isn't what I expected nor what I wanted from a KAWS x Jordan collaboration, it's still a KAWS piece, and it's dope.