The Most Anticipated Sneakers of 2022

Yes, we are just two weeks into January and already talking about the biggest sneakers of the year. That’s not to say that Complex is already ready to (extremely preemptively) select which shoes from 2022 are the best and most impactful––but we are ready to put the second subsequent hell year of 2021 firmly in the past and look forward with optimism and vigor. What could possibly go wrong, right?

As it turns out, a lot. Sneaker release dates are in constant flux right now, with pairs getting pushed back or disappearing outright. This means that we don’t have confirmation that all these shoes are going to drop in 2022, or that they will do so in a remotely timely fashion, but given the information that’s public right now, these are what we believe are currently the most anticipated shoes of the year.

Like most of our lists, this one involved ample arguing and a few restrictions to tame the entries. For one, we kept the selections to shoes that we’ve actually seen images of—so while we know for certain that Joe Freshgoods is working on another New Balance and we are generally fans of the important work he’s doing with the brand, his shoe doesn’t have a spot here just yet. Also, we tried to limit big name collaborators’ entries to a single shoe, meaning Travis Scott is represented as one body of work, even though he has multiple Nike projects coming. And we tried to include not just the niche, cool guy sneakers, but the more broad cool guy sneakers, the ones that move serious units beyond the pet collaborations we’ve come to enjoy. These are the most anticipated sneakers of 2021.

Does anybody actually like this shoe? The clunky silhouette feels more suited for clinical work (salute to our front-line workers) than hot stepping, and many commenters online have noted that it looks rather like a K-Swiss outtake. Still, it’s a collaboration between the biggest rapper in the world and the biggest sneaker brand in the world, so it would be unfair to imagine that there aren’t people excited about Drake’s Hot Step Air Terra project. There’s also the matter of his unreleased Air Force 1, a more tasteful version of Drizzy footwear, but that one looks a little shaky in terms of a real release right now. He’s still been putting product out: the Nocta apparel with Nike has been successful so far, and even Swoosh CEO John Donahoe is a fan—he excitedly described buying a piece from the line via the SNKRS app back in September. The Hot Step Air Terra may not be particularly good, but Drake’s first Nike sneaker will no doubt be big. —Brendan Dunne

Last April, Nike decided to halt the production of Kobe Bryant product after failing to come to terms on a new agreement with Vanessa Bryant and the late basketball icon’s estate. The stunning development left a massive void in the market for fans who were eager to obtain Bryant’s signature sneakers. Enter Adidas, Bryant’s first NBA footwear partner, which produced his sneakers from 1997 to 2002. That run included some of Bryant’s most memorable career achievements, such as his winning performance in the ‘97 Slam Dunk Contest. On his feet for that event, the Adidas EQT Elevation in vibrant Lakers purple. The shoe, which has since been renamed the Crazy 97, is set to re-release for the first time since 2013 this year––possibly during All-Star Weekend in the same city Bryant won the Dunk Contest. Unless there’s an unlikely quick mending of fences between Nike and the Bryant estate, Adidas will deliver the first pair of Kobes to hit retail since last spring. With the previous Crazy 97 retros moving for $400-$600 on resale platforms, this is shaping up to be one of Adidas’ most coveted non-Yeezy or collaboration releases in recent memory. —Brandon Richard

​​LeBron James’ Nike line feels like it has two distinct eras of collectability. There were earlier days, where player exclusives and friends and family versions were among the most coveted and valuable shoes of the time. And then there was when LeBron made his transition from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat between his seventh and eighth signature models, and more visible tech was introduced to the line. The LeBron 2 falls into the former category, a favorite among older fans, but less hyped among the younger generation. Given the fact that only four original colorways (including the online-exclusive “Birthday” edition) of the LeBron 2 hit retail, there are lot of opportunities to drop some of the more elusive pairs like the “Retro Nights” colorway James wore as he collected his first triple double in 2005, the introduction of the “Dunkman” look, or even the “Beast” PE that first surfaced in 2014 and feature multiple animal prints. —Zac Dubasik

This is the type of sneaker that is always welcome. There may be some people who are sick of seeing Jordan Brand trot out the same colorways of ancient shoes over and over again through the decades, but even that crowd can’t complain too much with this, what will be the first-ever retro of the “Fire Red” Air Jordan 3 with the original “Nike Air” branding on the back. The “Fire Red” Jordan 3 has typically sat on a tier below the coveted, original white and black colorways of the shoe, never really enjoying the same fanfare as a universally wearable pair. It’s still a very good sneaker, and one that deserves to see new life in a form that keeps with its original makeup. There is a dwindling number of truly great Jordans that haven’t been re-released in their original specs, and the “Fire Red” Air Jordan 3 is deserving of the treatment. —Brendan Dunne

Collaborations have become such a ubiquitous part of sneaker culture that it’s hard to truly stand out—colorway and material flips just don’t feel as special anymore. Cynthia Lu’s Cactus Plant Flea Market designs may not be for everyone, but it would be hard to say they don’t command attention. Leaked images of this upcoming CPFM collab exhibit a characteristically unorthodox take on what appears to be a Nike Dunk, with quilted suede panels and a Swoosh that extends over the midsole. Taking things a step further, as Lu’s work is wont to do, the typical Dunk midsole has been covered with a heavily textured moss-like coating that extends up and on to the upper. The flat bottom it creates gives the shoe a vulcanized appearance, although the images seem to show a standard Dunk outsole. This isn’t Lu’s first work on the Dunk, either; her Swarovski crystal encrusted models landed on our Most Expensive Sneakers of 2020 list. —Zac Dubasik

Even pre-The Last Dance mania, there were certain original Air Jordan colorways that you just knew were going to be tough to get. The “Playoff” Air Jordan 12, much like its “Taxi” and “Flu Game” counterparts, is one of those sneakers. Like the nickname suggests, this predominantly black and white pair was laced up by Michael Jordan during the 1997 NBA playoffs, a postseason which saw MJ and the Bulls take home their second championship win of their second three-peat. The 2022 retro has all the bells and whistles of the original, including red accents and silver eyelets. This will be the fourth time the colorway has been re-released since its 1997 debut, with retros in 2004 and 2012. Unless you don’t mind waiting another eight to 10 years, now’s the time to add these to the collection. These Jordan 12s are slated to drop in February, but it’s possible they’ll be delayed, especially considering the lack of in-hand photos this close to the expected release date. —Riley Jones

J Balvin once told me I should stop acting like a grandpa, so I have motive to not be excited about his upcoming Air Jordan 2. That’s not the case. His Air Jordan 1 collaboration was a pivotal moment for Jordan Brand. Not only was it a bright and vibrant shoe, but it was also the first time a Latin music artist got their own Air Jordan collaboration. The shoe was well received and it set the stage for another sneaker from Balvin to be sought after. The sequel to Balvin’s 1 is a Jordan 2 and it looks to electrify in its own way: literally, the shoe features LED lights. It’s not the first time that’s been on a sneaker (Solebox did it on a Reebok Pump back in 2012), but it’s the first time we’ve seen it on an Air Jordan 2. And that’s all we’ve seen of the shoe so far, its lit-up logo on the tongue, as the rest of the model remains a mystery. — Matt Welty

Releasing around the tail end of Nike Basketball’s peak hype in 2012, the “Big Bang” LeBron 9 is one of the loudest LeBrons of all time. It arrived during NBA All-Star Weekend and was accompanied by a range of other space-themed sneakers (including the infamous “Galaxy” Air Foamposite One). Ten years later, it’s back for the first time ever as the LeBron 9 model gets the retro treatment. It will be interesting to see how this pair shakes out on the resale market. Thus far, LeBron retros that once fetched serious premiums in their original form, like the “South Beach” LeBron 8, “Miami Nights” LeBron 8 Low, and “Watch the Throne” LeBron 9 haven’t really performed the way one might expect, with them generally moving just slightly above (and in some cases, even under) retail. Regardless of aftermarket value, this is an important pair in LeBron’s line, and there will certainly be plenty of people looking to pick them up. — Riley Jones