What are the best sneakers of 2022? How do you even determine such a thing? Why are certain shoes that were all over the place this past year missing from this list? Like, where are Salehe Bembury’s ubiquitous Crocs? Why does any of this even matter? We’re glad you asked.
We’re not gonna spoil the answers to that first question—you’ll have to scroll down for that—but generally speaking, the best sneakers of this past year were the ones that did something interesting in their design, that captured the public’s attention, that told some story through their release beyond just being a hot colorway.
These lists are determined by Complex’s team of sneaker minds getting together and arguing for a good couple of days. We try to balance being prescriptive and descriptive: we want shoes that reflect the taste of our audience but we also need to guide that taste a little bit and tell people which sneakers are good. Hopefully you’re here because you trust us on that. These are not the sneakers that sold the most, or the sneakers that were reasonably good and made you feel good because you could actually buy them. Some of these shoes you probably had no chance at buying. The shoes we choose are meant to reflect which brands did the best work, which sneakers will be remembered and coveted years later, and which were most impactful.
Which brings us to the next point—if a shoe was big but not sufficiently interesting, it’s not going to have a spot on this list. So while a shoe like the white and black “Panda” Nike Dunk Low continues to take over the world, it’s too milquetoast to have earned a spot here. Yes, it’s a huge shoe, but it’s an entry-level shoe for people who are really into sneakers. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s also not doing anything exciting. Same goes for the JJJJound sneaker collabs, which are tasteful but feel plain to the point of trolling at this point.
We also try to keep pretty strict about keeping the list to actual sneakers. We’ve bent this rule in the past, allowing the Yeezy Foam Runner on, but that felt more sneakery on account of it being from an actual sneaker brand than, say, the Crocs Pollex Clog by Salehe Bembury. That was a huge model and an important one this year, but doesn’t feel sufficiently like a sneaker.
So why is this exercise at all important? Our hope is that it will serve as a document of reference, a snapshot for posterity that depicts what was happening in sneakers in 2022.
10. Gucci x Adidas Gazelle Indoor
Image via Complex Original
Release Date: June 7
Price: $850
It feels weird to have defend the decision to put the Gucci x Adidas Gazelles (yes, they’re Gazelle Indoors) on the list, but here we are. When this collaboration was announced earlier in the year, it was easily one of the most exciting things Adidas was doing at the moment. Before all of the Yeezy nonsense, Adidas has been sucking it up big time. But this wasn’t the case with the Gucci project.
The brand was able to make high-end shoes with 3 Stripes on them. Adidas made them in good colorways or just with the Gucci’ simple monogram print. It was one of the few bright spots on a rather awful resume as of late for Adidas, and I’m saying this as probably the biggest Adidas fan that you know. But these shoes were the right balance of everything. The Gazelle was always a shoe that paired well with high-fashion sportswear brands (Think Stone Island, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Sergio Tacchini, etc.) and has been worn by legit high-fashion models (think back to the photo of Kate Moss in a red a pair from the ‘90s). So it was good to see Adidas put the shoe in the right context. –Matt Welty
9. Concepts x Nike SB Dunk Low 'Orange Lobster'
Image via Complex Original
Release Date:December 20
Price:$130
It’s difficult to follow up one of the most coveted sneaker collaborations of all time, but Concepts continues to up the ante when it comes to its Lobster Dunk series that launched in 2008 with the original red pair. Since then, there’s been a blue pair, green pair, purple pair, a friends-and-family yellow pair, and even versions made into Kyrie Irving’s signature basketball shoes before all of his drama. This year saw another addition to the lineup with the orange pair that released first at Art Basel and was one of the biggest mystery-filled shoes over the past 12 months. Early leaked pairs caused a mini controversy around on whether or not they came with black bands on the toe box (they did). There was also a controversy upon the release of the shoes, as Concepts botched the online drop. With all of that aside, the shoes look really good and they’re easily the best Nike SB Dunk this year, as we’ve seen that portion of Nike cool down since it caught fire again just a few years ago. The blue laces look good, too. –Matt Welty
8. Tom Sachs x Nikecraft General Purpose Shoe
Image via Complex Original
Release Date:June 10
Price:$110
Tom Sachs’ most recent Nike project occupies the only spot on this list to be held by a new silhouette. In an industry dominated by reinterpretations of popular retro designs, that’s a noteworthy accomplishment. Sure, it’s not entirely unique—the upper bears a strong resemblance to Killshot, a ’70s tennis sneaker from the Nike archive. But its modern construction and utilitarian, semi-lugged outsole combine for something that is different enough to actually be exciting while still feeling familiar and wearable. The sneaker launched with an anti-hype-themed marketing campaign (an oxymoron if there ever was one) that portrayed the shoe as boring. But that’s just not possible for a Tom Sachs x Nike project in 2022. This is especially so when considering it was accompanied with manufactured viral moments like releasing at Kohl’s. Despite multiple restocks, the first colorway still averages over $300 on the resale market. That’s not cheap, but it is by far the lowest point of entry into the Nike and Tom Sachs collaborative catalog. –Zac Dubasik
7. Nike Kobe 6 Protro 'Mambacita Sweet 16'
Image via Complex Original
Release Date: May 1
Price: $180
The Nike Kobe 6 is one of the most important Nike Basketball models of the past 20 years. Its popularity as an on-court sneaker is evident on a nightly basis at courts across the world, at all levels of play. But despite lacking the flash of hyped versions like the lime green “Grinch” or rare player exclusives, the “Mambacita Sweet 16” tells a story that’s bigger than the model itself.
The design, which features Kobe and daughter Gigi’s jersey numbers on the heels, first leaked on Ebay in June 2021. This was just months after Bryant’s Nike deal had ended without a renewal in sight. It was promptly criticized by Vanessa Bryant, and all listings for the sneaker were removed from resale platforms. After almost a year of appearing that it may never drop, Bryant’s estate reached a deal to renew his Nike partnership this past March. That cleared a path for the sneaker to finally drop on May 1, which would have been Gigi’s 16th birthday. All proceeds went to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation. –Zac Dubasik
6. Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 993 'Performance Art'
Image via Complex Original
Release Date:October 7
Price:$220
The Joe Freshgoods x New Balance link up has been one of the strongest ongoing collaborations in the last few years and their recent output continues to deliver.
After starting the year by partnering with Black employees at the footwear brand on the “Conversations Among Us” collection, the Chicago designer’s first official New Balance collab of 2022 was the “Inside Voices” 9060. That pair came in two colorways and would have been a contender for this list had it not been for what JFG and NB did next.
The Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 993 “Performance Art” collection gave people three different colors to choose from, each executed with Joe’s eye for blocking and detail. The pastel pairs look tonal, but the color actually subtly shifts from panel to panel.
As great as the product is, it wouldn’t be a Joe Freshgoods project without a proper campaign. For the rollout, he tapped a variety of artists and creators to model the collection including Scottie Beam, Zach Lavine, Jaden Smith, and Storm Reid.
It’s also worth noting that Joe Freshgoods has said the “Performance Art” 993s are his final New Balance release using the color palette he established beginning with 2020’s “No Emotions Are Emotions” 992, making these a strong bookend for this chapter of the partnership. –Riley Jones
5. Off White x Air Force 1 Low 'Brooklyn'
Image via Complex Original
Release Date:September 15
Price:$160
Virgil Abloh’s takes on the Nike Air Force 1 come in all shapes and sizes. There’s the ultra-lux Louis Vuitton collab, the translucent “Ghosting” pair from his debut “The 10” collection, and a mid-top that completely morphs the shoe’s materials and proportions.
Then there’s another set, a group of leather-based Lows that have minor alterations like offset silver Swooshes and Abloh’s signature Helvetica typeface. This group comes in tonal colors and has been released only at special events; a white colorway at ComplexCon and follow-up releases at museums across the country. The most recent pair was a “Green Spark” variation in September to coincide with Abloh’s “Figures of Speech” exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. The glowy green pair was given to museum staff working the exhibit and made available locally in New York through SNKRS Pass along with an online raffle through SNKRS Draw.
Deciding where this pair ranks among Abloh’s other museum-linked Air Force 1 creations mostly comes down to color preference, but there’s no question that it was one of 2022’s best pairs. Those who were able to cop at retail for $160 should consider themselves lucky, as the sneaker is currently reselling for an average of roughly $1,500. –Riley Jones
4. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low 'Reverse Mocha'
Image via Complex Original
Release Date:July 21
Price:$150
If you’re tired of seeing Travis Scott sneakers by now, we totally get it. His reliable formula sometimes feels a bit predictable: flip the Swoosh around, dress the shoe in some brown shades, and proceed to print money with every release. Travis Scott’s Nike and Jordan collaborations can occasionally feel too big to fail, and they’re bound to sell out even if the final result is quite middling, as on his Air Trainer 1s that nobody needed.
Still, this version of the Air Jordan 1 Low showed that there is still room to explore within the established boundaries of what a Travis Scott sneaker looks like. That the project works on the Low instead of the more beloved Jordan 1 High means that making them look good is a harder feat. But this colorway achieves it effortlessly, sliding the white sections a few shades away from pristine and filling in the upper with durabuck in an earthy mocha shade. Travis sneakers generally don’t come with a lot of explanation as to why a given design or colorway was chosen, but this pair doesn’t need more than a mean, muted colorway to look good. –Brendan Dunne
3. A Ma Maniere x Air Jordan 4
Image via Complex Original
Release Date:November 23
Price:$225
James Whitner’s A Ma Maniere has carved out a space for itself in the sneaker world over the new decade. Its first Nike project back in 2019, the “Hand Wash Cold” Air Force 1, flew under the radar when it released. But ever since A Ma Maniere dropped its Air Jordan 3 in June 2021, people cannot get enough of the boutique’s premium spins on classic Air Jordans. Its 3, 2, and 1 each used a similar formula with sail-colored uppers and hints of violet and burgundy. Its Air Jordan 4 stands out most from the bunch by opting to use violet as a primary color rather than an accent. Like the boutique’s past projects, the pair doesn’t do anything drastically different to its canvas. Instead, it focuses on the details—a soft nubuck upper, quilted silk liner, addition of a silver button on the lateral heel, and messaging behind the “Nike Air” tongue tab—to create a pair that feels more luxurious than any pair Air Jordan 4 on the market.
As is the case with most A Ma Maniere work, this collab wasn’t just about selling through product. They put a focus on the midterm elections that took place around the same time as the shoe’s release. People could submit videos discussing the issues they care most about and their reason for voting for a chance to win a pair of the sneakers. This wasn’t universally well received, though, and there were complaints that the release method asked too much of buyers. But A Ma Maniere deserves credit for trying to attach a meaningful message to the 4s that brought together leaders from the past, present, and future in Black and brown communities.
A Ma Maniere has perfected its formula. With an Air Jordan 12 coming up in 2023, expect its winning streak to continue. –Mike DeStefano
2. Air Jordan 1 'Lost and Found'
Image via Complex Original
Release Date:November 19
Price:$180
A sneaker release like the “Lost and Found” 1 manages an impressive feat. It caters as much to OGs in the sneaker game that scream into the void about the good ol’ days as it does the teenagers who just got into sneakers by scrolling around on TikTok. The best part is that it sacrifices nothing that makes it so great in the process.
This new (old?) take on the classic “Chicago” 1 adds some vintage-inspired details like a cracked leather collar and a yellow-tinted midsole that make it feel like a pair of OGs from 1985. The storytelling even extends to the packaging, which features a mismatched box and a faux receipt from an old mom and pop shop. These minor touches make it feel like you dug these out of an old storage basem*nt. It’s a gimmick that doesn’t feel too cheesy in the way that some of Jordan Brand’s storytelling can be. In fact, it makes the pair even better considering how coveted original ‘85s have become in recent years. This new release gives you the same feeling without having to shell out thousands of dollars.
For as oversaturated as Air Jordan 1s have become, pairs like this prove that sometimes the best results occur when you just go back to the basics. –Mike DeStefano
1. Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 Low
Image via Complex Original
Release Date: July 19
Price: $2,750
The Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 is a dream come true, a fantasy of Black fashion that existed in many forms across decades before its retail release this year. The shoes’ roots lie in the 1980s bootleg designs of Dapper Dan, whose Harlem boutique sold sports footwear outfitted with logos and prints from luxury houses. (Sabrina Lewis, a designer who made a pair for the late DJ E-Z Rock, also deserves credit.) The style echoed into the new millennium, when customizers would take white or black Air Force 1s and plaster designer prints over their Swooshes. Those styles were unauthorized but prescient, hoping for a future when the lines between streetwear and luxury were not so distinct.
Virgil Abloh, whose work helped break down those barriers, made the sneakers a reality. He brought Nike and Louis Vuitton together, outfitting the iconic Air Force 1 with monogram logos in a way that referenced the bootleg styles of decades past. The result is a group of shoes that wouldn’t have been allowed to exist as recently as the 2010s, but was ushered to retail by Abloh.
Though Nike, through Abloh, finally made the shoes an authentic product, they have still felt distant. Our sneaker of the year is one that’s been nigh unattainable for regular people. Many of the pairs, which were sold exclusively through Louis Vuitton stores, went to clientele who had a history of spending big money with the brand. The Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 is a sneaker you probably haven’t seen outside of the grail case at a resale shop. Sometimes this level of exclusivity can hurt a shoe’s reception. And those who can’t relate to the design would be forgiven for feeling something more pedestrian, like a “Panda” Dunk or general release Jordan, better represents what happened in sneakers this year. But no shoe from this year—exclusive or not—was more thoughtful, intentional, and overdue than the Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1. –Brendan Dunne
