The world of sneakers might not be as alluring as it once was, but looking at the best sneakers of the year, you wouldn’t know it. Awash in a sea of freaky square-toe mules, splashy chain-link loafers, and pointy, stage-ready boots, they still managed to pique our interest—and something strange happened as a result: the Sneaker Industrial Complex felt more exciting then ever. With less trash to sift through week in and week out, the cream of the crop rose to the top faster than before.
On one end of the spectrum were the capital-D designers taking massive, culture-shifting swings (think Gucci’s delightfully bonkers tie-up with, well, everyone) and collaborations that used to only exist in our dreams (see: Nike x Louis Vuitton). On the other, big hitters like New Balance and Jordan found new ways to make us fall in love with the silhouettes that turned them into powerhouses, by simply giving the people what they want: retro hues and classic styling. And all the while, less established players continued to surprise, whether it was the French gorp obsessives at Salomon or the Japanese running buffs at Asics, who churned out one hit after another in an effort to cement their status in an increasingly saturated market.
All of which made our job here that much easier. Below you’ll find all the best sneakers of 2022, definitive proof that this year was yet another big one for even bigger kicks.
All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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