We’re not even halfway through 2024 and there are already numerous contenders for sneaker of the year.
From general release bangers that fly under the radar to unexpected collaborations to absurd Crocs with fake toes poking out, there's a lot to catch up on from this year’s sneakers.
It’s too soon to say how 2024 will influence the sneaker market on the whole, however, the trends we saw develop last year have accelerated. In particular, niche footwear labels like On, Clints, and HOKA continue to overperform, as you’ll see from our top picks below.
To stay on top of all the newness, check out our weekly roundup for the latest drops. And now, here are the best sneaker releases of 2024 — so far.
Keep scrolling for the best sneakers of 2024... so far
New Balance x Miu Miu 530 SL
The days of chunky sneakers might be numbered, with New Balance’s latest Miu Miu collaboration leading the charge for flat-soled sneakers.
As with any Miu Miu x New Balance sneaker, a pair of these isn’t cheap (or easy to come by): the 530 SL has an eye-watering retail price of $1,120, and that didn’t stop them from swiftly selling out.
Nike x Bode Astro Grabber
Designed by Nike’s co-founder Bill Bowerman in the early 1970s, the Nike Astro Grabber is back for its first-ever re-release, thanks to Bode.
This slim-profile, vintage American football shoe is currently celebrating its 50th birthday and fits perfectly into Bodes’ nostalgic design language.
HOKA Tor Summit 2 Green
So many excellent variations of the HOKA Tor Summit 2 have been released this year that I could have easily included a few different colorways of the chunky hiking sneaker in this article.
HOKA’s infiltration of the fashion scene might’ve been unintentional at first, but its recent sneaker supremacy is too good to be pure coincidence.
Crocs x Simone Rocha Quick Trail
We’ve been very vocal about our love for Crocs’ hiking-ready Quick Trail model. The slip-on sneaker is a beautiful rendition of Crocs’ comfortable mules but with rugged, outdoors-appropriate detailing.
Simone Rocha’s bedazzled collaboration takes the archival hiking shoe to new and more beautiful heights, decorating it with pearls and jewels.
Asics x Hidden NY Gel-NYC
Finally, after months of teasing, it happened: the Asics x Hidden NY Gel-NYC was released in March 2024 — and it sold out immediately.
The sneaker is inspired by photo-editing software, featuring a pixelated take on ASICS’ tiger stripe branding and a transparency grid surrounding Hidden NY’s branding on the heel.
Hidden NY has become so much more than an Instagram page over the past few years, as proven by its capsule collections and sneaker collaborations.
On x Post Archive Faction Cloudmonster 2
On’s collection with Post Archive Faction (PAF) is a statement of intent: the Swiss brand is moving into more fashionable territory. Established as a purveyor of high-tech sportswear and frighteningly fast footwear, On is using this collection to focus on experimental designs with a technical twist.
The star of the show is the sneakers, a blending of PAF’s futuristic approach to outdoor wear with On’s signature technology.
Clints Oasis
Founded in 2020 in Manchester, England, Clints is quickly establishing itself as the next big sneaker label. It already has a flagship store in its hometown, and you have to be quick to snag anything from its sneaker drops.
The Oasis is a chunky silhouette with a busy, mixed-material upper that combines suede and pebbled leather alongside clear bubbles that pop out from oval-shaped holes.
CLOT x adidas Superstar
After years of releasing collaborations with Nike, CLOT has switched sides and re-established its partnership with Nike rival adidas, a brand that CLOT hasn’t created sneakers with since the early 2010s.
"I think I was at a point in my life where I needed a new chapter, a new push in my creativity. It was like I graduated and needed what was next," CLOT’s founder, Edison Chen, told Highsnobiety earlier this year. "adidas offered me that new playground, so to speak, and the ability to create freely.” That freedom resulted in Chen turning the Superstar sneaker into a preppy hybrid dress shoe, a concept that sounds absurd but works surprisingly well.
Salehe Bembury x New Balance 1906R ‘Lava’
At the start of this year, I couldn’t scroll on Instagram for 10 minutes without seeing Salehe Bembury’s "Heat Be Hot" New Balances. The two flame-colored sneakers went viral. Now that I’ve had a few months without constantly seeing the sneakers, I can really appreciate how good the gradient-printed mesh looks against the contrasting shiny overlays.
Puma Mostro
The Puma Mostro made a splashy return in 2024 thanks to high fashion collaborations, an A$AP Rocky-fronted campaign, and a New York fashion show dedicated to the shoe.
Decorated with a spiky sole unit, a velcro-strapped fastening system, and a slim, racing-inspired shape, the PUMA Mostro is already an unconventional sneaker. But when it’s decked out in all-pink like this, you’re sure to turn quite a few heads.
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