Highsnobiety

It's a good time to be a sneaker designer, but a challenging one too. Relatively newer names, such as Li-Ning and Eytys are pushing sneaker silhouettes as far as they possibly can, transporting us to a distant sneaker future with their designs.

Sneaker designs have become so futuristic that they now look fit for the cyber punk-populated, barren plains of Mad Max or dystopian cityscapes of Blade Runner. But we're not complaining.

A host of recent sneaker releases have arrived dressed in fire colorways that make them look like they've been used to traverse sandy, deserted roads by someone who trades robot scraps for a living. Who knows, though, such apocalyptic environments may be closer to our reality than we think.

Whether it’s Raf Simons’ new Cylon-21 Runner, Axel Arigato's Marathon Runner, or Boris Bidjan Saberi's Bamba 2, this selection shows the scope of the brave new world of footwear. It’s a world based around intricately detailed uppers, distressed luxury materials, and dusty colorways. At least look good when it all goes up in flames.

Shop some of our favorite futuristic sneakers below.

Axel Arigato Marathon Dip-Dye Sneakers

Image on Highsnobiety

Marathon Dip-Dye Sneakers

$320

Axel Arigato

Buy at Axel Arigato

Axel Arigato's silhouettes stretch from the positively understated through to dystopian maximalism as exemplified by the Marathon. This dip-dyed iteration is set for post-apocalyptic stomps.

Burberry Arthur Sneakers

Image on Highsnobiety

Arthur Sneakers

$890

Burberry

Buy at Burberry

It seems odd to be classing one of heritage house Burberry's designs as futuristic or, even, dystopian. But, when it comes to the Arthur, it'd be justified. This trail-style sneaker proves how comfortable Burberry is with the fast-evolving tastes in footwear.

Li-Ning Essence 2 Sneakers

Image on Highsnobiety

Essence 2 Sneakers

$236

Li-Ning

Buy at Luisaviaroma

Li-Ning has set up shop in the midst of the sneaker-style revolution. The designer's unmistakably future-facing pieces focus on complex upper builds with unorthodox lacing systems for their distinctive style.

Y-3 Ultraboost 22 Sneakers

Image on Highsnobiety

Ultraboost 22 Sneakers

$300

Y-3

Buy at Luisaviaroma

Yohji Yamamoto's Y-3 imprint has long given adidas silhouettes the futuristic treatment. This time around, the Three Stripes' Ultraboost 22 is updated with a crisscrossing elastic lacing system to complement the chunky Boost sole unit.

Raf Simons Cylon-21

Image on Highsnobiety

Cylon 21

$240

Raf Simons

Buy at Highsnobiety

The Black Eyed Peas said it best when they said (and I’m paraphrasing): “Raf Simons is living in 3008, we’re all just living in 2000 and late.” I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, don’t sleep on Raf Simons footwear. The adidas Ozweego took over a year to sell out everywhere but has become an absolute icon. The same could be true of Raf Simons’ Cylon-21.

1017 ALYX 9SM Mono Slip On

Image on Highsnobiety

Mono Slip On

$244

1017 ALYX 9SM

Buy at Slam Jam

Matthew Williams' footwear output is never anything less than striking and the Mono Slip-On is no departure. In a full silver hue, the spaceship-ready design is already in our apocalypse suitcase.

Eytys Aphex Mamba Sneakers

Image on Highsnobiety

Aphex Mamba Sneakers

$340

Eytys

Buy at Browns

Eytys introduced the Fugu sneaker last season which took a hold of our psyche with its spiky sole unit inspired by the poisonous pufferfish. Now, we're treated to the same bold sole unit with a high-top upper in the Aphex Mamba Sneakers.

HOKA One One Clifton L Sneakers

Image on Highsnobiety

Clifton L Sneakers

$181

HOKA

Buy at Browns

HOKA One One's sneakers might not feel that futuristic now, but that's mostly because we've grown accustomed to the highly technical platform sole units. When the label first began propagating its bulbous styles, they were impossible to miss. This alternating color palette — different on right and left feet — resurrects the unmissability of the Californian brand.

Balenciaga Runner Sneakers

Image on Highsnobiety

Runner Sneakers

$1150

Balenciaga

Buy at Matches

You've no doubt seen the Balenciaga Runner everywhere since it was previewed on the feet of Justin Bieber last year. Although inspired by '90s and '00s training kicks, this pair — complete with distressed rips and mismatched panels — falls comfortably into the futuristic sneakers category.

11 by Boris Bidjan Saberi x Salomon Bamba 2 Sneakers

Image on Highsnobiety

Salomon Bamba 2 Sneakers

$550

11 by Boris Bidjan Saberi

Buy at ssense

Boris Bidjan Saberi has been working in tandem with Salomon for a long time without ever gaining the recognition that we think he deserves. The Bamba 2 is easily one of our favorite futuristic sneakers on the market right now, and it's not just because of its amazing distressed colorways.

adidas Originals x Craig Green Phormar Sneakers

Image on Highsnobiety

Craig Green Phormar Sneakers

$250

adidas Originals

Buy at ssense

Many of the futuristic sneakers in today's roundup are the product of a luxury-sportswear collaboration. This one is, too. Craig Green's futuristic utility takes center stage as we get the latest edition of the Phormar Sneakers.

Our designated Selects section features products that we love and want to share with you. Highsnobiety has affiliate marketing partnerships, which means we may receive a commission from your purchase.

We Recommend
  • Image on Highsnobiety
    The Best Sneakers of 2023... So Far
    • Style
  • Image on Highsnobiety
    The Best Black Sneakers for Any Rotation
    • Style
  • Image on Highsnobiety
    The Best Retro Basketball Shoes to Shop Now
    • Sneakers
  • Image on Highsnobiety
    We've Scoured Summer Sales For The Best Sneakers Under $100
    • Style
  • Image on Highsnobiety
    Polish Up Your Sneaker Rotation with These Silver Kicks
    • Style
  • Image on Highsnobiety
What To Read Next
  • A photograph of Carhartt WIP's New Balance 990v6 shoe collaboration
    New Balance Can't Keep Getting Away With This
    • Sneakers
  • Yohji Yamamoto's Y-3 adidas Stan Smith is landing for Fall/Winter 2023.
    Y-3's Stan Smith Is For the Minimalists
    • Sneakers
  • Rabanne H&M collab
    It's True: Rabanne Is H&M's Next Designer Collaborator
    • Style
  • Image on Highsnobiety
    Che Sorpresa! New Balance's 991 Finally Has a Sequel
    • Sneakers
  • Usher wears sunglasses & grey tweed Chanel outfit with pearls at Paris Fashion Week on October 3, 2023
    2023 Is Usher's Second Coming & He's Dressing the Part
    • Culture
  • A top-down view of a beige New Balance 990v6 sneaker
    KITH's New Balance's 990v6 Sands Off the Edges
    • Sneakers
*If you submitted your e-mail address and placed an order, we may use your e-mail address to inform you regularly about similar products without prior explicit consent. You can object to the use of your e-mail address for this purpose at any time without incurring any costs other than the transmission costs according to the basic tariffs. Each newsletter contains an unsubscribe link. Alternatively, you can object to receiving the newsletter at any time by sending an e-mail to info@highsnobiety.com

Web Accessibility Statement

Titelmedia (Highsnobiety), is committed to facilitating and improving the accessibility and usability of its Website, www.highsnobiety.com. Titelmedia strives to ensure that its Website services and content are accessible to persons with disabilities including users of screen reader technology. To accomplish this, Titelmedia has engaged UsableNet Inc, a leading web accessibility consultant to help test, remediate and maintain our Website in-line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which also bring the Website into conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that our efforts to maintain accessibility and usability are ongoing. While we strive to make the Website as accessible as possible some issues can be encountered by different assistive technology as the range of assistive technology is wide and varied.

Contact Us

If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular webpage on this Website, please contact us at accessibility@highsnobiety.com, +49 (0)30 235 908 500. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the web page and nature of the issue in your email and/or phone call, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page or the information contained therein accessible for you.