Six (Plus One) Sneaker Styles Everyone Needs in Their Rotation

Whether you’re new to the world of sneakers, or have been a sneakerhead since the 90s or earlier, there are some styles that are essential. To have a well-rounded and diverse rotation, one cannot simply wear just one style of sneaker. So, here are seven types of sneakers that everyone needs in their rotation.

To make this list as definitive and universal as possible, there are two conditions that must be met:

- These sneakers have to be readily available at retail, ideally all year round. This rules out colabs and limited edition releases.

- They also must be produced in both men’s and women’s sizes.

The Grandfather of Sneakers, aka the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star

At over 100 years old, the  Chuck Taylor can be considered a truly timeless shoe. They’ve been worn by just about everybody and are one of the few sneakers that actually pair well with anything. While it’s been a literal canvas for crazy variants and material themes, the core black/white colour always comes correct. They look just as good box fresh as they do beaten to a pulp. Where possible, always get the  variant as it's the .

Classic Court

Over time, leather athletic styles like the   and  transitioned from the court to the streets, and the suede   also joined the party. Inevitably, these ‘tennis shoes’ enjoy a cyclical wave of popularity every few years, but they have always been omnipresent. They’re sneakers that don’t discriminate: regular Joes and Joannes see them as a simple, clean sneaker to wear, while OG sneakerheads appreciate the heritage.

Modern Running Shoe

The ‘Dad Shoe’ fad may go away eventually (here’s hoping) but techy runners like   in grey are here to stay. For the newer generations, it may be some sort of ironic play into chunky athletic footwear, but America’s East Coast, particularly the DMV area, has been on the 990 for decades. For those not ready to commit to the aesthetic, the   or   series offer solid alternatives.

Old School Basketball

Nike . Say no more. It’s one of the Swoosh’s best-selling shoes ever. Introduced in the 80s, brought back in the early 90s, then propelled into stardom with Nelly’s blinged-out ode to the sneaker named in reference to the presidential plane. No one is expected to emulate Dame Dash, who allegedly only wore AF-1s once before tossing them, but try to keep them clean. White-on-whites are the default option, and a crispy pair will get anyone hooked.

Retro Runner

Consider something like the . Why this model out of every 90s sneaker ever? It sits right in the middle of 90s sneaker style: hi-tech but looks retro at the same time. Old ‘heads will see it as a golden era sneaker, and newer generations should see the retro appeal of a slightly chunky, sporty sneaker. They’re also currently available on , so add something to the rotation that no one else has.

Heritage Skate

Basically, any core style by . Yes, the black and white  may be the default sneaker of choice for normies, but give the Classic  (CSO) a go. All the shoes on this list so far have laces. Some days, tying a knot is the last thing anyone wants to do. So, the elastic gussets of the CSO come as a blessing. Keep a checkerboard-patterned pair stashed away in case there is a ska-punk revival.

(Plus One) Beaters

When a sneaker from the above list gets too worn out, too dirty, or just no longer presentable, it becomes a beater. However, don’t consider this as a relegation: the beater is the most reliable sneaker in your rotation. They’re the  that you know will do the job time and time again. Just make sure you stock up on a fresh pair of the above styles because, if you’re doing things right, all your shoes will inevitably become beaters.