Staff Picks: The Best Sneakers of 2025 (So Far)
It’s the annual ritual that sparks internal beef, heinous personal attacks and the occasional bar fight: picking our favourite sneakers of the year. Every July, the Sneaker Freaker crew gathers ‘round the back-alley binfire to ruthlessly defend our top pick. And while our final list is sealed tighter than GORE-TEX, we fully endorse a little dissent... so if your ride-or-die didn’t make the cut, be sure to slide over to our socials and let loose.
Woody: On Running Cloudboom Strike ‘LightSpray’, Unheardof ‘Piggy Runner’ Adistar Cushion 3
There’s always a risk of recency bias in any ‘best of’ list, so I’ll take the liberty of starting my mid-year report back in January when the finally dropped after a tantalising drip-feed of tidbits and teasers. To say I was beyond amped at its impending arrival is an understatement. Very few performance model debuts have had me quite so riled up, but , it quickly became obvious this drop-dead gorgeous cushion monster was stricken with a crippling identity crisis. The handsome exterior might be the perfect mix of heritage and futurismo, but that towering triple stack of React foam and Zoom Air made the ride quality so MF squishy it was impossible to take the Peg Prem seriously at walking speed. When hardcore runner reviews derided it as way too heavy and pretentious for their specific needs, the ‘fatally flawed gem’ tag was all but impossible to shake. So close and yet so far. Note to Nike – let’s see the Pegasus Premium upper design sneakily rebooted in full Air Max lifestyle trim. Thanks!
One upside of the global downturn in hype and hoopla in 2025 has been the refreshing (to say the least) experience of walking into sneaker stores and seeing quality releases on shelves once again. I recently came back from Japan (tax-free shopping FTW!) with pony hair AF-1s and from . Neither qualify as high heat, but you get my point. If the had also magically materialised they’d have been bagged and tagged as well. One other thought persisted my entire week in Tokyo… How great would it be to take it back to the days when JP-exclusives dominated the laneways of Harajuku?
Looking back at the randomness of my other pick-ups thus far this year, I seem to have bought a bunch of odd models in weird colours. (And yeah, I still buy plenty!) Here’s just a few.
The vivacious Air Max 2013 in ‘Hyper Royal’ was ridiculously over-priced but quickly became a go-to daily beater, while the chunky (and totally unappreciated) GT Hustle in ‘Hyperpink’ with mango pops took home the inaugural ‘most slept-on colourway of the year’ award. Second prize in that somnambulist category was the Nocta x Air Force 1s in a horrific shade of pale yellow the Swoosh call ‘Citron Tint’. These buttery bad boys earned me more neggy observations from so-called tastemakers than any shoe the last few years, so shout out to ‘A Minor’ for the iconoclast palette. While I think about it, I’m gonna hunt down a second pair at way below retail. You snooze, you lose, people!
Third place was another unlikely contender. I really wanted to embrace the and gave the red pair plenty of street time, but it was the spectacular dark green snakeskin release that broke my heart. The all-over print is a technical tour de force, but the way the scales wrap the midsole was extra bananas. Admittedly, the DN8 should strictly be considered one for the kiddies – but at this point in time, I’m refusing to act my age. And while I’m handing out unsolicited advice, can I just say that a honking Swoosh applied to the DN8’s flanks would have elevated this model big time, and stopped newbies wondering if I was really wearing
Now that I’m finally down to naming the numero uno shoe that gave me FOMO feels and cardiac conniptions in 2025, I realise there is simply no way I can split two contenders that could not be further apart either cosmetically or culturally. was technically first seen as far back as 2024 when it won the Boston Marathon on the feet of Hellen Obiri, but like the fabled , there was some debate as to whether these unobtaniums even existed. Thanks to DHL (and Audrey), a pair finally arrived at SFHQ and I was impressed right out the box with the extreme weightlessness. Admittedly they are more of a post-modern sculpture than an all-day-every-day foot cover, but the purity and elegance of this minimalist masterpiece simply cannot be denied. Nor can the wondrous sight of On’s video featuring those robot arms spraying a continuous 1.5km filament to whip up the Cloudboom upper.
As claimed in the pitch-perfect PR, ‘No seams, no laces, no distractions.’ I’m not always sold on the Swiss brand’s logo strategy as they apply it to product, but the Cloudboom nails any doubts with mini-Ons on both the ankle and tongue (even though there technically isn’t one on the upper), a killer semi-circle blow-up and a slash of lime splice on the medial side with the brand name spelled out in full. If this is indeed the future, then I’m all in with On. Utter, utter, utter, utter perfection!
The other moment that unexpectedly girded my pork loins this year was straight outta Cincinnati. Adistar Cushion 3 was a festival of pink suede and red pops that delivered the coolest regional exclusive seen for quite some time. The swag bag full of porkalicious trimmings and a – combined with the all-around outrageous dopeness of this totally unsung and ‘unheardof’ adidas runner – was more than enough to make it my joint winner at the halfway mark of the year. Bravo!
Seb: Apron Records x Nike Air 180
The amount of heat released so far in 2025 is straight diabolical. From to fresh and to – it’s been a wallet-lightening few months. Whether this is good or bad, I don’t have the answers – but one thing I do know for sure is that the has to be one of the greatest OAT.
When this colab came across my desk on a random morning, it was the first time in a while that I audibly said ‘damn’ while looking at an image of a shoe. Both red and green pairs were superb, but the latter was the bad boy that stole my heart. I don’t know whether it was the shaggy suede, crisp leather overlays or aggressive razor blade dubrae that made me feel some type of way, but I instantly knew I needed ‘em. Sneakers aside, I think I was mostly happy that Nike were blessing an independent music label with some love. There have been plenty of these types of colabs in the past, but they've usually been reserved for bigger names in hip-hop and rock.
PS: I’m still waiting for these pink x
Sanj: Little Tokyo Table Tennis x ASICS GEL-Nimbus 10.1
Ok, I am very much aware that choosing the Little Tokyo Table Tennis x is a slightly questionable choice for this piece, given that it dropped within weeks of this article's publication. Still, I’m an ASICS boy through and through, and while picking just one model from the past six months was no easy feat ( I’m looking at you), excluding this zesty lemon-slapper would be – without being too dramatic – borderline criminal.
Truthfully, the GEL-Nimbus 10.1 was never top of my radar. But LTTT’s take flipped the whole thing on its head. Here in the UK, the temps are finally creeping in, making this an absolute no-brainer. The netted detail and lacing system even feels slightly -esque, which – for someone who loves a bit of rough and ready (and has recently got into playing tennis himself) – is a welcome added bonus.
Obviously the brand’s GEL tech is a given, and if I’m copping a pair, I’m wearing them to the ground. So if you clock me in a scuffed-up pair of neon pollen-droppers out and about, mind your business – you won’t miss ‘em anyway!
Thijs: Nike Air Max 1 'King's Day'
The Nike Air Max 1 'King’s Day' hits different for me – laced orange pride, and pure nostalgia. It's been 18 years since I traded the Netherlands for Australia, and this pair takes me right back to the street parties and the familiar chaos of home. Now all I need is a cold beer and a plate of bitterballen.
Anthony: New Balance Made in USA 1300JP
I recently dove into a 50-minute video by Destin, an engineer over at on YouTube, where he tried to create a BBQ scrubber entirely in the US and bring it to market. Every step of the way, forces were pushing Destin to manufacture his product overseas. It may be a bit of an odd choice to select a shoe that is resurrected every five years, but I can't help but commend New Balance on continuing to support local manufacturing in the US with the Made in USA line (which contains a domestic value of 70% or more). Watching the released in May last month, it was an awesome look at the hands-on community behind the shoe's creation. Innovation or novelty-at-all-costs is often celebrated, but sometimes it's nice to slow down and give flowers to craftsmanship and quality. The same company making the same shoe, with the same love, over and over, is ultimately a good thing!
Gabe: Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 'Brick By Brick'
Building your legacy takes time, but with the Air Jordan 4 ‘Brick By Brick’, Nigel Sylvester didn’t just lay the foundation – he built the whole damn house.
From the jump, the design hits like a cement block. Raw suede panels mimic the coarse texture of freshly laid brickwork, complete with weathered edges and tonal shifts that feel lived-in and worked-over. The whole shoe captures a sense of momentum – like it’s been pulled from a construction site mid-blueprint. Jordan Brand even cooked up a bespoke brick box to seal the deal.
Nigel Sylvester’s evolution from BMX prodigy to Nike-backed tastemaker is one of the great arcs in modern sneaker culture. And with ‘Brick by Brick’, he cements his reputation not just as a rider or collaborator, but as one of the most powerful storytellers in the game.
Cam: Kith x New Balance 2010
Fuelled by nostalgia yet looking for the next wave: this is the sneakerhead’s quandary – but the Kith x New Balance 2010 sits right at the centre of this Venn Diagram. New Balance’s recent run of success has been led by strategically bringing old models out of the vault – however with the 2010, they delivered something new.
The NB2010 silhouette is inspired by the esteemed 99x series, yet offers a chunky lifestyle aesthetic that is widely popular today. Ronnie ‘The Colourist’ Fieg elevated it even further by putting his spin on it, and in remembering his journey, took us back to a simpler time. Released in conjunction with the on Lafayette Street, it proved that sneakerheads still value IRL releases. As the line wrapped around the block, Ronnie offered patient fans a bacon-egg-and-cheese, and a few lucky ones even left with a free pair of the kicks. NYC legend and other local icons were present at the event, adding to the special moment. In hand, the pair continues to shine, transcending that blessed Kith filter. Might have to vault these, so they’re not cooked by summer’s end.
Zack: Vans Curren
I've been wearing Vans skate shoes since roughly 1998. (The first pair I ever skated was the OG Knu Skool when I was in middle school!) So it's safe to say that I've gone through my fair share of waffle-soled rippers, and know a thing or two about the So-Cal sneaker brand's many offerings throughout the years. When I first put my feet into a pair of Curren Caples' new signature shoe, I immediately realised it was the most comfortable Vans skate shoe I'd ever put on. Curren killed it on the design – it's totally classic-looking, yet modern. Slim and simple, yet cushy and protective. I think it's going to go down as one of the all-time great Vans skate shoes.
Ollie: Yuto x Nike Dunk Low 'Matcha'
What can I say? I’m a certified matcha MF now. are not usually my forte, but these right here hit different. Yuto’s 2023 debut was already clean enough, but this new colourway – oh my days.
The storytelling here is subtle but strong – from the rugged, powdery toe box that nods to the process of matcha-making, to that smooth green suede of just the perfect tone. And don’t even get me started on the eyelet that lowkey resembles a traditional matcha grinder. Details matter, family. Throw the pink laces on and you have yourself a banger. Yuto, you cooked again. Respect.
Zoë: CNCPTS x PUMA Mostro Fey
If you’re not into science, maybe you’ve never seen a video of ferro fluid. It’s this jet-black colloidal liquid, and when you pass a magnet near it, it – kind of like the Kurt Russell pokes a heated wire into the petri dish of Thing-blood (#1 jump scare of the sci-fi canon). When I see the PUMA Mostro I think of ferro fluid, and of how this shoe’s alien energy is surely the most potent vibe of the year. There’s been a few different flavours released over the last six months – A$AP ‘Skin type: Handsome’ Rocky dropped the prowling, blacked-out iteration (reviving the DISC lacing system) and I definitely appreciate . But if you're stepping out in a sole that serious, you want a femme stamp. That is why I'm holding my boombox above-head for the CNCPTS x , which feature a Mary-Jane closure. Both cute and mean – very keen.
Cesca: Nike Air Max 95 ‘Neon’
I’m a broken record at this point, but it’s a surprise to no one that the April return of the Nike ‘Neon’ secures my top spot for the year so far. Favourite shoe, favourite colourway, and this time it has a super-sized bubble-bottom! In celebration of its big 3-0, the Air Max legend was afforded a build as close to the original as Nike are willing to get for now (see our ), and thankfully the Big Bubble 95 scratched our collective OG itch more than the ho-hum AM1 ’86. Good one, Swoosh!