For runners and non-runners alike, running shoes are very much en mode. The likes of Nike, adidas, New Balance, and the rest of the lot, are bringing back running silhouettes from the millennium eras, infusing a sort of y2k nostalgia into our sneaker moodboards.
Whether leaning on normcore or more early 2000s futurism sensibilities, these are seven y2k runners that we’re adding to the rotation.
P-6000
If you’re into the old Nike Pegasus sneakers from 2006, the Nike P-6000 is not far off. A hybrid of different Pegasus silhouettes through the years, P-6000 fuses a futuristic aesthetic with a retro sporty design, especially with this colourway with silver details. And although it can be worn as a lifestyle shoe, its technical features – like its foam cushioning and weightless feel – make for a good runner.
Abzorb 2010
This special edition, created for New Balance’s “Grey Days” collection, the Abzorb 2010 brings a futuristic tech-inspired look to the mix with its grey and silver elements. The shoe is a versatile runner with an ultimately unique design thanks to its 2000s aesthetic and chunky build. Fusing the NB Abzorb midsole, which brings cushioning and compression resistance, it’s also technically savvy.
Gel-Kayano 14
With a late-2000s vibe, the Asics Gel-Kayano 14 is inspired by its 2008 predecessors from the Gel-Kayano series. The 14 updates the shoe’s performance capabilities with Asics’ Gel technology and new materials. This shoe is also the first version in the Gel-Kayano line to be designed by someone other than shoe designer Toshikazu Kayano. It’s a strong and timeless staple, if you ask us.
Progrid Omni 9
A nostalgic nod to the 2010’s running silhouette, the Saucony Progrid Omni 9 fuses a throwback design with good performance. It’s created with a breathable mesh upper, the brand’s signature ProGrid technology in the sole (for stability and cushioning) as well as a responsive foam midsole. It’s wearable and easy to style while also stepping up your shoe game.
530
New Balance©
The NB 530 is an effortless, everyday staple with a performance-minded design. A normcore classic, this versatile and enduringly popular sneaker takes on a retro aesthetic that can pair well with almost everything in your wardrobe. Originally designed as a running shoe, it features the brand’s Abzorb midsole, which is ideal for absorbing impact via cushioning and compression resistance.
Air Max Moto 2k
This one’s just for the girls, but we had to include. The Air Max Moto 2k will inject a y2k vibe to any outfit. It almost feels like a kid’s shoe (complimentary). With its millennium-style aesthetic merged with the Max Air cushioning for peak comfort, it’s a strong contender for the rotation.
Adistar Control 5
Another y2k throwback, the Adistar Control 5 reimagine the early 2000s runner for a lifestyle purpose. The shoe fuses the best of adidas technology with a retro aesthetic, prioritising comfort. Although it’s very much a lifestyle shoe, it’s built with an Eva midsole and Formotion heel unit for cushioning and support, as well as a rubber outsole for ultimate grip and breathable materials – making it a technical wizz. Plus, the silver accents add to the retro futurism of it all.
