The Sole Supplier's Sneakers Of The Year List 2025

What is your sneaker of the year? For many sneakerheads that is the only answer that matters. It tells you about a person’s style, interests and how long they have been part of the culture.

The Sole Supplier is built by people who care about trainers. Whether they lined up for five hours to cop the Corteiz Air Max 95 or helped push the Cow Print adidas trend this year, the range in taste is clear to see.

It’s hard to deny that the "Leopard Samba" made WAVES in 2025, especially in the women’s sneaker community. Even though I don’t own a pair myself, I really like how it looks on other people. It’s like “they know”!

The JJJJound x asics Kayano 14 have been one of my most reached-for pairs this year, especially on days when I don’t know what to wear. It’s clean, easy to style, and you can’t beat the comfort of a Kayano 14. Plus that yellow hit on the sole - it’s one of those iykyk moments and it just feels cool to be part of it.

My top pick though had to be the New Balance 204L. As someone whose knees don’t usually tolerate sneakers with a slimmer profile, when this New Balance entered the game - everything changed. My favourite colour way is "Timberwolf" and to be honest, I’ve spent way too long just looking at them in hand (that’s how clean they are)! They’re comfortable, they look high end, and I can FINALLY wear low-profile sneakers!

Yu-Gi-Oh x Nike Air Max 95 "Jonouchi": I've never seen a pair with this much attention to detail on the box. The materials of the shoe, the "air muscle" on the tongue, it's definitely one of the pairs I consider a grail and would love to cop if I ever have to chance to get them.

New Balance 2002 Protection Pack "Grey": I've wanted this shoe since its initial release in 2021, so when they released again this year I had to cop them. Comfortable to wear and pairs with every outfit, these are my everyday go-to.

Corteiz x Nike Air Max 95 "Honey Black": I had to queue 5 hours to get my hands on this shoe at the Corteiz Pop up event, it's one of my core memories experiencing sneaker culture for the first time at The Sole Supplier!

For me, the Story MFG x asics collaboration had to take the top spot. The lilac gingham colourway paired with the chunky gingham laces made them the ultimate summer shoe - not to mention the amazing campaign imagery!

Another ASICS collab I’ve been loving this year is the ongoing partnership with Cecilie Bahnsen. The flower motif is fun and feminine, providing the perfect contrast to a chunky silhouette like the Gel-Kayano 20.

The adidas Samba OG Cow Print had to get a mention this year! I personally loved working on this campaign with The Sole Womens and the work we created together. These Sambas have become an absolute staple in my collection - ones I’ve reached for over and over again.

The Yu-Gi-Oh! x Air Max 95 is a personal favourite cause I grew up loving the card game as a kid and played all the Tag Force games on my PSP. You could also feel the designers and teams behind the rollout genuinely loved and respected the source material. Making the shoe first available during the YGO World Championships in Paris and then via the Pop-Up in Japan looked crazy! I don't even own the pair but I have to give them the flowers they deserve.

The Kobe AF1's and Seoul 3's are both sentimental picks. Back in the day, I could never get either, but a close relative of mine gifted me the Kobe's while I was out in America. When I told him I missed out, he found them in outlets for less than $100!

I love the Asia exclusive Jordans but couldn't get the Seoul 1.0, although I'd argue the design is much better on the 2.0. I wore the Air Jordan 3 Seoul 2.0 nonstop during my trip to Korea this summer, so I associate alot of those memories with this shoe.

The Air Jordan 4 Undefeated was the sneaker of the year for me. Grail isn't enough of a word for a pair like this so when I saw that they were getting a wider release 20 years later, I needed to get my hands on a pair.

I'm a serious runner so any innovation in terms of running tech is always on my radar. The Nike Vomero Premium has been an incredible addition for my recovery runs in 2025.

Finally, if you can't tell already, I love Jordan 4s and Nigel really killed it with the "Brick By Brick" colourway & details. Most years this would have taken my number 1 spot, but 2025 has been such a great year for sneakers!

Top of the list is the VANDYTHEPINK x atmos x asics. I had planned a trip to Japan at the perfect time and managed to secure myself a pair while out there. They haven't come off my feet, I’m even wearing them while writing this! Comfortable, exclusive, sentimental and the fuzzy rope laces give them a perfect girly touch.

I can’t not mention the ASOS exclusive "Cow Print" SL72. This pair was everywhere along with the matching Samba back at the start of the year. I’m a sucker for pony hair and this pair adds fun texture and print to any/ALL outfits. Long live the cow print in 2026!

The Sandy Liang XT-Whisper were my first Salomons that I picked up just before my trip to Japan. They helped me walk for many miles and did not disappoint in terms of comfort. The toggle system makes it easy to take them on/off, which is why I reached for them a lot this year. Plus all the small floral details on the tongue tab and insole are the cutest!

Bit of a fun one for me, given I had to travel all the way to Vegas to pick up the Jungle Jungle x asics. Each pair is hand-customised by the team and the way the shoe wears to reveal another colourway underneath is so good. Not every pair needs a mad story for it to be cool, but the Vegas trip gave the shoe a personal edge.

I'd been saying all last year that the Superstar was going to see a resurgance and here we are. The story and design behind these is a real nod to the Manny heads, the details both visible and hidden are great. The Drama Call Superstar has easily been one of my most worn pairs this year, they’re so versatile that I don't even need to think twice about putting them on.

Once a year there's a shoe that surfaces that I'll see and instantly need. Usually it's a CDG x Nike pair, but this year adidas turned my head with the Jellyfish. Its big, its agressive, and its so ugly-yet-beautiful to look at. Having an unnessecarily chunky shoe in your rotation is a must and these tick all the boxes for me in what I want from a big shoe. Chunky shoes will be back in 2026 all because of this shoe!

While we wait on a breakdown from Bolade himself, we have to give him kudos on his selection. The Classic 6-Inch "Woven-Black" was a quality spin on the standard Butters, giving Timberland a real moment in the spotlight this year.

The adidas Jellyfish really took sneakerheads by storm in 2025 and for good reason. Setting the standard for the new hybrid 'Dad shoe', it climbed its way onto a lot of people's list as you can see. Undefeated Air Max 95s, a shoe that was the cherry-on-top for the 110 after dominating the shelves these past 12 months.

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