Toe to Toe: Sneaker of the Year - Spring '22

As we steam further into the final month of the year, it’s only right that different outlets in the sneaker industry are beginning to launch their SOTY (Sneaker of the Year) roundups. Here at The Sole Supplier we’re doing things a little differently this year, so let us introduce you to Toe to Toe: 2022’s SOTY list that breaks the contenders down into quarterly chunks. By looking at the year in three month periods, it’s easy to recognise all of 2022’s key releases, meaning we can look back and remember the pairs that mattered the most.

To kick things off, we’ll be looking explicitly at Q1 - that’s the first three months of the year. While many believe that these early months can be a quiet period while consumers get over the cost of Christmas and the New Year, there were a whole load of high-heat drops throughout January, February and March this year, so without further ado let’s get into it and check out the strongest releases of Q1 2022!

The first addition to our mini-series comes in the form of a whited-out pair of chunky runners designed by one of the Swoosh’s greatest collaborative partners. The sacai x Nike VaporWaffle “White Sail” was one of two variations of the hybrid silhouette launched in early March, designed by Chitose Abe. The kicks showcase an in-your-face stacked midsole, as well as other notable design traits such as double tongues and Nike Swoosh logos. However, it was the neat combination of white and sail hues that really won over sneakerheads here, with this release now earmarked as one of sacai’s strongest Nike efforts.

Now would a 2022 SOTY list be complete without the addition of a New Balance 550? The Steven Smith-designed silhouette has been stealing the hearts of sneakerheads ever since its reintroduction back in 2020, and the Boston-based brand kicked off its 550 offerings this year with an eye-catching “UNC” colourway that hit shelves in January. Offering up a premium-leather construction that’s brought to life by the pale-blue and white colour scheme, the kicks present ‘80s-style basketball branding on the tongues, as well as the instantly-recognisable N logo in pride of place on both the lateral and medial sides.

Continuing the hype for Q1 is our clear winner, none other than the Air Jordan 4 “Red Thunder”. Acting as the sequel to 2012’s AJ4 “Thunder”, this release swaps out the original yellow hits with red alternatives. Black and red continues to be a popular colour combination for fans of Jordan Brand, meaning that this offering was almost guaranteed to succeed from day one. Gaining over 140,000 views on The Sole Supplier’s website alone, the undisputed king of 2022 Q1 officially hit stores on the 15th January, although it was quick to sell out and is now only obtainable via the secondary market.

Make sure to stay tuned right here at The Sole Supplier for part two of Toe to Toe, where we’ll be sharing the best releases from Q2. Hit us with any predictions via our social media channels, and check out the rest of our website for all the latest sneaker news and release dates too!