The Best Sneakers of 2020
Nike’s Chunky Dunky which people went nuts for this year
Right now, the Jayhawks are off until Jan 2, another weird development in the worst year in our lifetimes. But my readers’ lust for that sweet, sweet ST content never sleeps, and I’m hitting up an old comrade—the year-end list—for this week’s in-between newsletter.
While streetwear and sneaker culture probably hit its cultural peak in 2020—the best Supreme flipper of all time turned out to be the Carlyle Group—it was clear as ever that hypebeasts still care about all the wrong stuff. Figuring out the “best sneakers” while taking into account what’s happening on the resale market is a tough thing to sort out, because it’s pretty much meaningless and scarcity-based at the end of the day.
I’m not here to tell you what the consensus best sneakers were, as there are many places that will do that for you. Nor am I here to argue for the practice of buying new sneakers during a pandemic, because the fact that I’m still sort of doing it means that I’m at least kind of an idiot. I’m here to tell you what resonated with me personally, and to use that plot device to crank out a newsletter because I have unsolicited thoughts about the topic! Here goes!
Nike Zoom Freak 1, “Employee of the Month”
Coming to America is one of the greatest movies of all time. As a New Yorker, I love a film that makes New York City look like absolute dogshit. (HBO’s Flight of the Conchords is another great entry into the “NYC covered in shadows, trash and broken dreams” canon). If you told me Nike was hooking up with Coming to America IP, I’m sold without needing to see the product. But the fact they did it in concert with my favorite NBA superstar, the G man, makes it even better. The line turned out pretty great overall, I think. Sneakers can be fun!
Nike SB Dunk Low, “Grateful Dead Bears Green”
My relationship with this pair… well. I want to not like it. As a Deadhead who likes to make fun of every on-the-nose collaboration that GDP pursues, I’m supposed to be torn (but secretly buying everything anyway). I made stickers of the yellow pair (I’ll send you a few if you show me a receipt to a recent donation you gave!) before finally coming around on the green pair as the best pair, having seen them “on-feet” in the popular parlance. The limited orange pair is good too, though it’ll certainly cost you.
Reebok Question Mid, Eric Emanuel Pink Toe
When it comes to Eric Emanuel’s upscale staples, I’m of two mindsets. For one, I deeply get it; Shai looks sick pairing EE mesh shorts with high fashion jackets and tops, and Emanuel is reverent with his color choices. It works. But also—it’s possible someone like Shai looks cool wearing anything. This is the kind of mental war you get in with yourself when hovering over an impulse purchase.
Here’s where it all comes together—EE’s flip on the Question mid. I legit love it. In a wrinkle to one of the most famous apparel contracts of all time, Reebok owes Iverson $32M when Iverson turns 55, so it was a just a matter of time before Reebok did something interesting with arguably its most famous basketball line.
Reebok Instapump Fury, “Bait x Toy Story Woody and Buzz”
If you’re not following what adidas is doing with the Reebok brand, which adidas owns, I can’t blame you. But why not catch you up to speed, super quickly?
They’ve done nothing.
Moving on. In the greater sneakerscape, the upward tick in Instapump Fury appreciation was a blip in a timeline where people went capital-B “Brazy” for mud colored Travis Scott releases. But to me, the threading of Woody and Buzz’s Toy Story patterns into a truly insane sneaker silhouette is a work of art. A limited release with BAIT—I’m coming for that Snoopy line eventually—these didn’t generate the noise that they deserved.
I probably should disclose that I am a 34-year-old childless adult who has been to DisneyWorld twice in the last three years and thank you for reading my basketball newsletter. Maybe now is a good time to remind everyone that I donate every penny I earn from this, thus cannot use the funds for sneaker procurement.
Converse All-Star Pro BB, Hyperbrights Pack
These are technically 2019—I wrote about them for a GQ story that year—but I just can’t get over how the flame pattern looks like cheese pizza. Oubre and Shai are the Converse brand ambassadors, and that is perfect. I don’t care if Oubre never makes a jumpshot again—I’m inspired. I want to go out in the world, pizza shoes laced up, and just viva la vida, baby.
Saucony Jazz 81, TSPTR
Earnest blurb alert—I love everything Russ Gater does with his London-based TSPTR line. You’ll immediately notice the numerous Peanuts and GD allusions—not a coincidence!—but there’s so much love packed into the subtlety of his staples. I’m hankering to get one of his “Dry Goods” pieces, all of which look like wardrobe centerpieces lined with thoughtful details. There’s a new drop coming in January, and it looks like it will be TSPTR’s best yet.
Early in 2020, Russ revived a running silhouette he has always loved—the Saucony Jazz 81. Like the rest of TSPTR, what Russ has done might not blow back your hair at first glance, but the more time you spend clocking these, the more you come away thinking that this is the definitive running style flip of the year. I’m liking the price point too, and feel like these will age more nicely than anything else here. In a year where New Balance staged a massive comeback thanks to thoughtful homage and tasteful collaborations, TSPTR hits the mark with these retros.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
CPFM AF1s, the Travis Scott GORP-core sneakers are pretty funny and I loved the campaign for them, I’m gonna get these BB NXTs eventually bc they look fun to hoop in if we can ever hoop again.