13 best sneakers of 2022: The year’s hottest kicks from Nike, Converse, New Balance, and more

The best sneakers of 2022 are tougher than ever. We’d be lying if we didn’t admit that the sneaker world isn’t as enticing as it once was, with loafers, boots and even – gasp – the occasional dress shoe pricking our interest with more regularity. than they did. in years. But something strange has happened as a result, perhaps unintentionally: the sneaker release cycle has become more focused, and with less junk to sift through week after week, the cream is rising to the top faster than ‘previously.

At one end of the spectrum, capital-D designers are making massive, culture-shifting shifts, in the form of Balenciaga’s reality-challenging styles or collaborations that only existed in our dreams (see: Nike x Louis Vuitton). On the other, big names like Nike and Jordan are finding new ways to make us fall in love with the silhouettes that turned them into powerhouses, by simply giving people what they want: retro hues and classic style. And meanwhile, new players in the space continue to surprise, whether it’s the gorp gurus at Salomon or the certified lover himself, who launched his first signature shoe with the Swoosh only a few weeks ago.

Which makes our job here much easier. Below are all of the best sneakers of 2022 so far, definitive proof that this year will be yet another big one for even bigger kicks.