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Some of these shoes knock our socks off

Just for kicks, we rated our favorite shoe brands, so you can find the best fit for you
Adidas, New Balances, Tigers, Reebok, Pumas. Which one will come out on top?
Adidas, New Balances, Tigers, Reebok, Pumas. Which one will come out on top?
Julia Copas

Sneakers are all anyone’s talking about these days. Everyone wants to know what the next top trending kicks will be, who will have which pair, and how soon until this micro trend will last. We have put the 6 most trending sneakers to the test, but be warned, we spared no sneaker from our most devious thoughts.

Reebok Club C Revenge – $75-$100 assorted retail stores.

Reebok (Women’s Club C): 4/5

Having been around since 1958, Reebok is making its comeback. Once known for being athletic shoes, these iconic sneakers are now a staple in everyday streetwear, making it clear that they aren’t just a microtrend that will pass in a year.

They’re also durable and good quality. What more could you ask for?

These timeless sneakers combine modern designs with their retro predecessors. I personally love them because they are classy, yet not too flashy. After all, I don’t want my shoes to be my statement piece.

Unlike other brands that solely focus on aesthetics, Reebok shoes are known for both look and comfort. They have a lot of padding inside them, making the soles extremely soft.

They are also friendlier to your pocketbook than most of their competitors with most of their shoes being around $70.

—SM

Adidas Gazelles – $79.99 at Dicks Sporting Goods.

Adidas Gazelles: 5/5

It is fair to say that Adidas is the shoe to have at the moment. Whether it’s Sambas, Gazelles, Spezials or even Campuses, Adidas is selling out nationwide.

Consumers around the world are obsessing over the creative style, fun colors and wide variety of platforms and low tops, and it’s fair to say that so are we.

Personally, the style of Adidas Sambas is perfectly curated to match whoever wears them. My personal favorite Adidas shoe, however, is the Gazelles. I love the high tops, and I think the color combinations are perfect.

Some say that the Adidas brand of sneakers look like bowling shoes, but they are actually supposed to be a kind of soccer shoe, and anything soccer-related, you already know, is gonna be fire.

Since I own a pair of Adidas Sambas, I can attest to the fact that you will need to size down. I ordered a pair of white and black sambas in a size 7.5 and ended up needing a size 6.5. They don’t provide all that much support but after all they were made to play soccer, so they still are more comfortable than other shoes.

Although Sambas may be trending for their style and popularity, the real question is how much are they, and will they last me? Adidas shoes are also generally affordable compared to some of the other trending shoes, coming in at $100-$120 on the Adidas website.

Generally, I can overlook the fact that they are not the most durable because of how versatile they are. You really can wear them with anything.

—SS

Onitsuka Tigers-$100-$125 on the Onitsuka Tigers website.

Onitsuka Tigers: 3/5

While Onitsuka Tigers are trending right now, the color options are slightly more vibrant, meaning, you may not find a color option that you will fall in love with. It might be safer to opt for a more diverse brand like Adidas.

In my opinion, however, Onitsuka Tigers, are more creative and stylish than any of the other shoes on this list. I love the pattern on the sides of the shoe, and they are more niche than Adidas or New Balances.

Although the Tigers bring a vibe to any function, the vibes are kind of lost when remembering that the prices range anywhere from $215 to $360 for regular sneakers.

We were able to find a bargain off of StockX, but even with a sweet deal, the Tigers still reign in at a whopping $170. With such an expensive price, you better believe the Tigers are durable.

Overall, you would not catch me wearing Onitsuka Tigers, just because of the price tag, but other than that, the Tigers are stylish, colorful, and definitely trendy.

—SS

Pumas- $75 off of Amazon.

Pumas: 4/5

I own a pair of Pumas, and they have yet to disappoint. Originally, I bought my Pumas for $75 off of Amazon, but unfortunately, I did not get the pair that I had ordered.

While I didn’t receive the pair I initially picked out, I still love the ones that I received. I think they are quite comfortable—dare I say?—more comfortable than my Adidas Sambas, and they provide stability when I walk around for extended periods of time, and not to mention they are adorable.

My only problem with them is that there is not much variety, and whether or not you love bright colors, or like to keep it classy with neutrals, you will have limited options.

I think that the design aspect of my Pumas is lovely. I really like the color of the word Puma on the side, as well as the font, and I also really like that the stripe is not basic, but not too over the top to where they take over the whole design concept of the shoe.

I would say the Pumas are my current favorite sneaker.

—SS

New Balance – $89.99 at Dicks Sporting Goods.

New Balance 550s: 3/5

My pair of New Balance 550s are my favorite pair of shoes I own. They match every outfit and with so many color options, there is really something for everyone, and you can never go wrong with them. They are the perfect shoes to go with any outfit, whether they are your statement piece or just a pair of shoes to go about daily.

People criticize them for looking like “grandpa shoes” but they always complete my outfits.

So what if I look like a 70-year-old man when wearing them?

In my opinion, It’s a look. On their website, they cost $110, but they are extremely popular, and they are commonly sold out of their most sought-after styles, so you have to order them from third-party websites most of the time like StockX, or Goat, and the prices are typically higher than what they are on the website.

One reason for their popularity is that they are extremely comfortable, I wear them all day and my feet never hurt.

The only negative is that they are rather bulky and heavy, making it hard to travel with them. Other than that, they live up to expectations.

—SM

Golden Goose – $495 off the golden goose website (excluding tax and shipping).

Golden Goose: 1/5

Out of every pair of sneakers, Golden Goose will always be at the bottom of my list. Although they have become a more notable brand in recent years, there is no way to justify buying a pair of sneakers that comes looking dirty for around $400-$600 when you could buy something that is just as nice, as well as way cheaper from any other brand.

The design, which includes distressed marks all around the brand-new shoe, makes it seem as though the shoe has already been worn by another person, which is counterintuitive to paying such a high price for these handcrafted shoes made in Italy.

Despite some people seeing them as a fashion statement that sets the wearer apart, I see them as unattractive and ugly.

The worn-out look makes it seem like it would take you less than a minute to find something similar on Depop, for a fraction of the price.

Credits to the brand’s approach though, as it seems to amass a unique market of buyers willing to pay that much for such a distinctive, yet laid-back style. The only good thing about this product, however, is that it can still be classified as a shoe, which stands for something for sure. Similar to the one star trademark that appears on the shoe, I am giving it a one-star rating.

—SM

 

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