#1New Balance
Boston-founded, family-owned athletic brand making performance running shoes and lifestyle sneakers such as the 990 series, 574 and 2002R.
Best of Sneakers Streetwear
22 brands · Brands by scene · Updated September 2026This page is for anyone building a sneaker rotation that works with streetwear — from retro runners to luxury chunky soles. The short verdict: ASICS Sportstyle, New Balance and adidas cover the everyday retro-runner look at mid prices; Nike, Puma, Reebok and Onitsuka Tiger handle the court and heritage end; On, Hoka, Brooks, Saucony and Mizuno are performance-first shoes that happen to read well casually; and Balenciaga, Rick Owens, Maison Margiela, Golden Goose and Common Projects are the luxury tier where you pay for silhouette and finish, not mileage.
#1
#2Nike
American sportswear giant behind Air Force 1, Air Max, Dunk, Jordan and Converse, now rebuilding around a sport-led strategy.
#3
#4Crocs
American footwear brand behind the Croslite foam Classic Clog, Jibbitz charms and collaborative releases such as Salehe Bembury's Pollex Clog.
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#5ASICS
Japanese performance running brand from Kobe, known for GEL cushioning and archive Sportstyle sneakers like the Gel-1130 and Gel-Kayano 14.
#6On
Swiss performance sportswear label known for CloudTec-cushioned running shoes and technical apparel, publicly listed on the NYSE since 2021.
#7Adidas
German sportswear giant behind the three stripes, known for Samba, Gazelle and Superstar sneakers, football kits and designer lines like Y-3.
#8Saucony
American running brand owned by Wolverine World Wide, known for PWRRUN-cushioned performance shoes and Originals reissues of its 1980s runners.
#9Onitsuka Tiger
Japanese heritage sneaker and lifestyle label owned by Asics, best known for the retro Mexico 66 trainer.
#10Puma
German sportswear company making football, running and motorsport gear plus retro lifestyle sneakers such as the Suede, Palermo and Speedcat.
#11Common Projects
New York–designed, Italian-made minimalist footwear, defined by the gold serial-numbered Achilles low-top sneaker.
#12Maison Margiela
Paris luxury house founded in 1988, known for deconstruction, blank numeric labels and Tabi split-toe boots; now led by Glenn Martens.
#13Rick Owens
Independent avant-garde label founded in Los Angeles in 1994 and now based in Paris, known for draped monochrome tailoring and chunky sneakers.
#14Balenciaga
Kering-owned Parisian luxury house, founded in Spain in 1919, now led by Pierpaolo Piccioli after a decade under Demna.
#15Moncler
Milan-based luxury outerwear house, founded 1952 in the French Alps, known for quilted down puffers and its Grenoble ski line.
#16Golden Goose
Italian luxury label known for handcrafted, deliberately distressed Super-Star sneakers, plus leather goods and ready-to-wear.
#17Loro Piana
Italian LVMH-owned luxury house making logo-free knitwear, tailoring and footwear from rare fibres such as baby cashmere and vicuña.
#18Brunello Cucinelli
Italian luxury label built on hand-finished cashmere knitwear and relaxed neutral tailoring, still made and run from the Umbrian village of Solomeo.
#19Lanvin
Historic Paris luxury house founded in 1889, now Fosun-controlled and designed by artistic director Peter Copping since 2024.
#20Brooks
Seattle-based performance running brand owned by Berkshire Hathaway, known for the Ghost, Glycerin, Adrenaline GTS and Hyperion shoe franchises.
#21Mizuno
Osaka sportswear and equipment maker founded in 1906, known for Wave-cushioned running shoes, baseball gloves and archive-driven Sportstyle sneakers.
#22Reebok
British-founded, Boston-based sportswear brand owned by Authentic Brands Group, known for Club C and Classic Leather sneakers, the Pump and Nano training shoes.
Retro runners: the streetwear default
The core of the current look is a low, slim 1990s-style runner. ASICS reissues its archive through Sportstyle — the Gel-1130, Gel-Kayano 14 and GT-2160 — and works with Kiko Kostadinov and Cecilie Bahnsen, which is why the same silhouettes show up in fashion editorial and on the street. New Balance covers the same ground with the 990 series, 574, 327 and 2002R, plus a pricier MADE in USA line if you want the premium version. Saucony Originals reissues the Jazz, Shadow 5000/6000 and ProGrid Omni, often with sneaker retailers; Mizuno's Sportstyle line does the same with its archive Wave runners and is the least saturated of the three.
Court and heritage silhouettes
If you want something flatter and cleaner under wide trousers, adidas Samba, Gazelle, Campus and Superstar are the reference points, with Nike Air Force 1, Dunk and Air Max as the American counterpart. Puma's Suede, Palermo, Speedcat and Mostro and Reebok's Club C, Classic Leather and Freestyle sit a tier cheaper — both brands are low-to-mid priced. Onitsuka Tiger's Mexico 66 is the slimmest option here: leather or suede, low-profile, crossed stripes, and a natural pairing with tailored streetwear.
Performance shoes worn casually
On, Hoka, Brooks and ASICS' performance range are built for running first. On's CloudTec Cloud 5 and Cloudmonster and Hoka's Clifton and Bondi have become casual staples because of their visible cushioning, not because they're styling exercises. Brooks (Ghost, Glycerin, Adrenaline GTS) and plated racers from any of these brands are genuinely technical: judge them on fit and ride for running, and treat their streetwear appeal as a bonus. Expect mid-tier pricing across this group.
Luxury and non-sneaker footwear
At the top end, Balenciaga's Triple S and Speed, Rick Owens' Geobasket and Ramones, Margiela's Replica sneakers and Lanvin's Curb are very-high-priced statement shoes; Golden Goose Super-Star and Ball Star are high-priced and pre-distressed by design. Common Projects Achilles is the minimal alternative — Italian calfskin, gold serial number, no logo — at a mid-high price. Crocs sits outside the sneaker category: its Classic Clog, Echo and Salehe Bembury Pollex platforms are clogs, and the brand also makes sandals and sneakers, with streetwear relevance coming from the Pollex artist series with Jonas Wood, Nina Chanel Abney and Kenny Scharf. Moncler, Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli make sneakers as an extension of outerwear and knitwear, not as their main event.
Common questions
Which sneaker on this list is the safest everyday streetwear pick?
A retro runner from ASICS Sportstyle (Gel-1130, Gel-Kayano 14), New Balance (990, 2002R, 574) or adidas (Samba, Gazelle) is the most versatile. All three sit in the mid price tier and work with both wide and tapered trousers.
Which brands here are the cheapest?
Puma, Reebok and Crocs are the three low-to-mid priced brands on this list. Puma's Suede and Palermo, Reebok's Club C and Classic Leather and the Crocs Classic Clog are the entry points; ASICS, New Balance, adidas, Saucony, Mizuno, On, Hoka and Brooks sit a tier above at mid.
Is Crocs really a sneaker brand?
Not primarily. Crocs is built on the Croslite foam Classic Clog and its Echo, Mega Crush and Pollex platforms, and it also makes sandals and sneakers. Its streetwear credibility comes from collaboration — notably Salehe Bembury's Pollex Clog series with Jonas Wood, Nina Chanel Abney and Kenny Scharf — rather than from a sneaker franchise.
Are On and Hoka good for actual running or just for looks?
Both are performance running brands first. On's CloudTec and Speedboard construction (Cloud 5, Cloudmonster, Cloudsurfer) and Hoka's rockered, maximalist midsoles (Clifton, Bondi, Speedgoat trail) are engineered for mileage; their chunky profiles are what made them casual hits. If you want a shoe purely for streetwear looks, a retro runner or court shoe holds its shape better day to day.
Where can I buy these sneakers?
Buy direct from each brand's own site and stores — Nike, adidas, New Balance, ASICS, On, Hoka, Puma, Brooks and Crocs all run their own retail, and New Balance opened roughly 80 new stores in 2025. Reebok is licensed through partners including Slam Jam in North America and Europe. Luxury names like Balenciaga, Rick Owens, Maison Margiela, Golden Goose and Lanvin sell through their own boutiques and major luxury retailers. disco is a directory — we don't sell anything.