These Are the Hottest Retro Sneakers on the Market
The early 2000s might not feel like the distant past, but if you’re a clothing brand desperately grasping for new inspiration the era is more than fair game. Fashion’s self-referential nature means that, less than twenty years after the decade’s conclusion, the aughts are already proving to be a goldmine. Big, baggy jeans are piling up on mall shelves all over again, gleaming wraparound shades are going to be everywhere this summer, and the mesh-covered retro sneakers synonymous with Y2K style have never been hotter. That's right: the exact same shoes you laced-up to jog along to the latest Lil Wayne mixtape are back and better than ever—and somehow, they don’t look remotely dated.
Dad-adjacent shoes have been catching fire for a while now, thanks to performance-oriented footwear juggernauts like New Balance and Asics (and crucial cosigns from capital-D Designer labels like Balenciaga), but the latest crop of Y2K-indebted retro sneakers are a touch sportier than their '80s or '90s counterparts. Aesthetically, there’s simply more going on—more mesh, more accents, more sole, more everything. Just like their gloriously dadly predecessors, though, these runners are meant to be worn anywhere but the track—instead, throw 'em on with a pair of ginormous chinos and a freaky cardigan or Bieber-esque jeans and a slouchy hoodie. (Pro tip: Wider-leg pants will help balance out your shoes’ hefty proportions.)
Still not convinced? All good: We rounded up 16 of the raddest, meshiest, retro-iest sneakers on the market right now, from re-issued icons that still look killer today to newly-released beauties inspired by the decade’s biggest hits.
All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
- 1/16
Asics Gel Kayano 14 sneakers
The reigning title belt holder in the aughts running sneaker space, the Gel Kayano 14 is pure late-2000s excellence. If you're after the most iconic expression of the form, there are few better options.
- 3/16
Nike Zoom Vomero 5 sneakers
All of the mesh-adorned goodness you could ever need, done up in an earthy brown color begging to be paired with your biggest, baggiest chinos.
- 5/16
Adidas "Orketro" sneakers
Though they technically debuted in 2022, the Orketro draws heavily from Adidas' early-aughts archives. (While we're on the subject, shout out to the Adidas Kobe 2s, one of the most insane sneakers to ever grace the hardwood—and just about anywhere, really.)
- 12/16
Nike Spiridon Cage 2 sneakers
Designed by Steven Smith, one of the sneaker industry's greatest hitmakers, the Spiridon Cage 2 was initially conceived to offer runners maximum breathability on long dashes. Their tech might feel a little outdated now, but they're still an excellent option in the looks department.
- 13/16
Salomon ACS Pro
In 2022, we named the ACS Pro one of the best sneakers of the year thanks to its unique blend of throwback charm and trail-ready good looks. And as long as Salomon keeps serving up color combos like this, the smash-hit style isn't going to relinquish its superlative status any time soon.
- 16/16
Asics Gel-NYC sneakers
At first glance, you might think that the Gel-NYC is yet another late-'90s style revived by the legendary team behind some of the hottest retro runners on the market. You'd be wrong. It's actually a brand new silhouette, one that remixes the best of Asics' signature turn-of-the-millenium design flourishes, yielding one extremely wavy—and extremely 2023—silhouette.
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