Another year, another seemingly endless amount of sneaker releases. It was a big one for sneakerheads, and the sneaker industry is showing no sign of slowing down. It was also pretty chaotic, to be honest, with delays and surprise drops all over the place.

Most guys probably grabbed themselves a pair of new kicks, but for us, a handful of trainers cut through and came out on top (although you can disagree with us!). From the Jacquemus x Nike Moon Shoe and Travis Scott’s Nikes, these are the shoes that flew of shelves...

1

Jacquemus Nike Moon Shoe

They’re the shoes that Jacob Elordi has been wearing all year, and we get it. The product of a brilliant collaboration, it might just be the most handsome trainer of 2025. Taking inspiration from Bill Bowerman’s hand-built Moon Shoe from the 1970s, the Jacquemus Nike Moon Shoe blends the OG model’s racing style with a modern ballet vibe to create a low-to-the-ground torpedo silhouette.

2

Nike Total 90 trainers

The Nike Total 90 debuted on the football pitch in the mid-2000s, but in early 2025 it got a release as part of Nike’s Special Projects catalogue. This metallic redesign featured all those things that made the trainers great 20 years ago: a quilted toe, the 90 stamp on the outer and “Total90III” branding at the rear.

3

Pharrell x VIRGINIA x adidas Adistar Jellyfish 'Focus Olive Real Green' trainers

Pharrell’s take on the Adistar goes against the lower-form silhouette that defined 2025. Inspired by Jellyfish, it features sculpted lines and molded black three-stripes. A Jellyfish wordmark is accompanied by dual Adidas and VIRGINIA branding on the tongue, while the runners feature foam midsoles with Adiprene cushioning in the heel.

4

Fragment Design x Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG SP 'Sail Military Blue'

Teased for multiple years, Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Nike sneakers finally dropped in November. This is the third three-way collaboration between Travis and Tokyo-based Fragment on the Air Jordan 1, and the new "Sail Military Blue" version features hits of cobalt and the same reverse Swoosh that have come to define Travis Scott's Nike line.

5

Wales Bonner x Adidas Karintha brushed suede trainers

The popular Wales Bonner and Adidas partnership continued, and showed no signs of slowing down. Consistently reinventing itself, the collaboration took a new turn with the Designer-debossed, brushed suede Karintha design. Expect more greatness next year.

6

Axel Arigato Dazed Runner

Axel Arigato cemented its position as one of the key players in the sneaker game with the release of the Dazed Runner. With its low profile, retro vibes and suede upper, it’s got everything we need in an everyday run-around-town sneaker.

7

Jordan 1 Retro High '85 OG Bred

Nike went all in on the 40th anniversary of the shoe, releasing a new version of the Air Jordan 1 High ’85 SP Bred, which was pretty much a replica of that OG sneaker from 1985. Every inch of the shoe was taken into consideration, from the thickness of the leather cuts to the high-top shape, so that they were as similar to the vintage ’85 pair fans were willing to risk their rent money for. The design was limited to 10,000 pairs upon release.

8

Jjjjound x ASICS Gel-Kayano trainers

One of the best partnerships for people who prefer minimalist kicks, Jjjjound’s third take on ASICS’ Gel-Kayano trainers landed in June 2025, and it was the best yet. The mesh runners were given metallic overlays and black branding, making for an all-out 2000s dad sneaker.

9

Corteiz x Nike Air Max 95

The Nike Air Max 95 Corteiz Honey Black utilises a black leather upper with a diamond-knit mesh, leaning obviously into a utilitarian aesthetic. Layered netting, a reinforced tongue and collar, and a toggle lacing system make it a functional design, while Corteiz branding in punchy yellow on the rear and toe lets people know you’re serious about your street cred.

10

Maison Margiela Sprinters

Another Elordi favourite, the Maison Margiela Sprinter trainers also made their way onto the feet of Harry Styles. A low-top, torpedo silhouette, the trainers came in an array of colourways but this blue and cream iteration was easily the best.

11

Dries van Noten trainers

Originally released in 2024, Dries van Noten’s suede sneakers got a lot of attention in 2025, and subsequent releases ensured the hype didn’t die down. This all-over chocolate brown colourway was one of the best takes on the calf leather sneaker design, and made for very wearable trainers, whatever your walk of life.

Originally published on Esquire UK