Top Ten Summer Sneaker Countdown

Hola, good readers. It is as every bit as hot in Atlanta right now as the surface of the goddamn sun. As tempting as it is to throw on some flip-flops, I strongly suggest otherwise. Unless you are at the beach or pool, or you are a girl, dress as if you’ve been somewhere before.

Here I’ve assembled my personal top ten summer sneaker essentials. I’m certainly no authority or paid professional. I just know what I like and why I like it. All of these choices are timeless. They can all be dressed up or down. They can all look fresh to death with cuffed chinos or denim, or even a suit in some cases. And taking the summer heat into account, almost all of these picks are machine washable. Why? Because they will get toxic by wearing them with no socks. As you should wear them. But be wary. They can just as easily fuck up your whole fit if not done correctly. You want to stick to classic, clean colorways and materials. Do not opt for a neon orange, pebbled leather Rod Laver when you can go with the classic mesh in green and white. Dig? Now, let’s get to the list:

10. Puma Clyde
Understated silhouette, and looks great in almost any color combo. Stick to the classic color blocking on this one. The Clydes with the different color panels are retarded. It’s good to know Puma went back to the vault with the current collection. They are now made in Japan as opposed to China, and they are made exactly the same way as when they were debuted. Great year-round choice.


9. Nike Cortez
Nike’s first icon. Introduced in 1972 as a true running shoe, they still feel like a million bucks forty years later. Made famous by Votos of East LA and Forrest Gump, but don’t let that ruin the Cortez for you. Warning: Stay clean and simple with these; they’ve done about a thousand terrible make-ups of these. Cortez are real easy to ruin with shitty materials and colors. Stick with the classic nylon with suede overlays. And check out the J. Crew collaboration that just dropped. Fire.

8. Adidas Rod Laver
A summer staple for decades. Whether you’re winning grand slam tennis tournaments or chasing skirt at the local water hole, Rod Lavers will fit the bill. These do look much better a little grimy, so make sure you dirty them up a bit before wearing them out and about.




7. Vans Authentic
Now anyone that knows me even a little bit knows that I do not care for Vans. At all. Its not an aesthetic thing as it is a comfort thing. I think that the boxes these fuckers are packaged in are more comfortable than the actual shoes. However, I cannot deny their place on the list. They started as a boat shoe, adopted as a skate shoe and now they’re one of the all time classic lifestyle shoes. They may not be for me, but I get it. Respect.


6. Nike Air Max 90
One of my absolute favorites of all time. Be it summer or any season, these are sneakers for the ages. I love the lines, I love the shape, I adore everything about the Air Max 90. Again, Nike has fucked these up so many times, its ridiculous. In my eyes, the original infared color is the only choice. Good luck finding a pair.