
It's hard at the top. Nike is the biggest sneaker brand in the world, and it's not even a close fight between Nike and second-place brand Adidas.
That doesn't mean Nike can just take it easy and coast along on its old victories.
Nike is at the cutting edge of tech, and made what might be the fastest running shoe ever. Kelvin Kiptum set a Chicago marathon world record wearing a prototype version of the Nike Alphafly 3, just months before his tragic death in February 2024.
We care about both the old and new, though, and so does Nike.
In May 2024, Nike announced the return of a classic, a version of the Cortez matching the pair seen in 1994 movie Forrest Gump. Keep an eye out on the Nike store from May 31 if you like the sound of that.
Over at the other end of the spectrum, Nike showed off a bunch of AI-designed 3D-printed concept sneakers in April. They're inspired by Nike ambassadors, and could give a clue as to future pairs coming down the line. Some are truly wild-looking. Take a look:
Over the past 50 years, Nike's trainers have been everywhere. They've sprinted over Olympic finishing lines, squeaked across NBA courts and appeared on the front row at Fashion Weeks worldwide. It’s no wonder everyone wants a slice of the action, but when it comes to picking the best pair of Nike trainers for you, then the options can be dizzying.
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Nike has released countless trainer styles over the years, but certain ones stand out from the crowd. We’re talking bona-fide footwear allstars, future classics and technological trailblazers past and present. But maybe you love Nike shoes because they're comfy, reliable and hard-wearing and don't care as much about the iconic styles. Nike shoes tick all of the boxes.
In this list, we’ve handpicked the best Nike trainers we feel are worthy of top-ten status and left it to you to decide where they rank. Vote for the pairs you love, downvote the ones you don't.
From the game-changing Air technology of the Nike Tailwind to the futuristic styling of the Nike Air Max 270, here are the shoes we chose.
- The best trainers to buy right now, revealed.