It’s been an interesting year for footwear. We’ve seen several remarkable drops from a ton of brands. From retro revivals to chunky statement-pieces, we put together a list of our favorites. Check out the Hottest Drops of 2018 as seen by our team.
adidas Ultra BOOST OG
Nothing like an OG to get you pumped for a special release. The OG adidas Ultra BOOST is an unforgettable colorway, despite its quite basic look. It came with all of the features we know and loved, bringing us back to the first time we fell in love with the flagship Three Stripes runner.
adidas Dragonball Z Collection
For those of you that had a childhood heavily associated with the show, this collection is pure gold. The different interpretations on each shoe in this collection were memorable. Particularly worthy of note was the adidas ZX500 RM “Goku” seen above.
Nike React Element 87
This is very likely going to be Nike’s flagship for the year. Sure, they had a ton of Off-White hype. But, the React Element managed to stand out. A surprise debut during Paris Fashion Week certainly didn’t hurt.
The upper is a utilitarian gem. Transparent materials, functional layers, it all came together seamlessly. And, of course, the React midsole was the icing.
Nike Air Max 97/1
This remarkable drop comes courtesy of the vintage-minded Sean Wotherspoon. Every piece of this aesthetic was gloriously retro. Every detail, down to the Air Max 1 midsole and corduroy accents, combined into Wotherspoon’s vision of fashion and footwear.
OFF-WHITE x Nike Air Presto
Arguably the king of sneakers in 2018, Virgil Abloh re-did the iconic Air Presto. The result was more of his deconstructionist motif. Exposed materials, flipped panels, and, of course, that signature pop-art script.
Union LA x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG NRG
Another shout back to a bygone era, Union LA’s collab project was about wearing what you love. Long before the fashion markets of today, people actually wore what they spent crazy amounts of money on. The visual effects of that wearing were signs of love – that is what this Air Jordan 1 was all about. It looked like a shoe that was both high quality and worn with love.
Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 1 Hi OG NRG
Though the shoe itself was an absolute banger, the story of the collab partner was even better. Nigel’s been and Air Jordan 1 head for as long as he could remember. This shoe was the culmination of a dream. He’d ridden his bike in them – like much of the BMX community – and getting to design his own version was a major part of his bucket list.
Travis Scott x Air Jordan 4 Retro “Cactus Jack”
There can’t be very many artists who’ve had a better year than Travis Scott. Though his music is most noteworthy to his fans, we’ll remember his shoes. The Air Jordan 4 has never had trouble staying relevant, but Scott brought it back to the top of hype culture. This edition was coated in premium materials and an eye-popping color scheme.
In fact, it’s still one of the most hotly pursued Jordans out there.
Puma Thunder Spectra
Puma wasn’t exactly dead in the water at the start of the year. And yet, releases like the Thunder Spectra brought them new life. 2018 took on the chunky sneaker trend with feverish purchases. The big brands made their splashes and even luxury names threw their hats in. Still, there weren’t too many expecting a heavyweight entry from Puma.
The Thunder Spectra combined retro stylings with a sort of Alexander McQueen vibe. Their work with the legendary designer is evident in this expressive shoe.
Virgil Abloh x Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Virgil Abloh is going to be on a whole lot of lists this year. The Footwear News Shoe of the Year award may already be a forgone conclusion. This memorable edition of the All Star is a big reason for that.
The hype behind this drop was fever pitch before it released thanks to some delays. When it dropped, it was certainly worth the wait. An exposed upper sported the usual branding notes and that illustrious Red zip-tie.