Back to School Sneaker Shopping Style Guide

Back to School Sneaker Shopping Style Guide

We pick the best sneakers to head back to school in this fall for different style types including skaters, hoopers, trendy kids, and more.

Matt DeSciora

Whether we want it to happen or not, summer is slowly coming to an end, which could only mean one thing: a new school year looms on the horizon. Returning to the classroom after a few months in the sun isn’t easy, but there are ways to make the transition more tolerable. Getting your school supplies in order is one way to conquer any back-to-school jitters. As is gearing up with the latest sneakers at Stadium Goods.

The most popular sneakers from brands like New Balance, Jordan Brand, Nike, and adidas, and so many other popular brands are in our inventory right now, which means we’re pretty much your one-stop shop for everything you need to succeed in school—style wise, that is.

This is the Stadium Goods Buyer’s Guide to Back to School Shopping for every kind of sneaker enthusiast in your life.

The Skater

Skateboarding’s resurgence in popularity in the last decade has contributed to the hype around skate-focused streetwear brands like Supreme and Palace, and sneakers like the Nike SB Dunk and Vans Sk8-Hi. That makes each of these selections a no-doubter when it comes to nailing the skate style.

Supreme x Nike SB Blazer Mid “Denim”

The Supreme x Nike SB Blazer Mid “Denim” is one of two colorways from the brand’s 2022 collaboration that successfully follows up their classic SB Blazer project from 2006. We’re particularly fond of the “Denim” colorway because of how great the shoe looks after it's been shredded from skating.

HUF x Nike SB Dunk Low “NYC”

Before founding HUF, legendary skateboarder Keith Hufnagel spent his time between San Francisco and New York as part of the original Supreme skate team in the 1990s. After his untimely passing, HUF created two colorways, including this “NYC” edition of the Nike SB Dunk Low, in honor of both his bicoastal lifestyle and the brand’s 20th anniversary.

Vans SK8-Hi

There is no more essential or endlessly versatile shoe to skateboarding style than the Vans Sk8-Hi in “Black/White.” Enough said.

The Hooper

Gear up for basketball season, which is coming up a lot sooner than we all think, with a performance basketball shoe that can also be worn as a lifestyle shoe away from the court. These are three of the best options that fit the bill.

Undefeated x Nike Kobe 4 Protro PE “Lakers”

Kobe Bryant’s Nike Kobe 4 Protro has long been considered one of the best basketball shoes on the planet. Sprinkle in a little design input from California based retailer Undefeated, and you have the perfect storm of a high performance hoops shoe that’s also incredibly stylish.

Nike LeBron 8 “South Beach 2021”

How great is the Nike LeBron 8 “South Beach?” The Miami Vice-inspired sneaker pretty much set off the enormous hype behind Nike Basketball sneakers in the early 2000s. The 2021 version of the “South Beach” might be our last chance at the iconic colorway.

Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 650R “White/Grey”

The Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 650R is the oldest of the three basketball shoes we’ve selected here, but no less capable on the hardwood than its counterparts. Even if you don’t end up wearing the shoe to hoop in, it’s still one of the most eye-pleasing basketball sneakers ever made.

The Comfy Kid

Look around sneaker culture: comfort reigns supreme. From the adidas Yeezy Slide to Salehe Bembury’s Crocs Pollex Clog to basically every New Balance shoe in existence, and everything in between, there’s never been as much emphasis on being cozy than right now.

Bodega x New Balance 9060 “Age of Discovery”

We tabbed the New Balance 9060 as one of, if not the hottest sneaker offered by New Balance this summer, so it’s no wonder we are once again singing the shoe’s praises in this cozy category. We love Bodega’s “Age of Discovery” colorway, but every 9060 design is great.

Nike Zoom Vomero 5 “Anthracite”

The Y2K trend wouldn’t be what it is without the Nike Zoom Vomero 5. The shoe practically started the culture’s obsession with performance running shoes that look like they teleported from the 2000s when it came back in January of this year.

Salehe Bembury x Crocs Pollex Clog

Anybody that has worn Crocs knows how comfortable they are. (And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?) Salehe Bembury’s version just adds some extra style points.

The Hypebeast

Collecting hard-to-find sneakers is one of the most exciting things about participating in sneaker culture. To that we say we can’t blame anyone for saving up their money to splurge on a shoe designed by Travis Scott or Off-White. Here’s a few examples of the shoes any hypebeast would gladly fork over their hard earned money on.

Fragment x Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 Low OG

A three-way collaboration for the ages, the Fragment x Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG combines elements of the Japanese streetwear brand and the hip-hop star’s signature design aesthetics on the Jordan 1 Low, resulting in one of the model’s most creative colorways.

Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Brooklyn”

All Off-White x Nike sneakers are incredibly hyped. But some are just a bit more rare than others, like the Off-White x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Brooklyn.” The bold-as-hell green colorway copies the color block used on the Off-White co-designed Air Force 1 Low “MCA” from 2018.

Ben & Jerry’s x Nike SB Dunk Low “Chunky Dunky”

There have been some insanely hyped Nike SB Dunks. But there is only one inspired by a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. The Ben & Jerry’s x Nike SB Dunk Low “Chunky Dunky” is what hypebeast dreams are made of.

The Trendy Kid

Not to be confused with the hypebeast, the trendy kid knows what’s next before anyone else. Whether it be a retro soccer shoe that’s been laying in plain sight for years or a forgotten shoe from a brand’s archives, the trendy kid was already up on it.

adidas Samba “White/Black”

The adidas Samba was the most popular shoe of 2022. It’s still one of the most in-demand sneakers of 2023, too, if the fact that we can barely keep it stocked in our inventory is any indication of its hype.

Nike Dunk Low “Panda”

The “Panda” trend has died down a little, but not to the point that a shoe as great as the Nike Dunk Low “Panda” or “Black/White” would be considered “uncool.” That’ll never happen, so stock up on the style now if you’re looking for a versatile shoe that you can wear every day from now until you burn a hole in the outsole.

ASICS Gel-1130 “Cream/Ironclad”

ASICS retro running sneakers with a Y2K-style are hotter than ever right now. One of the latest models that the brand has brought back that fits that description is the Gel-1130, which we have here in a versatile cream, silver, and “Ironclad” blue colorway. Silvery, chunky retro runners will be everywhere this fall, so get in on the trend now.