The 10 Best "Sleeper" Sneakers of 2022
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By Stadium Goods |The 10 Best "Sleeper" Sneakers of 2022
Quit sleeping on these underrated sneakers that should be in your collection.
Matt DeSciora
It was another standout year for sneakers in 2022. From January until now, the game’s top players came through with one impressive collaboration and colorway after another, which all amounted to one of the best years in sneaker culture in recent memory.
But with so many coveted releases to keep track of came the odd sneaker or two—or three or four—that went undetected by the masses. For every Air Jordan 11 “Cherry,” a shoe with immeasurable hype that everyone wanted to get their hands on, there was a shoe just as classic, like Supreme’s re-issued Nike SB Blazer collaboration, that went slept-on by sneaker collectors. That is, until now.
Because even the most dedicated sneaker collector can miss a release or three from time to time, we decided to give everyone a second chance at what we feel are the most slept-on shoes of 2022. If you missed any of these releases the first time around, consider this your second chance.
In no particular order, these are the best “sleeper” sneakers of 2022 that deserve another look.
Based on an unreleased colorway made exclusively for Jacksonville, Florida rock band Shinedown, the Air Jordan 1 High OG “Taxi” was a sweet colorway that didn’t receive as much attention as it should have when it was released back in August. Its clean, white and black color block with eye-catching yellow panels is a timeless look for the classic sneaker. Grab these now before the prices go way up like any great Jordan 1 colorway.
The Air Jordan 3 “Muslin” was overlooked when it was released this year, and we’re not quite sure why. In a way, the “Muslin” is basically a canvas version of the Jordan 3 “White Cement.” It shares a similar color block to the iconic colorway and, with its aged accenting throughout, taps into the vintage shoe trend that doesn’t look to be slowing down heading into 2023.
Nike Terminator High “Georgetown”
A piece of basketball history returned when Nike brought back the Terminator High “Georgetown” in November. Originally released in 1985, the Terminator was worn by the Georgetown Hoyas college basketball team back in the day, and while not quite as historic as the other shoe it shares a release year with, the Air Jordan 1, it's nonetheless a rare shoe that deserves attention.
Even in retirement, Shaquille O’Neal remains a pop culture icon. These days, you can catch “The Diesel” in commercials, on the set of TNT “Inside the NBA,” and in the DJ booth, too. But surprisingly, for all of Shaq’s accomplishments, he doesn’t get the recognition he rightfully deserves as a sneaker icon, which might explain why his classic, ‘90s-inflected signature shoe, the Reebok Shaq Attaq, was slept on by everyone and their mother when it was re-released in September.
The Air Jordan 2’s 35th anniversary gave collectors a chance to revere the retro basketball shoe all over again in 2022. It also gave up-and-coming creatives, like South African sneaker boutique Shelflife, a chance to break into the mainstream with a special collaboration on the shoe inspired by the Jordan 2’s premium, Made in Italy origins.
Next to its Nike SB Dunk collaboration from 2002, Supreme’s Nike SB Blazer collection from 2006 remains the brand’s crowning achievement in sneakers. So it was a bit head scratching to see that more people didn’t jump at the opportunity to own updated versions of the iconic SB Blazer collaboration when it was released earlier this year. Like its predecessor, the new Supreme SB Blazer features a luxury design with quilted leather, “Gucci inspired” branding and details, and more. Maybe this will be the wake up call some need to cop this classic shoe.
Women’s Air Jordan 1 High OG “Newstalgia”
Looking for a new shoe for 2023? An Air Jordan 1 in the white-and-red colors of the Chicago Bulls will always be a sure bet. The Women’s Jordan 1 High OG “Newstalgia” is one of the more underrated releases of 2022. Why? Inspired by vintage varsity letterman jackets, specifically the chenille patches that are often found on their design, the “Newstalgia” is a great shoe for those looking for a Jordan 1 that’s cut from, quite literally, a different cloth.
Another year, another great colorway from Nike’s former “Concept Japan” collection. In 2022, it was the Nike Dunk Low “Argon’s” turn to be released in much larger quantities—in full family sizing no less—than when it debuted exclusively in Japan in the early 2000s. The “Argon’s” blue-based design is still as eye-catching today as it was back in the day. Don’t sleep on this message board-era gem.
Nike Air Trainer 1 “Midnight Navy”
The Nike Air Trainer 1 turned 35 years old in 2022. To celebrate, not only did Nike collaborate with Travis Scott on two colorways called the “Grey Haze” and “Coriander,” but it also brought back one of its original colorways in the “Midnight Navy.” The release didn’t gain as much attention as Travis’s two collaborations or the more popular OG “Chlorophyll” colorway, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook it completely.
JJJJound x Asics GEL-Kayano 14
You may have heard about JJJJound’s collaborations with New Balance, and in 2022, BAPE. But what about Asics? Earlier this year, Justin Saunders’ Montreal based design studio worked in tandem with the Japanese footwear brand on two decidedly minimalist GEL-Kayano 14 colorways with a retro-meets-modern edge. The releases were undoubtedly buzzy, but compared to its other releases, JJJJound’s two Asics sneakers flew under the radar.