The 2024 Sneaker Of The Year: Team Picks

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” While it may not be as much of a lock as those two, the proliferation of end-of-year “Best of” lists is still a pretty good bet.

In our corner of the cultural world, “Sneaker of the Year” can start to feel a little homogeneous. A groupthink settles in, and the same media outlets tend to rank the same sneakers in roughly the same position. 

For the Stadium Goods’ Sneaker of the Year list we wanted to take a more unique and personal approach. So we asked some of the folks on our team to share their picks and why they loved them so much. The results are not what you’ll see on every other list. And that’s why we love them.

Nike Air 180 “Ultramarine” 
“There was a lot of talk this year about whether certain shoes should retain their grail status by remaining in the vault. (I’m looking at you, Wu-Tang Dunk.) But I was thrilled to see this OG colorway of the Air 180 make a return. The white, blue, and pink colorway is just so clean. And I never tire of geeking out over the 180’s exposed Air unit in the outsole.”
–Justin, Copywriter

Action Bronson x New Balance 1906R “Rosewater” 
“New Balance has been on the up and up this past year. Something that sets them aside from the rest is their perfectly executed collabs with rappers and brands. In my opinion, the one tha put them on the map this year was the Action Bronson collab. The "Rosewater" was the second round of the collab, and the colorway screams fun. It also really steers away from the normal neutral colors that have been trending over 2024. In my opinion, this is what collabs should be about which is why it’s my pick for Sneaker of the Year.”
–Alissa, Photo

Asics Gel 1130 “Canyon” 
“Between comfortability, affordability and versatility, there is no better option than the Asics Gel 1130 “Canyon.” As this particular shoe has grown in appeal, Asics has grown in market share, impeding the growth of the behemoths like Nike, Jordan and adidas, which nobody saw coming. The Gel 1130 “Canyon” has been seen on feet in all types of settings—in schools, gyms, and workplaces, but nowhere more than in the streets. The people wanted something different, something new, and Asics gave it to them. For this shoe to have the kind of demand behind it without it being a collab or having a major influencer cosign is the reason it should be the Sneaker of the Year for 2024.”
–KD, Account Management

Auralee x New Balance 990v4 “Grey”
“I always hated the New Balance 990. In my eyes, it was the official shoe of grandpas and science teachers across the globe. Suddenly in 2017, the boutique I worked at received a fresh shipment of the 990v4 in the classic grey colorway. When I got an up close look at the details and materials, the shoe started to speak to me. I decided to try out a pair, and wore them until the traction was gone, and I was slipping all over the icy New York City streets. The level of comfort was something I had never experienced before. Ever since then, the v4 has had a special place in my heart. When I saw AURALEE’s squeaky clean take on the silhouette with a faded blue hit on the midsole and the craftsmanship that New Balance has been known for since its inception, I knew I was looking at my 2024 Sneaker of the Year.”
–Charlie, Social Media Manager