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The Y2K Style Guide To Sneakers

The Y2K Style Guide To Sneakers

Top Asics, New Balance, and Nike styles with the trending Y2K look.

Matt DeSciora

Vintage-looking sneakers are trending at an all time high right now.

While many retro shoes that were once popular ten, fifteen, and even twenty years ago have come back in style in recent years, there has been a noticeable amount of hype for shoes with a Y2K-era appearance in recent months. You know the ones we’re talking about: those ASICS you see with the tricked-out, tech-inspired overlays; the New Balances with airy mesh and thick midsoles; the Nikes with liquid-metal-looking accents. Basically any running shoes that look like they were on the shelves 10-20 years ago.

It seems like no matter where you look these days, everyone is wearing a pair of sneakers that looks as if it teleported from an era in time when Limp Bizkit was dominating the airwaves and the WWF was searching for the person who ran over Stone Cold Steve Austin at Survivor Series ‘99.

We can’t really explain why shoes with Y2K style have become so popular, other than they’re super comfortable and super interesting looking. But what we can explain are the different models you should be keeping in mind when shopping for Y2K sneakers in the days, weeks, and months to come.

Because without a doubt, Y2K-style sneakers are about to be the trendiest shoes of the summer.

Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 1906R “Jade”

New Balance 1906R

When thinking about brands with an assortment of Y2K-style shoes, New Balance is one of the first brands that comes to mind. The Boston footwear company has several different models with a distinctly early-2000s look, beginning with the New Balance 1906R. Now, the 1906R didn’t actually debut in the early-aughts, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at it: the model has all the requisite details of a good Y2K shoe, including an airy mesh base, plenty of overlays, and a teched-out sole.

Shop New Balance 1906R

New Balance 2002R “Sport Royal”

New Balance 2002R

We said that New Balance has several Y2K-style shoes, and the next one we’re happy to feature is the 2002R. Again, the 2002R wasn’t actually from the early 2000s, as it made its debut in 2010, but it clearly doesn’t matter. The 2002R has all the same great throwback vibes as other Y2K footwear out there.

Shop New Balance 2002R

Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 860v2 “Red”

New Balance 860v2

The New Balance 860v2 is yet another Y2K-era-looking shoe by New Balance. We specifically called out the model’s collaborations with Aimé Leon Dore, but you can catch the 860 in a variety of non-collaboration colorways that are just as great. It’s important to note that, like the other New Balances on this list, the 860 didn’t actually first release in the early 2000s but rather around 2011. Hey, if you’re going to be wearing this stuff, you might as well know what’s on your feet, right?

Shop New Balance 860

Nike Vomero 5 “Varsity Maize”

Nike Vomero 5

Earlier in the year we talked about the Nike Vomero 5’s unexpected comeback, and we’re happy to report that, several months later, the shoe is still as popular as ever. The Vomero 5 debuted as a performance running sneaker in… you guessed it, the early 2010s, but its design is Y2K-adjacent all the way. You can read more about the Vomero 5 here.

Shop Nike Vomero 5

Kith x Asics Gel-Kayano 14

ASICS Gel-Kayano 14

Just like New Balance, ASICS is another brand with several Y2K sneakers in its collection. Arguably the most popular model is the Gel-Kayano 14, which has been used in multiple collaborations in recent months and years. Other Y2K silhouettes to check out are the Gel-Preleus by Awake NY and the Gel-MC Plus by Bodega.

Shop ASICS Gel-Kayano 14