Sneakers are something you don’t hear a ton about ’round these parts, but we love a good pair of sneakers, as you’ll soon find out. In this edition of Staff Select, we’re laying out our best choices in terms of daily footwear, sneakers specifically. All the options you’ll find on this list are up to par in terms of quality and functionality, much like everything you can find on Heddels, pairing well with the likes of denim and other hard-wearing garbs.
Hopefully you’ll find some inspiration from what we like (Hint: A lot of us like New Balance) in order to inform your future footwear options. We’d love to hear what you think about our favorite sneaks, and what you think are the best, most comfortable, and most supportive options out there over on our community Discord.
Why trust us? Well, we’ve all been in the game long enough to have field-tested a range of quality clothing, and the Heddels operation puts us onto some of the best clothing in the world week in, week out. Whilst our opinions and experiences shouldn’t be taken as definitive, this series will provide you insight into what has worked for us and why.
James – Nike Zoom Vomero
I love leading a plant-based lifestyle but hate trying to find nice vegan-friendly sneakers. The Nike Vomero isn’t marketed as a vegan sneaker but it’s a great silhouette that’s completely free of animal leather, which is good enough for me.
Pictured is my pair of Nike Vomero’s in Vast Grey from about 5-6 years ago. As you can see, they’re totally cooked. Thankfully, Nike has just re-released these bad boys, and I’m going to grab a pair to put on ice until these are completely unusable.
These things have a great level of cushion, a neutral colorway that goes with raw denim, fatigues, chinos, shorts – the lot. they have a measured level of ‘dad sneaker’ energy, but also look the part with gym gear. In my view, they’re a perfect modern Nike sneaker that doesn’t look too techy, but has the features and technology to make them a long-lasting and comfortable pair of sneakers.
Available from End for $169.
Nick – Novesta Star Masters
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Like a lot of other things in my wardrobe, when it comes to sneakers I’ve tended to take something of an understated, anti-hypebeast approach. I don’t obsess with keeping them sparkly clean, rather I want them to score higher on cost per wear and not sit idle collecting dust.
This thinking has usually led me to plimsoll sneakers with a deck-style silhouette. I’ve found they’re incredibly versatile, and look and feel just as great beat up as when they’re fresh out of the box.
I’ve rotated through a few makes and models over the years, and the pair that I’m most fond of is my Novesta Star Masters. Easy to break in and care for, I’ve worn them all around town and throughout my travels. As seen in the photo though, they’ve endured a lot of mileage and quite the beating over the last 8-9 years. I’ll admit that these days they’re my utility kicks and have been mostly relegated to house/yard work (don’t miss those paint & grass stains!).
Available for $65 at End Clothing.
Daniel – New Balance 990v3
I’ve been wearing New Balance 990s for years. I keep going back to these ultra comfortable, ultra supportive sneakers not because they look nice (which they do), but because they’re so damn comfortable. It’s kind of a problem. They might not be the cheapest sneakers on the market, but they’re well worth the money, and they’re ethically made in the USA.
I’ve had the 990v3 and 990v4, and both have been comparable in terms of comfort level, with no real major noticeable difference felt. Sure, there’s some aesthetic differences between the various models, but they all look good to me. I typically like to wear my jeans a bit on the longer side, with a break, so they kind of get covered up and blend into my fits without standing out too much – just the way I like it.
It might be a cliche answer at this point for a denim head to point out New Balance 990s as their favorite sneakers, but they’re popular for a reason, they’re one of the most supportive shoes out there. For someone with high arches like myself, they’re a godsend in terms of all day comfort, and each pair has lasted me up to a year each before they’re worn out enough to replace.
Available for $192 at Lost & Found.
Ben – Sperry Topsider Deck Shoes
My favorite sneakers are a pair of 1970s Sperry Topsider canvas deck shoes that I’ve owned for 3 years now. To me they are the perfect shape to pair with my wardrobe, from tapered, more close fitting jeans to wider fitting khakis and work pants. They come in this great shade of blue that has admittedly become a lot more faded and worn in since these initial pics were taken but that’s nothing but a selling point around here. Made in the USA and featuring minimal branding, I am always on the hunt for a replacement pair but as you can imagine, they are difficult to come by especially in a 10, 10W, or 10.5. If you’re holding, hit. me. up!
Repros available for $80 at Sperry.
Nav – Nike & Tom Sachs General Purpose Shoe
I don’t think there has ever been a more fitting name for a sneaker than this one. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a pair when they first launched through the Nikecraft platform in June of 2022 and it’s hard for me to recall a week since then that I didn’t rock these at least twice.
There’s not much to dislike. The shape and profile lend themselves effortlessly to any trouser/jean and that white/gum combo exudes versatility. That paired with the simplicity of the design durability, and comfort are for sure what this shoe is designed to stand for and for me it does an incredible job. I’ve worn it for every non-formal occasion and I also love the fact that just like your favorite pair of jeans, the more you rock them the more unique to you they become with every single sign of wear showing through. Can’t see myself moving away from these anytime soon, so much so that I had to grab another pair!
Available for $110 at Mr Porter.
Brad – New Balance 1400
New Balance hits that sweet spot where comfort, durability, and style meet with a consistency that I haven’t found in any other sneaker brand. I’ve had at least one pair in my rotation since high school and I lost track of how many pairs I’ve owned in total. Off the top of my head, I’ve gone through 998, 520, 420, 327, 990, and few 574s. That isn’t even counting New Balance running shoes.
My all time favorite New Balance model is also the number at the top of my sneaker rotation right now, the 1400. A limited edition J.Crew collaboration called “Midnight Blue,” to be specific. J.Crew started selling the 1400 in 2010 and they’ve been a favorite among their many New Balance collaborations ever since (second only to the 990 in variations they’ve sold). New Balance debuted the 1400 in 1994 and J.Crew revived them to their original specifications.
My particular 1400s feature the signature New Balance heel cap which provides enhanced stability and arch support. They’re Made in the USA from hearty suede and unlike other 1400 variations, these have a mesh panel over the toe box for enhanced breathability. They came with navy laces so I changed them to break up the monotone silhouette a bit (the laces were $5 on Amazon). Unfortunately, New Balance shelved the 1400s again a couple of years ago. Thanks to their popularity though, there are plenty available on the second hand market.
Not currently available.
Charlie – Feit Lugged Runner
I’ll be honest — I don’t wear sneakers very often, you wanna Feit about it?! That said, my various forays into techwear has resulted in me picking up a few pairs of sneakers, and these Feits are definitely leaders of the pack. As someone who primarily wears boots, hightop sneakers are definitely my preference for both comfort and looks — and the fact that this pair features a latex sole cemented it as the right pair for me.
So what are they like as daily drivers? I’m glad you asked. They’re incredibly flexible, both stylistically and in terms of construction, and the squishy sole makes for a very comfortable walking experience — at least over short distances. And such is the issue I have with sneakers as a whole — while they’re incredibly comfy for a short distance, if I’m walking a longer distance or for a full day I much prefer the added rigidity of boots. This is obviously pure opinion, and while I’ve never regretted getting this pair as my primary sneakers I do find myself wondering if the addition of a shank or thick midsole would elevate them to an entirely other level.
All that said, and having owned everything from Common Projects to Feits to Hender Schemes, I am still incredibly happy with these sneakers. My only complaint is that Feit released their Lugged Runner almost immediately after I bought this pair, and that design seems to have addressed the rigidity issues I have with most sneakers. But c’est la vie — owning one pair of shoes has never stopped me from buying another, so it’s only a matter of time.
Available for $175 at Feit Direct.
David – New Balance 990v5
Lazy article writers (myself included) often ask “if you could only have one X, what would it be?” For me and shoes, this was not a hypothetical.
From July to December of last year, I traveled to over 15 countries with only a dream and pair of grey New Balance 990v5s. They were with me on the cobblestones of Grenada, as I spilled kebab on them in Ankara, peeling leeches from their mesh panels in Nepal, and on the red dirt of the Australian outback. And I still pop them on for a run down to the corner store back home.
They are simply the best shoes I’ve ever worn for walking long distances. For 75% of those countries I only took public transit or walked so I put around 5-15 miles a day on them and my feet were good enough to do it again the next. They also look decent in a “grey man” kind of way. Grey 990v5s don’t call attention to themselves so they fit in on a trail in the Alps, a museum gallery, or a nice-ish restaurant with the black jeans I also brought with me.
I replaced them halfway through. Running shoes like these lose their supportive oomph at about 500 miles, but for most people that won’t be every 2-3 months. I’m happy to have a bit more variety available again, but their practicality and versatility mean 990s are going to have a place in my closet for a long long time.
Available for $188 at Lost & Found.
