STAFF PICKS: 2026's Sneaker of the Year So Far

We’re officially past the halfway point of 2026, and what a year it has been. The primary focus of Sole Retriever is sneakers, so we’ll refrain from talking about all the pop culture events, sports moments, and online viral trends and instead speak on the footwear world. With that in mind, is it too early to call the Sneaker of the Year race?

That’s a topic that is always up for debate. Some feel that you’ll need to see an entire 12-month body of releases to judge THE pair of the year. Others will tell you that if a release is THAT noteworthy, even if it's in the early part of the calendar, you can call the race. Realistically, waiting until the end of the year is best, but we can crown a first-half winner, right?

The Sole Retriever team came together and compiled their picks for Sneaker of the Year (so far) as well as their most-worn sneakers in the first half of 2026. Follow along below to see what Nick, Zach, Drew, Juan, Brandon, and Devin selected. If you want to stay informed on the latest drops, restocks, and news in the sneaker world, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.

Nick Vlahos, Managing Editor:

Sneaker of the Year - NIGO x Nike Air Force 1 Low ‘01 Last Orgy 2

NIGO’s history with the Air Force 1 is a bit complicated. His first foray into footwear with BAPE was a clear ripoff of Nike’s most iconic sneaker, and years later, after he left the brand, The Swoosh took legal action against A Bathing Ape for the BAPE STA’s clear resemblance to Bruce Kilgore’s design.

But in a move no one saw coming, NIGO left his adidas deal for a check with the check and began working on the Air Force… 3. Strange choice, but over a year of AF3 collabs under his belt, NIGO finally got his own Nike Air Force 1 Low. The pair is extra special not only for being an homage to the Last Orgy 2 column he wrote with Jun Takahasi in the ‘90s, but also for being the first-ever AF1 to release in the “new” ‘01 mold. If you want to learn more about the Air Force 1 Low ‘01, check out our comparison between the ‘07 and ‘01 AF1s here.

While yes, a two-tone AF1 may not seem worthy of being crowned Sneaker of the Year (so far), the historical significance here more than makes up for the plain color scheme.

Most Worn Sneaker - 3sixteen x Saucony ProGride Guide 7 Graphite

I was fortunate enough to speak with 3sixteen founder Andrew Chen earlier this year, ahead of the launch of the brand’s latest Saucony collab. The conversation really opened my eyes to the design process and the inspiration from 3sixteen, helping me grow an appreciation for the mesh runner collab. I mean, at this point, every brand under the sun has pumped out dozens of mesh runners with outside partners, so it can be hard to stand out.

And no… the 3sixteen Saucony ProGrid Guide 7 in Graphite doesn’t stand out. But that’s what it’s trying to accomplish. The same can’t be said for the Apple iMac G3-inspired Lime colorway, but the PC home desktop-inspired counterpart is subtle and versatile. While I don’t have shoes by the door ready to go on a moment's notice, I will almost always end up going to my sneaker wall and picking up 3sixteen’s Guide 7 for quick errands, catching a World Cup match, and especially traveling.

Drew London, Editorial Director:

Sneaker of the Year: Joe Freshgoods New Balance 1890 Finger Waves

I’m a sucker for good storytelling so it would be rare that a Sneaker of the Year conversation didn’t have an entry from the Rollout Goat, JFG. The Chicago streetwear legend and longtime New Balance ambassador isn’t just slapping colorways together, ever. Every release is thoughtfully referenced and exceptionally executed, and his body of work looks iconic when zoomed out and judged en masse.

But zooming back in, the orange colorway of his two-pack of 1890s is special. A true head-turner that feels as great as it looks. I love that it made a lot of people notice and ultimately appreciate the 1890 who hadn’t previously. By splashing the underlying mesh with a vibrant graphic rather than a solid color, he completely reinvented the silhouette and made it stand out from the pack. I love how light they are, and that because they aren’t precious suede like my MiUSAs or MiUKs, I can wear them more without fear of ruining them. And I love wearing them, just not quite as often as my…

Most Worn Sneaker: Nike SB Air Force 1 Light Orewood Brown

After the puzzling Nike SB Air Max 95s, I was nervous about the skate division’s reimagining of the classic AF1. But they nailed it. The retooled Forces are vastly more comfortable and wearable than their old, clunky counterparts. Plus, this launch colorway was a winner, easy to wear with basketball shorts running around town or dressed up with some denim. Bonus points if you commit fully and swap in the pink laces, which take the shoe to another level.

Oh damn, just saw ZH picked these, too. And tie goes to the skater. Alright, let me think about what I’ve worn the second most this year so far…

Jordan Trunner O/S Phantom

This shoe isn’t from 2026, as it came out last fall, but I bought it in 2026 on sale for like 60-something bucks, and I haven’t regretted it for a second. When Jordan Brand rolled these out last year by calling them the most comfortable Jordan ever, I was skeptical. But there were no lies told. The Trunner O/S is a fantastic mesh runner that makes you feel supported and cushioned like no other Jordan I’ve ever experienced. I have them loose-laced by the door to the garage as they’ve beat a lot of other contenders to become some of my most frequent daily drivers. They’re not the most hyped shoes on this list or the hardest to get but they’re probably the best value. You can get great colorways of this shoe for under $100 and if you wear them like I wear them, you’ll be happy you did. I’ve never felt like more of an athlete as I knock off my grocery list in record time.

Zach Harris, Staff Writer:

Sneaker of the Year - Nike SB Air Force 1 Light Orewood Brown

The Air Force 1 revival is working. After years of dedication to the Dunk and Air Jordan 1 High, Nike put the Air Force 1 back in the crosshairs at the end of last year, and they haven’t missed much since. I picked the LAAMS Air Force 1 as my shoe of 2025 despite its last-minute entrance to the race, and six months later, I’m still hooked on Uptowns.

This time around, though, The Swoosh spoke to me personally, bringing the lifestyle icon into the SB line with a nod to the legendary Linen colorway on its debut release. The soft suede, the pink hit on the heel, the redesigned shape, and most importantly, the gum sole made the initial SB AF1 release worth the lengthy build-up.

Beyond the colorway, the SB Air Force 1 rollout put the shoe into a spotlight worthy of the momentous silhouette. Arriving at skate shops up and down the East Coast for early drops that coincided with demos from the Nike SB skate team, SB made a zine for the shoe and tapped filmer John Wilson to make Creased, an all-SB AF1 skate video. Nike SB has released a lot of shoes over the past couple of decades, but don’t call me crazy for calling this the biggest since the OG SB Dunk. Don’t you wish you saved some of those pairs?

Most Worn Sneaker - Kiko Kostadinov x Asics UB12-S Gel SD Lyte Rust Orange

To me, this pair is what good shoes are all about. As Asics continues to push further into prominence across the lifestyle, running, and skate sectors of the skate industry, the brand has dropped dozens of collabs that would be perfectly at home next to the front door. But while boutiques and upstart clothing brands take their turns at Kayanos, Cumulus, and Kinetics, it’s Kiko Kostadinov’s ongoing partnership that shines brightest.

Kiko’s creations lean heavily on the Asics archives, but add his unique architectural design influence and creative style. The UB12-S Gel-SD Lyte is one of Kiko’s strongest and most wearable retro takes, and the debut colorway in Rust Orange with Dolphin Grey accents has been my go-to for walks to the store and long trips with lots of expected walking. It goes with everything, checks all the comfort boxes, and adds a bit of color without being too loud.

While the rat race for exclusive pairs runs on, Kiko’s Asics can often be found for sale prices at boutiques, making them perfect as daily beaters. At the same time, though, they aren’t Pandas, Superstars, or even Kayanos that you might see every day on the subway. Clean silhouettes, comfort, standout style, and sale prices? I’ve already got my eye on the Lichen Rock/Black Coffee colorway next.

Juan Martinez, Writer:

Sneaker of the Year - Costco x Nike SB Dunk Low

The morning of the release of the Costco Dunks was like being thrown in a time machine and sent back to the late 2000s and early 2010s of sneaker culture. The Sole Retriever group chat was buzzing with tips on what locations would have the Dunks, allotment numbers, and even release procedures. As word spread, social media would be flooded with pictures and videos of sneakerheads lining up alongside normal folk.

They were probably wondering if these darn kids were waiting for another Pokémon drop. Nope, we were here for Dunks, the $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, and maybe the $4.99 rotisserie chicken for dinner later. The shoes themselves? Just ok. But the feeling, the rush, and the chase to get them? Priceless

Most Worn Sneaker - Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 Coconut Milk

Turns out Jay-Z and I have similar taste. Unfortunately he’s the one with generational wealth, an iconic discography that few artists can match, a claim to having the hottest chick in the game wearing his chain for over two decades now, and getting away with having an umlaut in his name without too many people asking questions. But at least we both wore Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 in the Coconut Milk colorway to plenty of fanfare. Ok, I didn’t get the fanfare, but it’s good to know that at least one of us did.

Devin Robertson, Writer:

Sneaker of the Year - fragment design x Union LA x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Chicago Royal

Forgive me for making a normie choice, but this is like picking Dragon Ball or One Piece as your favorite anime. Sometimes the classics are classic because they’re universally tough. You know how in DBZ when they do the fusion dance and their power level skyrockets? That’s exactly what this pair is for me. It’s got the hallmarks of both fragment and Union on arguably the most iconic sneaker of all-time. Since it has the black overlays on the toe, eyestay, ankle collar, and Swoosh, it hits the NBA’s 51% rule so you can really wear it with whatever outfit you want.

Most Worn Sneaker - Supreme Nike SB Air Max CB 94 Low White

These days I tend to look for simplicity when it comes to footwear. I used to love to match my kicks to my outfit but now I just want a versatile pair that works interchangeably and that often means a simple white shoe. Whenever I find myself going outside, I’ve been gravitating towards the white Supreme Nike SB Air Max CB 94 Low. It’s a low-cut so it isn’t nearly as heavy as Sir Charles’ signature shoe typically is and it’s a departure from my typical Jordan 1 and Air Force 1-heavy rotation. Plus can you ever go wrong with a white and gum rubber combo? I was also debating the Shai 001 Clean Slate, which is also a clean white shoe. The lack of ventilation on the shrouded shoe puts it in second especially as the sweltering summer months continue.

Brandon Richard, Social Media Manager:

Sneaker of the Year - Nike Air Trainer SC Atlanta Olympics 30th Anniversary

As a mega fan of the 1996 Olympics, the 30th Anniversary "Atlanta" Bo Jacksons were a must-have. They're the first sneakers I've gone out of my way to track down in years. While I wouldn't have minded a fresh pair of the original colorway, I'm a fan of how Nike flipped the shoe in another of the Games' prominent colors, retelling that story with a fresh perspective.

A fitting tribute to what I still consider the greatest sporting event of all-time.

Most Worn Sneaker - Jordan Hydro 6 Slides Infrared

Since I went with the Vick 3s last time (and they're still getting a lot of burn), I'll go with my other most-worn pair: the "Infrared" Air Jordan 6 Hydro Slides.

Fully embracing the ‘unc’ chapter of my life, I'm throwing slides on for just about every occasion these days. I've been loyal to the Hydro line since it first became a thing. I know most people have moved on to foam slides, and I get why, but I've always preferred the firmer feel of the Hydros.

I also own the actual "Infrared" 6s—one of my favorite sneakers ever—but those aren't getting anywhere near the everyday wear the slides are.

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