The Best Men’s Sneaker Releases Of 2025 (So Far)

It’s official. We’re over halfway through 2025, and it’s been a weird one so far. We’ve had tech billionaires infiltrating the highest ranks of the American political system, AI doing its best to suck the soul out of the creative industries and Kanye West selling Swastika T-shirts. And that’s just for starters.

In the sneaker world, things have been no less chaotic, albeit in a much less concerning way. The rulebook brands and designers have been following for the last decade or so has been effectively ripped up, and oversized silhouettes have given way to slimmer, low-profile designs. We’ve also seen the reemergence of some old-school classics and had our fair share of interesting brand hookups.

To mark 2025’s midway point, we’re running down the best sneaker models of the year so far, from classic Air Max models to new high-fashion classics and everything in between.

New Balance 1906R

Once the underdog of the NB archive, the 1906R has gone full main character in 2025. What started as a quiet tech-runner revival has exploded into one of the brand’s most in-demand silhouettes, fuelled by low-key collabs and fashion-forward colourways that sell out faster than you can say “mesh panel”.

The DTLR x New Balance 1906R ‘Moon Sign’ is the standout collab so far: an astrology-inspired banger with textured overlays and a palette that could pass for a Haider Ackermann runway shoe. But it’s not the only flex. This year’s in-line releases — like ‘Parchment’, ‘Pretty in Pink’, and ‘Metallic Green’ — have turned a dad’s gym shoe into something that wouldn’t look out of place at Paris Fashion Week.

It’s the ideal foil to louder models like the Action Bronson 990v6. Clean. Composed. And just hyped enough to get knowing nods from the plugged-in.

Shop now at New Balance

Nike Air Max 95 OG Neon

Over the last 30 years, the Air Max 95 has established itself as one of the all-time greats in sneaker design. To mark three decades since its initial release, Nike has gone back in time, bringing the very first colourway of this legendary shoe back to life.

With pops of fluorescent green in the air bubbles, lace loops and branding, the OG ‘Neon’ version hit shelves once again this spring, bringing a true classic back to life.

Shop now at Farfetch

Maison Margiela Sprinter

In sneaker terms, Maison Margiela is probably best known for the Replica – a high-end twist on a standard-issue German army trainer that has remained a bestseller for the brand since its launch in the 1990s. But this year, there’s a new, slightly slimmer kid on the block.

The Sprinter takes its design cues from the track shoes of yesteryear, featuring a low-profile silhouette, rubber-studded outsole and simple suede overlays.

It’s a minimalist masterpiece, and has been perfectly timed to capitalise on the current trend for close-fitting, slim-soled shoes. A future classic, if ever there was one.

Shop now at Farfetch

New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9

The trail aesthetic isn’t slowing down, but it is getting smarter—and the Hierro v9 is New Balance’s most refined gorpcore offering to date. On paper, it’s a rugged trail runner with a Vibram Megagrip outsole and dual-density Fresh Foam X midsole. In practice, it’s a fully street-approved silhouette that doesn’t look remotely out of place with wide-leg cargos, a boxy tee and a tote bag full of heirloom tomatoes.

This year’s update improves the fit with a roomier toe box, upgraded lacing system, and a firmer base layer that gives the plush foam some structure. It also adds nearly 42mm of stacked cushioning at the heel, which might sound cartoonish but somehow just works.

Earthy colourways like ‘Black/Cement’ and ‘Tobacco/Brick’ make them wearable straight out the box, whether you’re hiking actual trails or just navigating potholes in Dalston.

Shop now at New Balance

Nike Total 90

Football sneakers are well and truly back, and Nike’s Total 90 is leading the charge. The last time you pulled a pair of these on you were probably lining up for a Saturday training session with a bunch of fellow 8-year-olds. However, these days you’re more likely to spot them being paraded around the trendiest spots in London, Paris and New York City.

It’s all part of the overarching shift towards slim silhouettes, but this time served with a hearty side of nostalgia. Not the easiest to style, but we’re willing to overlook that for a nice trip down memory lane.

Shop now at Nike

Jjjjound x Puma Mostro

Launched in July, this lace-up version of the iconic (and currently trending) Puma Mostro is the most recent release on this list, and one of the most interesting.

Canadian design studio Jjjjound is best known for its stripped-back refinements of classic silhouettes, and while it could be argued that the Mostro is a classic, it’s definitely on the weirder end of the spectrum in terms of the models Jjjjound usually works with.

That said, this version strips the Mostro back to its absolute fundamentals. The oversized branding is gone from the side, the characteristic zig-zag Velcro has been replaced by laces, and the whole thing is finished off in a rich brown suede.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, this is it. That being said, good luck finding a pair.

Shop now at END.

New Balance Allerdale

The Allerdale might look like it dropped 100 years ago, but it’s actually brand spanking new. The latest in NB’s Made in UK lineup, it’s a premium walking shoe that gives Mephisto a run for its money.

If you aren’t sold yet, perhaps Drake’s collab version and accompanying campaign featuring Charlie Cooper will change your mind.

Shop now at New Balance

Jjjjound x Asics Gel-Kayano 14

Another Jjjjound banger that we couldn’t leave out is the recently released Gel-Kayano 14. This is another model that has been getting a lot of attention recently thanks to renewed interest in 00s running shoes, and this clean update takes it to the next level.

Available in two colourways, it is, of course, now completely sold out. But if you must have a pair, they can still be found on sites like StockX for a hefty resale markup.

Shop now at StockX

Action Bronson x New Balance ‘Amazõnia’

Rapper, chef and all-around renaissance man Action Bronson has been dropping killer New Balance collabs for a couple of years now, and the latest might be the best yet.

The ‘Amazõnia’ takes the tried-and-tested 990v6 silhouette and gives it the full Baklava treatment, complete with hits of purple, neon pink and red rope laces.

Shop now at Farfetch

Satisfy The Rocker

Parisian brand Satisfy has shaken up the running-apparel scene, leaving the big names scrambling to replicate its success. The aesthetic is artfully distressed and perhaps slightly bedraggled, but this is counterbalanced by the use of cutting-edge technical fabrics and constant innovation – it’s not all artificially moth-bitten cotton tees.

Historically, Satisfy has been a clothing brand. Yes, there have been footwear collaborations with the likes of Hoka, Norda and PAF, but the French label has never had its own shoe… until now.

The Rocker is a do-it-all running shoe for those who enjoy long runs and varied terrain. It’s designed to transition seamlessly from trail to tarmac when required, and it looks pretty good while doing so. Definitely ‘jeanable’, as they say in running circles.

Sign up for pre-launch at Satisfy

Nigel Sylvester x Jordan 4 ‘Brick by Brick’

The Jordan brand has been on a roll this year, but this link-up with BMX star Nigel Sylvester is, in our opinion, the best of the bunch.

Reworked in a rich deep red with textured overlays, these premium Jordan 4s have had sneakerheads salivating since word of their release first began circulating.

Shop now at Farfetch

Corteiz x Nike Air Max 95

The London label that revolutionised streetwear returned this year with another highly anticipated release. Corteiz has made waves for its underground launches and unconventional business model, and the Air Max 95 feels like the perfect match.

This version is built on the same bones as the OG, but reworked in stealthy black with gold accents and Corteiz logos.

Shop now at Farfetch