Navigating normcore to realms unimaginable, the “Dad Shoe” has become the most trending category in literally every price point lane of sneakers. What started years ago as a joke amongst sneaker folks seeing the Nike Air Monarch topping the sales lists has quickly become a fashion statement.
How did we get here? Was the dad hat the start of it all? Or was it the fact that joggers introduced the idea of making comfortable looser fitting apparel a thing? Who knows, but dad shoes are a thing.
Ranging from the runway to big-box retailers, father footwear was born by the do-it-all dad that could care less about style and then co-opted by Tumblr kids looking to mesh irony with nostalgia. Throw in a tidal wave of streamlined sneakers creating the whiplash effect of chunky models filling a huge void and you now have a major movement.
So, what dad shoe is you? Check out our survey of the market below.
Balenciaga Triple S
Shoe: Balenciaga Triple S
Dad Profile: Skips Tuesday night book club to for $2 “you call its” at the night club
Price: $850
Buy Now: Neiman Marcus
The most popular designer dad shoe is ironically the most expensive when priced at retail (and of course much more in the resale run). Cracking many a best of list last year, the Balenciaga Triple S has an aged aesthetic while still being very much of the times.
Zara Triple Z
Shoe: Zara “Triple Z”
Dad Profile: Doesn’t have man cave, does have a man bun.
Price: $89
Buy Now: Zara
Runway in inspiration but value city in price point, the Zara Chunky Sole Sneaker that has been dubbed by us as the Triple Z. In reality more referential to Lanvin models than the Balenciaga favorite, save money by going off-brand with footwear rather than your cereal.
adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Waverunner
Shoe: adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Waverunner
Dad Profile: Partakes in neighborhood carpool, but plays loud music with profanity.
Price: $300 (retail)
Buy Now: Flight Club
Father to three, Kanye West has become the figurehead of dad style without turning G.O.O.D. into T.G.I.F. Rocking sweats and Carhartt jackets en route to Paris as opposed to Home Depot, his adidas Yeezy Boost 700 has become the sportswear ceiling for adapted dad steeze.
Zara Zaverunner
Shoe: Zara “Zaverunner”
Dad Profile: Passed on Yeezys to give his kids the Good Life
Price: $89
Buy Now: Zara
Very, very similar to that of Kanye’s kicks, the latest dad shoe from Zara is pretty spot-on in its attempt to pull from the designer pack. A muted color palette, this is for the young dad that sacrificed his sneaker habit to keep his kids fresh. *Studio audience: Awwwwwwww*
Nike Air Monarch IV
Shoe:Nike Air Monarch IV
Dad Profile: Gets ejected from youth softball games for arguing with umps
Price: $55
Buy Now: Dick’s Sporting Goods
Perhaps the most profitable dad shoe on the market, the Nike Air Monarch series was moving units far before Pete Carroll caught a pair of PEs. Sporting encapsulated Air (in full-length fashion, no less), this is the best balance of authenticity and value there is.
Nike Grandstand II
Shoe: Nike Grandstand II
Dad Profile: Pays for racket club membership, still uses flip phone
Price: $85
Buy Now: END
Catering more to casual tennis players than the mall walkers or runway rebels, the Nike Grandstand II is back for the first time like Ludacris. Parental guidance far from advised, these are as clean cut as a Will Smith record.
Puma Thunder Spectra
Shoe: Puma Thunder Spectra
Dad Profile: Chases girls way out of his league, drives a sports car
Price: $120
Buy Now: Overkill (coming soon)
The PUMA Thunder Spectra has made noise before striking at retail. Proving this movement is not the calm before the storm but the storm itself, the McQueen referencing racer is far chunkier than its predecessor but still a dad shoe more daring than most.
Zara “Hydrate Yourself”
Shoe: Zara “Hydrate Yourself” (see laces)
Dad Profile: Convinced bottle water comes straight from the tap
Price: $69
Buy Now: Zara
Maybe or maybe not inherited from his father. We’ll never know for sure, but you can bet that he’s not looking for any opportunity to waste a dollar – they don’t grow on trees.
Fila Disruptor II
Shoe: Fila Disruptor II
Dad Profile: Tucks in shirt, has never listened to A$AP Rocky
Price: $70
Buy Now: Urban Outfitters
Perhaps too cute for some, the bulky styling and jagged sole of the Fila Disruptor II take more from ’90s style than other takes on this list. The “Triple White” look is a hot take for aspiring nurses, word to Gaylord Focker.
Skechers Energy Afterburn
Shoe: Skechers Energy Afterburn
Dad Profile: Hands out granola bars at Halloween
Price: $54
Buy Now: Famous Footwear
The product description on Famous Footwear reads “Hit the track with breakneck speed in the SKECHERS Energy – After Burn shoe. Smooth leather upper in a lace up sporty athletic training sneaker with stitching and overlay accents.” Welp, that about sums ’em up!
Vetements x Reebok Genetically Modified Pump
Shoe: Vetements x Reebok Genetically Modified Pump
Dad Profile: Can derelicte his own balls
Price: $990
Buy Now: Barneys
Made for the Hollywood pops who cares about not caring, the mid top Pump from Vetements and Reebok may look like it was used to mow a lawn but really only pushes a cart a Whole Foods.
ACNE Manhattan
Shoe: ACNE Studios Manhattan
Dad Profile: Makes fun of friends in Monarchs, later asks for them to pickup the bar tab
Price: $470
Buy Now: Lane Crawford
The ACNE Manhattan is definitely a dad shoe in styling, though it’s technically made with the ladies in mind. Playing to the mom jean crowd in sizing though very fatherly in its topical white leather and navy construction, these are the Skechers alternative for those that just can’t.
adidas Twinstrike
Shoe: adidas Twinstrike
Dad Profile: Wears Google glasses, more active on social media than his kids
Price: $180
Buy Now: Sneaker Politics
Totally tech’d out, the adidas Twinstrike is the sci-fi sneaker for the dad with more apps than dance moves (excluding the robot). These might not be Raf, but you best not touch their tablet.
Brandblack Aura 2
Shoe: Brandblack Aura 2
Dad Profile: Use to take shots of fireball, now takes shots of wheatgrass
Price: Likely around $200
Buy Now: Releases this spring
California based Brandblack may be making shoes for the world’s most outspoken dad — LaVar Ball — but they could be dressing ‘cool dads’ all over LA with their upcoming Aura II silo.
