5. Nike Kobe 1 “Fade to Black”
One year from now, will this very list be littered with retro Kobes? As of now, we don’t quite know what Nike’s retirement plans are for the Black Mamba, but it’s a safe bet that his storied signature series will continue to thrive in modern and heritage styling.
The “Fade to Black” Pack proved to be a bit of both, honoring Kobe’s last playing days in muted makeups of the models he made famous while playing. Leaning more towards lifestyle in hue and availability, it will be interesting to see if future Kobe retros play off moments of yesteryear or adapt to changing trends in off the court fashion.
4. Air Jordan 12 “Flu Game”
Anybody that questioned whether or not Jordan Brand took a loss on the “72-10” Air Jordan 11s got a friendly reminder of just how long they’ve been winning when the “Flu Game” Air Jordan 12s came back and sold through like it Christmas was in the spring.
As popular as ever, or perhaps more, the “Flu Game” 12 release made a strong case for just how good a remastered retro can be. Back in leather and sans emoji, this memorable makeup packs the staying power and prestige that JB was built on.
3. adidas Yeezy Boost 750 “Glow in the Dark”
Without a doubt, the adidas Yeezy Boost 750 “Glow in the Dark” is the sneaker event of the year thus far. The first (and only) new Yeezy colorway drop of ’16 more than made up for the wait as it offered a drastic improvement to the already awesome and pivotal “Grey” 750 launch of 2015.
Upgrading aesthetic detailing like the translucent, glow-in-the-dark gum sole while improving quality on the zipper, these 750s are the pinnacle of modern sneaker culture and collecting.
2. Nike Air More Uptempo
Some things are hard to explain. When the Nike Air More Uptempo first launched in 1996 it was an undeniable hit thanks to its bold branding and brazen use of the most popular tech on the market. When it returned in 2006, a leather build was not bad but not OG, while its return to nubuck in 2010 was well received but somewhat lost in sauce of Jordan Brand’s “Cool Grey” Christmas.
In 2016, it’s hard to say what made the Air More Uptempo such a hit on its 20th birthday but boy was it ever. Arguably the first chase-worthy Nike Basketball retro on a mass scale, these are walking nostalgia and a good memory for any and every child of the ’90s.
1. adidas NMD
In 2016, sneaker culture is most certainly mass culture and no shoe has more mass appeal than the adidas NMD. Running off the trail paved by the Ultra Boost and Yeezy franchise, this retro rooted but more than modern model has moved in bunches thanks to its accessible use of Boost cushioning, relatively low price point and wide distribution.
This inline model may have shocked store employees by causing lineups during its early rollout, but its staying power throughout the year says a lot more about a market that’s moving towards cheaper, consistent cool versus top dollar drops.
