The Top 10 Retro Sneakers of the Year

Check out our picks for the best true-to-original-form retros of 2014.

Call it nostalgia, but there's something about a well executed retro sneaker. Whether it's a return of a familiar colorway, authentic materials, or even the re-introduction of a vintage technology - there's no denying that a well-done throwback can be as outstanding as some of the latest innovative sneakers of the year. Here is Sole Collector's ranking of the best one-for-one retro sneakers of the year.

Rank: 10

Shoe: adidas Consortium Superstar “Made in France”

Price: $220

Released: December

“Made in France.” Those are magic words to collectors of adidas vintage. The company’s history, one filled with familial intrigue, includes all sorts of fun manufacturing quirks. Oddball stuff was made in Spain and, as evidenced by the superb Spezial “Sole Searching” film, in Argentina. These realities give adidas footwear something many other sneaker brands don’t have: Tales of provenance. Fancy chatter aside, the “Made in France” Superstar is brilliant because it reproduces the pioneering shoe’s OG shape perfectly. Then, of course, there’s the tag – an immediate reminder of the maker, and a bit of a stunt for Consortium buyers intent on differentiating from those who’ll undoubtedly gravitate to shell toes during a major anniversary year. Given all the chatter about bringing back original quality, adidas manages to quietly serve a lesson in how to do it at A+ level.

 

Rank: 9

Shoe: Air Jordan 11 Retro “Legend Blue”

Price: $200

Released: December

After seeing every other original AJ11 return by 2012, the “Columbias” were the colorway everyone was waiting on. Now known as the “Legend Blues,” they were one of the most anticipated releases of 2014, and on pretty much everyone's Christmas list. All materials remained true to the OG, and the switch from a translucent outsole to more of a gum-like blue one didn't hurt this retro’s appeal. 

 

Rank: 8

Shoe: adidas Stan Smith

Price: $100

Released: December

We saw a lot of Stan Smiths release in 2014. Boutique collaborations with wild materials. High-end collaborations that looked almost like the originals. Prints, pony hairhigh-tech editions, and customized versions also hit the market. But it was a late-year release of the white and green colorway, and its pearlized leather upper, that best captured the spirit of the original, and reminded us what a big year this silhouette had. 

 

Rank: 7

Shoe: Air Jordan 6 Retro “Carmine”

Price: $170

Released: May

For a long time, Carmine 6s were among the most highly desired original colorways of Air Jordan that hadn’t yet been retroed. That changed in 2008, when they finally returned in Countdown Pack form, alongside a suede pair of Air Jordan 17s. But it didn’t exactly quell the demand. Whether it was the lack of availability, the high price of the two-shoe pack, or simply because six years have already passed, there as no shortage of excitement when the Carmines finally released in a widely available launch this past summer. 

Rank: 6

Shoe: adidas EQT Guidance "OG"

Price: $120

Released: August

It’s only right that a series — ETQ, launched by Peter Moore (you know, the guy responsible for Jordan's wings) in 1991 — originally positioned as “The Best of adidas,” returns as of the year’s best group of retros. Released in 1993, the Guidance is the champion of the EQT shoes presented in 2014. While the Cushion and the Support capture the energy of early ‘90s tech to a T, the low profile and wrap-around tongue of the Guidance 93 has the most street potential, most evidenced through this original colorway. 

Rank: 5

Shoe: Nike Air Command Force

Price: $200

Released: November

Few Nike hoop shoes define an era as much as the Air Command Force. The ultra-high top is a throwback in every way imaginable, from its extended collar to its Reebok Pump-inspired Air-Fit pump system. Almost a pure nostalgia play, the Sportswear team was faced with the challenge of putting out a retro that would satisfy purists. And like a Billy Hoyle lob from Sidney Deane, it was an absolute slam dunk.

 

Rank: 4

Shoe: Nike Air Huarache "Scream Green"

Price: $100

Released: August

2014 was unofficially the year of the Nike Huarache retro, with the runner, Flight Huarache, and Huarache Trainer all making comebacks. There were several versions of the runner this year, but none stood out or was a more of a faithful one-of-one retro to Tinker Hatfield's design than the scream green colorway. 

 

Rank: 3

Shoe: Air Jordan 6 Retro “Infrared”

Price: $185

Released: November

If the ‘Legend Blue’ 11 was the main course of Jordan Brand’s holiday releases, the ‘Infrared’ Air Jordan 6 was the appetizer. Except in this case, the appetizer was the better dish. Re-released for the third time, Michael Jordan’s first championship shoe capped off the model’s 23rd anniversary celebration. The infrared accents popped louder than ever and the 3M reflective underlay was used for the first time since 1991.

 

Rank: 2

Shoe: Nike Air Tech Challenge 2 “Hot Lava”

Price: $120

Released: January

The fact that the Air Yeezy 2 borrowed the tooling from the Air Tech Challenge 2 couldn’t have hurt the original’s popularity in 2014. But the fact is, this tennis silhouette didn’t need the Kanye hype back in the early ‘90s when it originally released, and it didn’t need it when it returned again in 2014. A ton of solid colorways released, some old, others new and true to the spirit of the era, but none stood out more than the original Hot Lavas.

 

Rank: 1

Shoe: Air Jordan 11 Low “Concord”

Price: $150

Released: May

The Concord Lows made this list basically on a technicality. The shoe never actually released back in 1996 when it was first seen on Michael Jordan’s feet during that year’s NBA championship parade. But it did exist, and ever since has been one of those “what if?” shoes (almost like the Nike MAG). Technicality or not, there was no denying the anticipation and impact they made when finally hit retail this past summer, almost 20 years after they were first seen. For Air Jordan fans, this wait was well worth it.