Editors' Picks: The Best Sneakers Of The Month

Gerald Flores, Editor-In-Chief

​Without a doubt, the adidas Ultra Boost was the best shoe of 2015. You could even say that the shoe's "S curve" in the heel spawned a new wave of silhouettes for adi running like the Cosmic Boost and recently released AlphaBOUNCE. With the Uncaged Ultra Boost, adidas played off of what a few people were already doing with their pairs: cutting off the cages and rocking the sneaker with loose laces. The Ultra Boost Uncaged was definitely a clever way to give the sneaker a fresh take and a second life, yet still not compromise all the elements that made the Ultra Boost great in the first place.

Brendan Dunne, News Editor

New Balance collaborations have sort of lost their luster to me, especially when so many of them are content with simply slapping some suede on the shoes and calling it a day. This Colette design isn't exactly groundbreaking, but just a nice colorblocking player from a powerhouse Euro retailer, which is something I can appreciate. The more modern half of the pack, the Re-Engineered 580, didn't look bad either.

Zac Dubasik, Managing Editor

As a basketball fan that’s spent my entire life in northeast Ohio, it's hard to imagine a sneaker that could have much more meaning than the one worn by LeBron James as he brought Cleveland its first NBA Championship. I grew up a Detroit fan (and still am), and have experienced the Pistons win multiple rings, but seeing the home team finally take the title is something I’ll never forget.

I’ve found the look of the Soldier 10 interesting ever since James was first spotted wearing a pair prior to a game a few months back, and I'm also looking forward to hooping in a pair. But let’s be honest, it didn’t really matter which shoe he wore, or what it looked like. Replace any sneaker in the world on James’ feet as he blocked Andre Iguodala’s layup in the waning moments of Game 7, and I would have bought it just as fast.

Brennan Hiro Williams, Social Media Editor

Adidas has another potential crossover hit on its hands. With a silhouette reminiscent of the Yeezy 350 and Ultra Boost, the new AlphaBOUNCE continues adidas' push for an identity beyond Three Stripes and Trefoils. At $100, the AlphaBOUNCE is a great alternative to the previously mentioned, always-sold-out models, with Bounce foam and an intriguing FORGEDMESH upper subbing in for Boost and Primeknit. Add a few more fashion-forward colorways to the mix and these will be undeniable.

Brandon Richard, Senior Writer

After months of writing about Yeezy Boosts, I was able to land my first pair in the "Glow" 750s. Of course, this didn't happen because the buying process got any easier — I just happened to luck out with a friend who did me an extremely big favor. Verdict? It's a pretty awesome shoe and unique addition to my collection that I was only willing to drop $350 on because it's a Yeezy. Yes, I bought into the hype, and that's okay. I also own an embarrassingly large stash of adidas Dwight Howards that I only bought because he used to play for my favorite team. More than anything, this hobby should be fun. A lot of times, the story surrounding the shoe is just as appealing as the shoe itself. Such is the case with Yeezy Boosts, which have helped Kanye West secure a long-term partnership with adidas. The 750 comes with a rather large price tag, but you get a lot of shoe for your buck if you're prepared to spend that much. I don't regret the decision at all.

Rich Lopez, Release Dates Manager

There isn't anything bad about the Under Armour Curry 2 Low "Chef." There isn't anything particularly good about it either. It's basically an all-white low-cut basketball sneaker — a very basic and staple sneaker that we've all seen release a number of times already. But for one week during the summer of 2016, the "Chef" Curry became one of the most relevant sneakers in history. From the millions of tweets, to the late night talk show appearances, to Tom Brady "flexing" a pair on Instagram, this basic sneaker that had no business being relevant, jumped over both the Jumpman and Yeezy. Salute.