Reader Poll Results: 10 Best Sneakers of 2017

Release Date: 09/21/17

Retail Price: $180

Among the many Air Max 97s that released in 2017 was this series from longtime-Nike collaborator Undefeated. The three-shoe set featured a ComplexCon exclusive in UNDFD’s signature olive and orange, and two rather shameless Gucci colorways.

Release Date: 03/03/17

Retail Price: $110

A great design and affordable price tag helped propel Paul George to a noteworthy signature debut, and solidified his comeback. The $110 sneaker was also one of the top on-court performers of the year, regardless of cost.

Release Date: 12/09/17

Retail Price: $220

Another December, another highly anticipated Air Jordan 11 retro. However, the once-evasive all-red 11 lost a bit of its luster with another 11 release preceding it a month earlier, and all-red sneakers having run their course roughly three years ago.

Release Date: 03/18/17

Retail Price: $400

Atmos and Jordan Brand dropped a two-shoe pack for Air Max Day 2017 based around the retailer’s 2007 Air Jordan 3-inspired Air Max 1. Along with that shoe’s return, an Air Jordan 3 was packaged that had its elephant print swapped with safai.

Release Date: 08/24/17

Retail Price: $220

4D printing, the ability to create a shoe through the process of digital light synthesis, is the most notable innovation that came out of Adidas this year. In fact, the sneaker won Fast Company’s 2017 Innovation by Design Award. Although it only released in extremely limited quantities, the Futurecraft 4D is a small sign of what the company may have lined up in years to come.

Release Date: 02/25/17

Retail Price: $220

In the course of just four months, the “Zebra” Yeezy 350 V2s went from one of the most prestigious models of the line, to one of the most widely available. That didn’t stop the shoe from easily selling out when it re-released, but it did bring its resale price back down to reality from the four-figure numbers it was originally going for.

Release Date: 03/25/17

Retail Price: $190

People first got a peek at the Nike VaporMax in 2016, but weren't able to actually get their hands on the sneaker until this year. It’s the latest evolution in Nike’s Air Max genealogy and was well worth the wait for those looking for a true 360-degree Air bag experience.

Release Date: 09/09/17

Retail Price: $160

For the second straight year, a collaborative Air Presto took the sneaker world by storm. “The Ten” collection may have featured 10 different Virgil Abloh designs, but much like Acronym’s joint effort in 2016, the Presto was a clear standout.

Release Date: 03/31/17

Retail Price: $350

Despite being almost a decade late, there was no shortage of hype around the Kaws-designed Air Jordan 4 collaboration when it finally dropped in 2017. The drill that followed was a familiar one: hacked servers, instant sellouts, and sky-high resale prices.

Release Date: 09/09/17

Retail Price: $190

On paper, a hacked-up and haphazardly-put-back-together Air Jordan 1 with some added zip ties sounds like a disaster at best, or insulting at worst. But add Virgil Abloh’s name (and talents) to the mix, and you had the most anticipated collaboration (and sneaker, period), of the year.