The Best Selling Sneakers of 2019

2019 was one of the most interesting years sneakerheads have experienced in a while. From a revamped version of the beloved Air Force One Series to Yeezy Slides, the year was not without excitement. Even so, a few brands stood head and shoulders above the rest, with releases from Nike and Adidas dominating almost every best selling sneakers of 2019 list.

The Best Selling Sneakers of 2019

1. Nike Air Max 270 React

Nike's Air Max 270 React was originally released on February 1st, 2018. It was designed to combine different elements from what can now be considered its predecessors - the Air Max 90 and Air 180.

Its predecessors are considered classics in the US, so the high adoption this model has enjoyed shouldn't come as much of a surprise. With the introduction of over ten new colorways and designs, the Air Max 270 React has quickly shot its way up to the top of 2019's best-sellers list.

2. Nike Air Force 1 Low

The Air Force One brand was first released in 1983 to little fanfare both in the US and around the world. Its performance was so lacklustre that Nike was to drop it from their line-up altogether the following year. What saved it was the strange attachment people from Baltimore seemed to have with the basketball-inspired shoes. Thanks to their overwhelming support, Nike ditched those plans altogether. And it's lucky that they did since Air Force lows are the second-best-selling sneakers of 2019.

3. Nike Tanjun

Borrowed from the Japanese word for 'simplicity,' the Nike Tanjuns are marketed to be simple and elegant shoes for an even simpler everyday look. They were Nike's best-selling shoes both in 2017 and 2018 before dropping off in 2019.

4. Adidas NMD R1

The NMD R1s (pronounced Nomad R1s) are low-top sneakers designed and produced by Adidas. They feature Primeknit (the company's proprietary manufacturing method which makes the shoes more breathable), mesh and a Boost sole. Several different versions of the shoes have been released so far and it continues to dominate due to its affordable pricing point. In fact, it's one of the most popular running shoes of all time.

5. Jordan IV

During the 1988/89 season, Michael Jordan wore this pair of shoes, which would later come to be known as the 'Jordan IV' to his iconic game against Cleveland. Sinking a crucial shot with just 6 seconds left in the game 5 championship shot, Jordan would turn around the mentality surrounding his team, making them easy contenders for the Championship in the years that followed.

The Jordan IVs also made an appearance in Spike Lee's 'Do the Right Thing,' propelling them to international fame and cementing their impact on pop culture.

6. Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 v2

Kanye and Adidas' collaboration continues to bear fruit as the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 took over the world by storm with the release of fan-favorite colorways like the Glow, Storm, Clay and Bred. The Yeezy V2 were Adidas' second-best-selling sneaker of 2019.

7. Vans Ward

If you're been a long-time Vans fan, then the overall design of the Vans Ward is no doubt familiar. Inspired by the classic Old Skool Vans, there's little to tell them apart if you don't have the keenest eyes.

The Vans Ward was designed to be a cheaper and more reliable version of the Old Skool model with subtle differences between them. These include:

• No side-stitching under the Jazz stripe in the Ward.
• On the Ward, the stitching stays above the Jazz stripe around the collar while on the Old Skool, it dips into the stripe.
• The vertical stitching above the heel counter is also marginally narrower on the Old Skool.
• The eye stays are connected above the toe cap while this goes all the way to the laces in the Old Skool.
• The eye stays are also at right angles on the Old School versus a more rounded design on the Ward.
• Lastly, the Ward has a big Vans label while the Old Skool's tongue is blank.

8. Converse Chuck Taylor Low

Commonly referred to simply as 'Converse,' the Chuck Taylor are easily the most iconic Converse shoes out there, and it shows. They were the subsidiary's best-selling shoes through 2019 largely thanks to the affordable pricing and its iconic cultural status.

9. Nike Air Max 97

First debuting in 2017, Air Max 97 is a Nike running shoe inspired by Japan's high-speed Bullet Trains. It features a mix of different materials from leather to foam and is a fully-fledged member of the Air Series. It continues to dominate both as a competitive model and for casual streetwear.

10. Jordan XI

Closing off our best selling sneakers of 2019 list are the Jordan 11s. These are some of basketball fans' favorite shoes to look out for, with an iconic new colorway being released every year in December.

Much to the surprise of many, 2019 saw the release of the iconic "bred" colorway - the same worn by Michael Jordan during the historic 95-96 Chicago Bulls NBA championship run. It was the first time since 2012 the colorway has been re-released and they sold out within minutes.