Throughout the calendar year, thousands of new sneaker releases are produced by the world’s most recognizable brands, and despite the overwhelming odds, a select few somehow manage to establish themselves as standouts within the crowded landscape. Some shoes even go on to achieve legendary status, living on as prized conquests for some and vigorously coveted “grails” for those who missed out on a pair. This particular year’s onslaught of re-released classic models, radical new designs, creative collaborative projects and basic essentials has rendered 2011 as one of the greatest years in sneaker history, rivaling some of the most heralded volumes in the annals of footwear. While the word “reflection” becomes a trending topic towards the end of December, the Sneaker News staff typically spends 365 days out of the year previewing, introducing, and detailing the very best that the sneaker industry has to offer, so as you can imagine, boiling it all down to thirty standouts is no easy task.
Each potential candidate for this exclusive club is judged by rigid criteria, and while the following pages have been arranged in an immaculate spread, the selection process wasn’t exactly the neatest process. There were incontrovertible successes, unfortunate misses and the occasional blindside hit, but 2011 was so rock-solid from beginning to end, that even the worthy crop of honorable mentions would make sparks fly. In most cases, the final word on the true merit of a sneaker release was determined by you, the readers, evidenced by your reactions and feedback and eventually quantified by how quickly you collectively picked them clean from store shelves. After all was considered, the best of the best were carefully whittled down into what we feel to be the thirty most significant sneaker releases of the year.
The Sneaker News Top 30 Sneakers of 2011 features quite a mixed bag of styles and genres with representation from seven different brands; Nike, Jordan Brand, Converse, adidas, New Balance, Asics and Reebok all played roles in making 2011 one of the most memorable years in recent memory. We saw innovative new designs anchored by progressive technology, like the trio of Nike Basketball Signature models and adidas’ introduction of the lightest basketball shoe ever, as well as the long-awaited returns of some trendsetting and generation-defining footwear models that would have undoubtedly made it onto any ‘best-of’ lists during their respective debut years. Some of the selections could be described as ‘clean, simple, and understated’, while others stretched the boundaries of conventional sneaker design – we’re talking infusion of blinking LED lights, stuffed animals, and glow-in-the-dark materials just to run off a few.
What makes this year’s Top 30 group so exceptional is that floating above and around each sneaker is a unique script with a fascinating plot – you couldn’t make some of this stuff up. Just to give you a small taste: One shoe was originally destined to be scrapped, but led to campouts at factory outlet stores of all places, while another was intended to be a celebratory gesture for one of the greatest American athletes of our generation, only to be sent packing to overseas retailers with a small, last-minute comeback going down in Miami. Air Jordan Retros displayed their unflappable strength once again, with the year-end Air Jordan XI causing unbridled release mayhem across the nation. And of course, there was the surprise release of a certain shoe from the future, surfacing by way of the most impressive sneaker launch ever. Thanks to these captivating stories and all those that fell in between, the thirty inclusions on this list will have reshaped the future terrain of sneakers with their gripping tales and alluring designs, trends and innovations. Buckle up and prepare yourself for the sneaker game’s premiere year-end review – the Sneaker News Top 30 Sneakers of 2011.
2011 was a great year of kicks……but if u look up the release dates for 2012- SHEEESSSSSHHHHHH. SO MUCH HEAT.
@SneakerNews
(first) lol
Sneakernews, thanks for putting the mags on top -.- last year you made a bitch move by putting those air maxes as the best 2010 sneakers, this year you did good. I look forward to the Yeezy 2's being the #1 release of 2012, thanks sneakernewssssss
best and most hyped are very different
Can't wait until next year!
Oh man let the controversy begin they put the Nike Mag 2011 as number one. I just watched complex list and they didn't like it at number 10 on there list. But i love the list didn't expect the number one but I'll take it.
good list
Awesome year, next year the year of the IV's
nice list, 2012 is up next lets see what sneaker companies put out
air mag SMH
HELL YEA!!!
#7!!!!
its all about the AJ VII Bordeaux's!!!
Jordanheads are divided, some peeps dont even bother copping VII's. True heads copp VII's and know whats up!!
not happy with the list -_- hate how they put the foams jordan 5's gel lyte 3's and etc. in one spot all together i wanted to know where each of them rank as the top 30 sneakers of 2011 if some of them even ranked,with all the shoes they showed its more like top 40-something of 2011
id put the statue of libs on the list before i would the chech+chongs
no playoff 13s…no credibility
I like it better this way though you know you don't have the same sneaker just in a different color here and there and taking unnecessary spots and causing debates on oh I like this color better than that one and stuff it's better to just group all the apples together no matter the type
air force 1 year of the abbits before jordan 7 year of the rabbit. Thats not right
I like the forces more though the YOTR 7's are just a spin off the Hare's a friend of mine that has em only likes the box of them (he has the hare's too)
XIIIs didn't make the list again??
the rays are number 18
I meant playoffs and bulls, general releases. They excluded flints last year also
Man, i love sneaks.
lebron 9's rated way to high they are easily my top pick for ugliest shoe of late 2011 and 2012 along side the 2012 jordans
You know he meant playoffs!
I actually like there spot and it's nice to have a shoe that's more modern and up to the modern day standard of technology and design up there with some classics I mean yes some of the older shoes may "look better" but when I put on the Lebron 9's they feel better
proud to say i own 3 colors of jordan III the top 3 sneakers of 2011
lol…no DB IV!?!
honestlly, i wouldve included those instead of the YOTR 7's
I FEEL DAT…WHERE ARE DA #AIRJORDAN4RETRODB
no south beaches? im not a hypebeast but cmon u gotta love that shoe
umm, theyre from 2010
Air Jordan 2011 at #10, are you serious!!!!!
it's a sick shoe. and look now how kobe is copying it with the kobe "system." its a clean shoe. the quality is top notch. the leather is some of the nicest ever put on a sneaker. and they look great with jeans. oh and they can perform on the court what more can you ask for?
Their is absolutely nothing special about the 2011! FACT
Is the list in order or just thought the Bin 5s were sick should be closer to the concords which should be one is if you but all the AJ5s together the rabbits and Bordeaux should be together also the foams should clock in right behind the jordans XI IIIs BIN 5s Foamposites sorry to say those Mag are Whack I thought they were whack in the movie years ago but HYPE RULES NOWADAYS SURPRISE IMAGES OF THE AIR YEEZY 2 AINT MAKE THE LIST LOL…
quite a list…2012 should be an epic year!!!
2012 is going to be BANANAS!
yall do a great job of puttin together a solid ass list…definitely happy to see them banned 1s gettin love at the 4 spot. wish i could seen them puma x undftd clydes make the list but its all good.
Why do people gotta hate on the Mag? It was the first sneaker I personally ever desired (since I saw B2TF in 1st grade), and has since then always been a grail. Whats so bad about making such an important shoe number 1, rather than a Jordan that has been retroed AGAIN? It was special and unseen, went to a great cause, and had a huge POSITIVE impact on the sneaker world. I can't wait till 2015.
Hmmm. No mention of the Air Force 1 Denim's??
Glad all my shoes from this year (except the huarache frees) made this list in pictorial form and both colorways of my LB 9's and my air flows which weren't a hassel to get
I like this one better than all the Complex one's
no black flip 3's….
Whoever wrote the intro did a really good job.
how can you leave out playoff 13s?
The huarache alphas should be in the top 10 and the Jeremy Scotts should not ever be on any top shoe list.
I think when they first started with the list they was under the effects of coke or some shit…
Not very enthusiastic about the list myself, but i can understand why it was like it was. Most of the shoes were popular amongst many people that voted, so it was hard to hate. However, at least some of my favorites made the list, such as the yotr af1's and the concords. My least favorites were the Jeremy Scotts, air mags, and lebron 9s.
Really? how did the jordan 2011 make it and the SB Liberty's NOT????? Wait……how did the jordan 2011 make it at all???(politics?) and grouping the kobe's, foams, kobe's, retro 5 and 3, lebrons and durants is lame, top 30 with over 40 pairs on it????
No Sole Collector Penny Pack? Mag #1 is correct though.
my personal top 3:
1) Air Flow TZ
2) Asics Gel Saga x Patta
3) AJ VII Bordeaux
Fuck the concords. Brodeauxs, 3s and foams should all be in fromt of them.
Out of all the Pick ups in 2011 My most memorable was the SB Space Jams…cant wait to rocc em !
true blue 3"s all day….
tru
its tough to beat the concord but if anyone is worthy its gotta be MARTY McFLY!! awesome list!!!
tru
This right here
DB4 should be in top 5
there's smile emoticons on the top right corner of the picture.. what's the meaning,bro?LOL
jordan 11
nike mag baby
nike mag i agree with
im not happy with the #1 spot but over all good list!
little disapointed retro 7 rabbits are so underated on this list
Hate da wolf greys and stealth 3 should of made it best shoe and also son of mars and bordouex spizike screw wolf greasy
freshhhh i want the adidas the retro 3s the jordan gray wolfs the jordan 5s and the jordan 13s
IT DONT GET NO BETTER THAN NIKE MAG 2011 MARTY MCFLY!!!
@REPMILWAUKEE414