The Different Types of Streetwear Sneakers

One of the staples in streetwear are the sneakers. In fact, streetwear style and sneakers go hand in hand, as the casual look of a sneaker lets you blend in effortlessly with the comfortable, informal look we call street fashion. The great thing about sneakers is that they come in many types and brands, many which you’ve probably already heard of.

But first, let’s discuss some commonly used terminology in the sneaker game. You’ll frequently come across the term colourway, which is basically the name given to a type of sneaker that has specific colours and prints. For instance, you can find the exact same Adidas sneaker, but one is black and red, while the other one is black and blue. Hence, both sneakers will be labeled differently.

Next, you’ll find collab sneakers, which are manufactured by a streetwear sneakers brand and one or more external parties to produce a certain colourway of the shoe. Typically, the brand will give the external party the freedom to decide a colourway, and a silhouette to work with. Most commonly, the external party is a sneaker boutique, and these sneakers are considered limited edition, with insane value.

Now that we have the terminology out of the way, we can talk about the types of streetwear sneakers you can find. There are two popular types to choose from, namely, low and high-top sneakers. Both types are further categorised based on function/silhouette of the sneaker.

Low-Tops

There are two popular types of low-top sneakers. These sneakers won’t cover the angle, and they are ideal to wear with any summer outfit because they have a slim silhouette and are very lightweight. Moreover, they’re popular among skaters, so skaters have their own subcategory of low-tops, which are called skating shoes.

Skating shoes are extremely durable low-tops, and are typically made of canvas. However, there are also models made of suede and leather. Vans and Nike Skateboarding are the most popular skating shoes. Skating shoes don’t have a lot of cushioning inside, so they might not be the most comfortable to wear around town, and most people like wearing them when they look slightly worn down, especially Vans.

Besides skating shoes, another very popular subcategory of low-tops are running shoes. These are becoming increasingly more popular, and they aren’t always meant for running. The main reason for that, is because they have great comfort due to the high amount of cushioning on the inside. Running sneakers are really versatile and can work with almost any outfit.

High-Tops

High-top sneakers cover the ankle, and this style originated from basketball. Nobody out of the streetwear style wears high-tops, and you’ll oftentimes see them with joggers and more “sportsy” outfits. There are two types of high-tops – basketball and non-basketball high-tops.

The non-basketball high-tips are casual and oftentimes considered entry-level sneakers mainly produced by Nike and Converse. Both these types started out as basketball shoes, but later became “normal” sneakers.

The basketball high-tops on the other hand, are the predominant type in today’s streetwear scene. The most popular ones are Air Jordan, and they’re filled with great support and cushioning. However, that makes them somewhat heavier, but you can wear them all year round.