The 100 Best Running Sneakers of All Time

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1 Nike Air Max 95 The 100 Best Running Sneakers of All Time

No. 1 – Nike Air Max 95

Year Released: 1995

A sneaker that most of you haven’t tried on is better than every shoe you’ve ever considered running in. What many sneaker historians refer to as the “greatest Nike shoe ever,” holds the coveted title of the best running sneaker of all time. With less focus on branding, and more on the performance of the shoe, designer Sergio Lozano used elements from the human body as the basis of his design. The spine was a major point of inspiration which is easy to see in the exposed pocked of the arch outsole and the organic gradation in the upper. With all of the proper ingredients of a stability shoe, the heel-to-toe ride transitions gracefully over the Air Max bubble just as Lozano intended.

  • Pingback: The 100 Best Running Shoes of All Time, and My Personal Top Three | Road Runner Shoes

  • Rick

    This is a tough list to get through. Everytime I click the next number it lags, reloads the whole page. With 100 shoes to get through, this could definitely have been done better!

    • Rick

      I retract my statement! It’s internet explorer that’s the issue. I load up Chrome and it’s 100x better. Sorry!

  • Martin Thorne

    Please add me to your email mailing list of new posts

  • Glen Grant

    As a former international I really enjoyed the list but you are missing the best shoe ever as number 1 – Nike Air Mariah. It is the only shoe that people email me and ask if I know where to buy it from. Look back at past races and see how many were being worn. I remember one road race in UK where virtually all the leading runners were wearing them. I think the Adidas feet-you-wear shoe deserves a mention too. They pulled it from sale just as it was gaining popularity.

  • Travis

    Asics GT2000 series, with the newly reengineered 2000s as well, are missing! :( Also the 2004 Bowerman Series (Specifically Air Coos) are missing…

  • Jim Hooko

    Reebok had a Phase 2 trainer along with the Maree racer in 1984 that I loved. I got a ton of miles out of both and never had any injury issues with either one. The trainers lasted me over 1000 miles, 700 in one winter alone. If you have a worst list, the Reebok Zigtechs would have to be number 1. They are horrid! I wore a pair for 100 miles and that was about 90 too far.

  • Dave

    Not sure if this deserves to be # 1, but what I do know is Japenese fellows would come in and buy 20 pair at a time when this shoe first came out…. so obviously it was “hot” somewhere.

  • Olasonn

    I can’t tell you how dissapointed I am in seeing a shoe that was more for looks then performance come first. Nike is the reason most running shoes have had a raised heel for about 30 years, which has caused lots of problems for many runners. Fortunately things are turning around, and the future looks brighter.

  • Mike

    The best running shoe from New Balance in the past 20 years, the all-orange 902 Lightweight Running shoe was amazing. Would have liked to have seen it make the list, somewhere. It won nearly every “shoe buyers guide” that reviewed it at the time. Including Outside Magazine’s “Gear of the Year” in whichever year it came out (somewhere around 2006/2007)

  • http://www.none.com john

    Really, not even a mention of Hoka One One? I mean these shoes are just the best for ultra’s! Should look into them, man!

  • Nacho

    Very good list. I’d include: Nike Air Pegasus (1983) first edition Pegasus with the “air” heel cushion. Also: the Adidas Rom, Adidas Vienna or Adidas Country (one of the first with the tread extending up the toe and heel). Also: New Balance 320 (1976), Nike Sock Racer from ’85, Brooks Vantage (first with EVA midsole).

  • Corey

    The New Balance Minimus should be in this list! By far the best Minimal shoe ( http://www.newbalancevancouver.ca/minimus-10-runner.html ). I’ve been running with the minimus for a few months now and it’s a huge improvement over any other running shoe I’ve used.

  • Jim H

    Lots of great memories looking at this list! I’m glad the Nike LDV was included, but I would have chosen the Nike Daybreak, a similar but much better shoe. I’m surprised you didn’t include the NB 320, a hugely popular shoe of the late 70s. My all-time favorite? The original Nike Air Huarache. Wish I had a closet full of them!!

  • Feezer

    Awwh. Saucony Jazz, you saw me through the 80′s. I still think of you- always with me during THE best memories my life.