Summer is primetime for sneakers. The weather allows for virtually every option, nearly all wardrobe formality disappears, and there’s a notable paucity of slush, grime, and other pitfalls to be wary of. Yes, we understand we’re breaking neither news nor ground here. What we are doing, though, is digging through the digital shelves to find the absolute best sneakers you can find for under $150, because we do follow the news.
We’re talking low-profile bangers, off-road warriors, extremely-hinged hybrids (and some that are a little unhinged, too); sneakers to wear every day and ones to pepper in; reinvigorated classics and new-age stunners. And because sneakers also can have the added benefit of affordability, we thought we’d make that a requirement. So, nothing on this list is more than $150, which means you can wear anything below as intended: into the goddamn ground.
You never need our—or anyone else’s—permission to buy some new Chuck 70s, Vans Authentics, Adidas Sambas or Reebok Club Cs. We endorse those ad infinitum and, while we will remind you of their existence from time to time (memories are short and cluttered), this list is for slightly more esoteric fare. The deeper cuts, the funky bunch, the sleepers among us. Scroll down to see our favorites for the season, and give your wallet a break in the process.
