And the GOAT sneaker is…
Everyone has their pick for the greatest sneaker of all time. Would you go with the stylish Jordans and Air Force 1s? The old-school Vans and Converses? The comfy New Balances and Yeezys?
Apart from style and comfort, sentimentality is also taken into account. Maybe Converse wins out due to longevity. Or Nike for their cultural dominance. Yeezys is huge on hype, while recency bias could favor the resurgent NBs.
Picking a sole GOAT sneaker from decades of history is a doozy, so we placed the burden on reputable sneakerheads who have solidified their creds through years of perusing, dealing, and owning the classics to the rarest of grails. From content creators to collectors, here are their picks for the GOAT sneaker.
Carlo Ople (Unbox PH)
Air Force 1 Triple White – Grailify on Unsplash
Pick: Air Force 1 Triple White.
Clean, timeless, and transcends trends. In a world where everything is fast fashion, hype, and screaming for attention, a clean pair of triple white AF1s just exudes suave. It's been my go-to pair in the last few months together with my New Balance 990 V4s (grey).
Ron De Vera (Manila Sneaker Expo co-founder, Shoe Game Manila)
Air Max 1
Pick: Air Max 1
Any colorway, nothing particular, pero Air Max 1 ang favorite ko. Style, comfort, and timeless, classic eh.
Bigboy Cheng (Sneaker Collector, Secret Fresh)
Off-White Air Force 1 – Christian Lucas on Unsplash
Pick: Air Force 1
[Air Force 1] Lagi kong suot, comfortable sa paa ko. Yun ang number one. It’s a versatile design [and timeless], thirty years na eh.
Antonio Aguirre (Entrepreneur)
Jordan 1 – Paul Volkmer on Unsplash
Pick: Jordan 1 or Air Force 1 Low
It’s a toss-up between [Jordan 1 or Air Force 1], like apples and oranges, in my opinion.
Eri Neeman (Comedian, Host)
Converse “Chuck Taylor” – Jaizer Capangpangan on Unsplash
Pick: Converse “Chuck Taylor”
Phew… That's a tough one. But I'd have to say Chuck Taylor considering their history and place in our culture through the decades.
Christian Alexander (Record Producer)
Jordan 1 High – Travis Essinger on Unsplash
Pick: Jordan 1 High
In my opinion, the GOAT sneakers are Jordan 1 Highs.
If you factor in the cultural significance of the sneaker in both fashion and basketball, the numerous classic colorways and collabs (both old and new) of the sneaker, and its longevity in the game, it's the clear answer.
The Jordan 1 Highs are just the perfect silhouette for me as a sneaker and the leather design makes for a versatile piece that can go well in any fit, whether you're going for a more cozy look or a more dressed-up look.
Early Bird Boys (Private Selection)
Nike SB Dunk Low Paris
Air Jordan 4 Doernbecher
Pick: Black and White regular Converse Chuck Taylor (Larry), Paris SBs (Ian), Doernbecher 4s Superman (Scotty)
James Francisco (Complex PH)
adidas BW Army.
Pick: Jordan 1 Highs and the adidas BW Army.
These are timeless classics that can be worn down and dressed up for any type of occasion or situation.
