Whiles its popularity may not have reached the levels the Yeezy Foam RNNR, Yeezy Slide, or Yeezy 350, the adidas Yeezy 500 is one of the few silhouettes Ye has with adidas that offers a retro vibe. Its use of leather, suede, nubuck, and mesh (or neoprene in some cases), paired with the comfortable adiPRENE+ midsole gives the sneaker a variety of panels to work with in terms of color blocking unlike some of the previously mentioned silhouettes. Let's go through and take a look at what is arguably the top 10 Yeezy 500 colorways you can pick up today.
10. adidas Yeezy 500 Super Moon Yellow
The OG classic, the adidas Yeezy 500 Super Moon Yellow offers you a monochromatic slight yellow tinted beige color palette throughout its construction. Its placement on this list mainly has to do with the fact that it is the first colorway offered on the model, though hopefully, you didn’t have to purchase a $760 clothing bundle in order to access a pair as was required when the sneaker first dropped. While it may be a bit tougher to match with your outfit compared with other colorways on this list, for collectors and historians, it’s still a must-have Yeezy 500.
9. adidas Yeezy 500 High Slate
Scaling things up is the Yeezy 500 High Slate, another OG colorway that has landed on this list. With this offering, you’ve got a neoprene, leather, and suede construction in a mixture of blue and black across the upper, while a contrasting stark white adiPRENE+ midsole gives you maximum comfort for all-day wear. Again, this sneaker is appearing on the list as it is the very first colorway of the high-top version to be released.
8. adidas Yeezy 500 Clay Brown
No Yeezy sneaker is complete without an earth-tone colorway, as is the case with the Yeezy 500 Clay Brown. The sneaker sticks to the OG construction of suede, mesh, nubuck, and leather, that features a mixture of brown shades throughout, unlike the monochromatic color palette some versions utilize. Pairs of this are often spotted on Donda Dove players as well as another colorway that we’ll discuss later in this list.
7. adidas Yeezy 500 Bone
Crispy, all-white sneakers are a mainstay in everyone's wardrobe, so why not elevate that with the Yeezy 500 Bone? Its appearance is very similar to one of the original prototypes of the model, though this release forgoes the gum outsole. Instead, the entire sneaker comes in varying shades of white with the outsole getting a cream white finish. Make sure you’ve got time on your hands because these kicks will get dirty the moment you step out of the house.
6. adidas Yeezy 500 Granite
Staying in theme with Ye’s favorite shades as of late, the Yeezy 500 Granite stays in line with the typical material makeup and dresses it in an all-over slightly olive green-tinted black hue with grey featured throughout. It’s definitely one of the most easily wearable colorways thanks to its neutral hue and darker appearance that will hide wear and tear.
5. adidas Yeezy 500 Blush
Many of the first few releases on the Yeezy 500 stuck to beige and tan hues, as is the case with number five on our list, the Blush colorway. Releasing as the second colorway of the model, the monochromatic theme first spotted on the Super Moon Yellow continues, though this time a sandy tan covers the entire mesh, leather, suede, and nubuck upper as well as the adiPRENE+ midsole and rubber outsole. After a restock in 2022, the pair is much more affordable as it now hovers around 50 dollars more than the retail price on the secondary market.
4. adidas Yeezy 500 High Mist Stone
Our final Yeezy 500 High to appear on the list, the Mist Stone colorway at first glance may not seem all too exciting, though its not trying to be. Neoprene, suede, and leather come together in an all-over grey across the upper while the black tongue and white adiPRENE+ midsole provide contrast and allow this pair to be worn with almost every outfit. Most famously, this same pair was worn by Ye during the beginning of his reemergence to the public spotlight following his failed presidential campaign in 2020. Just a month before his first listening party for the Donda album and four months before its release, a photo appeared of Ye rocking the pair while visiting his dentist. He also wore the pair earlier in the year when photos of him and Playboi Carti appeared online where he donned his now famous mask. For hardcore Ye fans and those who want an easy-to-wear sneaker, the Mist Stone colorway is a solid choice.
3. adidas Yeezy 500 Stone
Near the tail end of 2019, it seemed like Ye was playing around with material choices on his silhouettes as releases like the Yeezy 700 Magnet swapped out mesh for neoprene as its base layer. The Yeezy 500 Stone joined in on this party and eventually led to the high-top variant of this model featuring neoprene as its base layer. Covered in an almost golden-hued tan on its underlay, the suede panels come in a desert tan shade with a matching adiPRENE+ midsole. For the outsole, a classic gum rubber was utilized. Laces received a change as well with all other colorways getting flat laces similar to the Yeezy 700 while this pair joined the Yeezy 350 V2 with its thick rope laces in a tonal tan shade.
2. adidas Yeezy 500 Utility Black
One of the most popular colorways on all Yeezy sneakers lands on the Yeezy 500 Utility Black, coming in an all-over, well, black color scheme. The usual construction is still utilized from the upper material used to the soft cushioning system underfoot. Many consider this colorway as the best on the model since it's so easily wearable and can be beaten up without showing much damage. Various restocks on the model, including an upcoming one in 2022, still have people clamoring for an all-black Yeezy 500.
1. adidas Yeezy 500 Soft Vision
Number 1 on our list of the top Yeezy 500s, the Soft Vision colorway, is one of the very few Yeezy sneakers that strays from the usual neutral and earth tone colors, instead, covering the sneaker in lavender shades across the mesh, leather, suede, and nubuck upper as well as the adiPRENE+ midsole. While Ye himself never wore the pair publicly, having a sneaker under the Yeezy name that didn’t come in their usual earth tone or neutral hues was shocking to many, and since its release, has become one of the most expensive pairs on the aftermarket to obtain. One other thing to note, during the year this colorway was released, 2019, Ye was hosting his Sunday Service shows that often featured pastel shades of purple and lavender, so to have a sneaker match the positive vibes he was putting out into the world makes the Soft Vision arguably the most impactful pair of the Yeezy 500 to release.
For updates on the latest in sneakers, streetwear, and more, keep it locked to our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app. If you're looking for a more in-depth breakdown of the Yeezy 500 and upcoming releases for the model, check out our adidas Yeezy 500 Buyers Guide and our adidas Yeezy 500 Release Page.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
