Year-end lists in the sneaker scene are filled with subjective opinions that could be argued for days because what truly constitutes a better sneaker? Each person will have different criteria for measuring how great a sneaker is. Some may look at the release method and availability, others at how neck-breaking the design is or how deep of a story the sneaker tells.
We at Sole Retriever have decided to take a different approach than most for our year-end list of the top sneakers. Instead of racking our brains together and arguing over which release deserves to be at the top spot, we’ve looked at proprietary data collected from our users on our website and mobile app over the last year to determine the most popular sneakers that users were looking to cop. To determine this, we compiled a dataset that shows the most interacted with sneakers on our website and mobile app.
Like last year, we used a wide array of metrics, including raffle entry data, raffle density, product popularity, and more, to conclude. Each of the top 10 models this year came from Nike, six of which were Jordan Brand models, two from Nike SB, and two from Nike Basketball. To find a pair NOT from The Swoosh, you must head down to number 48, Action Bronson’s New Balance 1906R in the Rosewater colorway.
Again, to reiterate, this doesn’t mean that Sole Retriever believes that releases that dominate other subjective lists, like those from Jae Tips, Kids of Immigrants, Nigel Sylvester, Hidden NY, and Anthony Edwards, don’t deserve a spot here in the top 10 best sneakers from 2024. It just so happens that our users sought these releases less than the pairs listed below. According to our data, sneakers like the adidas AE 1 are typically widely available and easily purchased in sneaker stores worldwide, contributing to their lower ranking.
It's no surprise that Travis Scott maintained his position as one of the most popular sneaker collaborators of the year, having four of the top 10 releases, according to our data. This amount is double the number of Travis releases that made our list compared to last year.
Without further ado, we present the 10 most popular sneakers from 2024, starting at #10 and leading to the year's #1 most popular sneaker release.
10. Nike Kobe 8 Protro Venice Beach
Luckily, fans of Kobe Bryant’s sneaker line with Nike have been treated to retro releases of iconic colorways, including a re-release of the Kobe 8 Venice Beach. Marking the first time this colorway hit shelves in Protro form, Nike made sure to recreate the original homage to Venice Beach in a 1:1 fashion regarding its appearance. However, as with other Protro’s (performance retros), the pair comes with updated tooling to allow the retro sneaker to perform as well as modern-day basketball models.
9. Travis Scott x Jordan Jumpman Jack TR Dark Mocha
After teasing us for nearly a year with his signature sneaker, Travis Scott finally delivered his model from Jordan Brand — the Jumpman Jack — in three colors. The latest of the three is the Dark Mocha rendition, launched in November. Scott's signature chocolate earth-toned color palette is present here, alongside premium suede, canvas, and his reverse Swoosh detail.
8. Verdy x Nike SB Dunk Low Visty
The founder and creator of the streetwear brand Girls Don’t Cry, Verdy, teamed up with Nike SB for the second time in history, albeit this new venture marked the first time it was independent of his label. Unlike the heart-themed release from 2019, this latest pair took inspiration from one of Verdy’s characters, Visty, and translated the hairy plush doll onto the SB Dunk Low.
7. Nike Kobe 4 Protro Girl Dad
Nike paid homage to Kobe Bryant’s love for his daughters with the Nike Kove 4 Protro Girl Dad in May 2024. The pair takes direct inspiration from a green Philadelphia Eagles beanie he sported when sitting courtside with his daughter Gigi during a Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks matchup just a few weeks before their untimely passing.
6. J. Balvin x Air Jordan 3 Retro SP Rio
Reggaeton superstar J. Balvin commands attention when he drops a new Air Jordan collaboration, with his 2024 release being a follow-up to his Jordan 3 Medellín Sunset release from 2023. This Rio colorway inverts the cream colors of the original for a stark black finish across the tumbled leather upper. However, the pops of gradient color that evoke the image of the sunsets in Colombia are found on the heel tab and heel of the sole unit.
5. Travis Scott x Jordan Jumpman Jack TR Sail Dark Mocha
Travis Scott’s influence in the sneaker world truly is unmatched. The fact that Jordan Brand AND Nike Sportswear offered him his signature sneakers is a testament to this, with the first of his signature sneakers being the Jordan Jumpman Jack. The silhouette launched in April in the Sail Dark Mocha colorway, a pair he had been sporting throughout the latter half of 2023.
4. Air Jordan 4 Retro Reimagined Bred
OG Jordan colorways always end up being some of the year’s most popular releases, with 2024 being no exception. In February, we were given a retro of the iconic Air Jordan 4 Bred through the lens of Jordan Brand’s “Reimagined” series, which takes OG colorways and introduces a twist to the look. Unlike the original, this pair features a full tumbled leather upper, giving it a distinct look compared to the Durabuck found on previous iterations.
3. Futura x Nike SB Dunk Low Bleached Aqua
Graffiti artist Futura has a rich history of working with Nike SB, teaming up with the then-fledgling sub-division of Nike in 2003 on the SB Dunk Low and in 2004 on the FLOM SB Dunk High. Both of these pairs have garnered grail status among the sneakerhead community, so when rumors of a brand-new Futura project on the SB Dunk Low emerged, you could almost feel the excitement from the buzz on social media. The pair eventually landed on shelves in May 2024.
2. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG Medium Olive
La Flame’s Jordan 1 Low series has tackled multiple color palettes since its debut in 2019. Most of these have stuck to earth tones, as with the Medium Olive colorway that dropped back in September of this year. The pair resembles the women’s exclusive Olive pair that highlighted 2023 but opts for white leather overlays and olive suede instead of the dark black base of the other pair.
1. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG Canary (W)
Finally, the most popular sneaker of 2024, based on Sole Retriever’s data, is Travis Scott’s Air Jordan 1 Low OG Canary. The pair is an homage to Travis’ high school, Elkins High, with the color scheme directly taken from the school’s team colors. Unlike most of Scott’s sneakers, this Elkins High-themed AJ1 Low sees a bright and vibrant color palette similar to MJ’s Laney High School, with a mixture of canary yellow, blue, and white dominating the pair.
Recap and Look Ahead
While having a list dominated by Nike may not surprise many, 2024 was defined by a shift in trends toward other brands, like Asics and New Balance. These other labels did some of the year's best storytelling, and adidas introduced what many have argued is the sneaker of 2024 with Anthony Edwards' first signature sneaker — the adidas AE 1. As mentioned, the list above encompasses data based on how popular the sneaker was to our website and mobile app users.
We can confidently say that 2024 was another solid year regarding sneaker releases. Looking to 2025, plenty of rumors are heating up and confirmed retros of classics, like the Foamposite One Galaxy, Air Max 95 Neon Big Bubble, Air Jordan 1 High 85 Bred, and the Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 Retro, are expected to hit shelves.
Alongside these iconic models, there will surely be surprise releases from across the industry that will go down as some of the year's best. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app for updates on the final weeks of 2024 and beyond.
In this article
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
