Sneaker News 2010 Readers Choice Awards

Last week, we launched our Sneaker News Top 30 Sneakers of 2010 feature, and as hard as we try to narrow down the year’s top sneaker releases, opinions will always differ when it comes to these types of lists. We already shared our top picks of the year, but we wanted to give our loyal readers a chance to have their say, so the Sneaker News Readers Choice Poll offered a chance to do just that. The results are in and you have chosen your top sneakers of 2010 in a variety of categories within the shoe universe. We may not all agree with the eventual champions in each match-up, but look only at the sneakerhead next to you, as these difficult decisions were made strictly by you – the Sneaker News readers. Keep reading for a look at all of 2010’s big winners in the Sneaker News 2010 Readers Choice Awards, and stay tuned for another chance to have your opinions on the matter heard coming very soon. A big thanks to all those who participated and we look forward to bringing you the very best in sneaker coverage as we move into the new year.

AIR JORDAN XI RETRO ‘COOL GREY’ (36%)
After easily beating out some pretty tough competition, the return of the Cool Grey Air Jordan XI stands proudly as your sneaker of the year.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike LeBron 8 ‘South Beach’ (19%)
3 – Air Jordan VI ‘Infrared Pack’ (18%)

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AIR JORDAN VI ‘INFRARED PACK’ (58%)
Two OG colorways of a beloved Air Jordan Retro model in one box is always going to be tough to beat, and the Air Jordan VI ‘Infrared Pack’ was no exception, slaughtering all oncomers in the Favorite Pack category.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Aston Martin x Kobe Bryant x Nike (12%)
3 – Nike Air Force 1 ‘5 Boroughs’ (9%)

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PARRA x PATTA x NIKE AIR MAX 1 (46%)
The now-infamous Parra x Patta x Air Max 1 took in almost 50% of the vote on its way to a commanding victory as Favorite Collaboration of 2010.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Packer Shoes x Reebok ‘Nique’ Pump Omni Zone (18%)
3 – Supreme x Nike SB ’94 (9%)

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NIKE LEBRON 8 (47%)
The unpopular move to Miami seems to have had little detriment on the popularity of the Nike LeBron 8, as evidenced by a dominating portion of your votes for the shoe as the Favorite Signature Basketball Release of the year.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike Zoom Kobe V (29%)
3 – Air Jordan 2010 (10%)

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NIKE ZOOM HYPERFUSE (44%)
In one of the tightest races of this year’s polls, the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse and its use of the groundbreaking new Fuse technology narrowly edged out the Hyperdunk 2010 as the best of all non-signature b-ball offerings.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike Hyperdunk 2010 (38%)
3 – Reebok ZigSlash (11%)

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NIKE AIR MAX 2010 (41%)
While it may not have enjoyed the hype of some past Nike Air Max flagship models, the Air Max 2010 still ably rose to the top among 2010’s other notable running releases.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike LunarEclipse’ (16%)
3 – Nike LunarGlide 2 (14%)

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JORDAN V2 GROWN (25%)
The Jordan love out there is obviously strong across the board, as the new V2 Grown was able to just barely squeak out a 1% win over the JS Wings 2.0, making it one of the biggest upsets in this year’s voting.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Jeremy Scott x adidas JS Wings 2.0 (24%)
3 – Nike Lunar Woven Chukka (20%)

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AIR JORDAN XI RETRO ‘COOL GREY’ (35%)
Of course, your favorite sneaker of the year was also tops in the Favorite Jordan Retro Release category, enjoying a comfortable lead all the way through the voting period.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Air Jordan VI Retro – Black/Infrared (19%)
3 – Air Jordan XIII Retro ‘Flint’ (18%)

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AIR JORDAN III RETRO DOERNBECHER (35%)
The Air Jordan installment of the annual Doernbecher Freestyle collection is always big news, but the choice of the Air Jordan III and a Bulls colorway this time around made the AJIII DB a surefire lock for 2010’s Favorite New Air Jordan Retro Colorway.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Air Jordan VI Retro ‘Motorsports’ (19%)
3 – Air Jordan XI ’25th Anniversary’ (18%)

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AIR JORDAN IX RETRO PREMIO (41%)
All four offerings from this year’s Air Jordan Premio Bin 23 collection were instant sellouts, but the White/Gold Air Jordan IX looks to hold a firm grasp as your favorite of the bunch.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Air Jordan XIII Retro Premio (25%)
3 – Air Jordan VII Retro Premio (20%)

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NIKE AIR MAX 90 ‘INFRARED’ (38%)
Nike brought back some can’t-miss favorites from the arsenal, but it was the Air Max 90 ‘Infrared’ that takes the crown as your Favorite Nike Retro Release of 2010.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike Air Foamposite Pro ‘Pearl’ (32%)
3 – Nike Air Max 95 ‘Neon’ (14%)

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NIKE AIR FOAMPOSITE ONE ‘EGGPLANT’ (34%)
In what may be the biggest surprise of the bunch, the Eggplant edition of the Air Foamposite One, which also re-released just last year, somehow beat out the Dirty Copper version by a nose as your favorite Foams of 2010.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike Air Foamposite One ‘Dirty Copper’ (33%)
3 – Nike Air Foamposite Pro ‘Pearl’ (20%)

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NIKE ZOOM HUARACHE TR MID (45%)
The new and improved update of the classic Air Trainer Huarache proved to be a big hit for Nike in 2010, and the proof is in the pudding thanks to your selection of the Zoom Huarache TR as your Favorite New Nike Model of 2010.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike Zoom Hyperfuse (35%)
3 – Nike Lunar Elite Trail Mid (10%)

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NIKE AIR MAX 24-7 (30%)
Hybrids are always a touchy subject with sneakerheads, but the Nike Air Max 24-7 seems to have received a pass and stands out as one of Nike’s most openly embraced mash-up models of all-time.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike Air Force 1 Foamposite (23%)
3 – Nike Air Lunar 180 (18%)

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NIKE ZOOM HUARACHE TR MID (50%)
Joining the Cool Grey Air Jordan XI’s as the only double award winners, the Zoom Huarache TR beat out the other selections in the Favorite Nike Trainer Release category without breaking a sweat.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike Air Max 360 TR-1 (22%)
3 – Nike Trainer SC 2010 (14%)

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NIKE AIR FORCE 1 ‘5 BOROUGHS’ (26%)
In what may have been an overall down year for the Air Force 1, the ‘5 Boroughs’ pack kept the AF1 heads happy with five fresh NYC-inspired colorways of the classic shoe.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike Air Force 1 ‘DJ Premier’ (20%)
3 – Nike Air Force 1 High ‘Workboot’ (19%)

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NIKE SB DUNK HIGH ‘SKUNK’ (33%)
Neck-breaking Nike SB Dunk releases were somewhat few and far between in 2010, but the ‘Skunks’ were able to emerge from the rubble to become your choice for Favorite SB Dunk Release of the year.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Larry Perkins’ (16%)
3 – Nike SB Dunk High ‘Born in the USA’ (15%)

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SUPREME x NIKE SB ’94 (31%)
Far from unanimously welcomed, the Supreme x Nike SB ’94 still impressed enough of you out there to make it your choice for the year’s best new model from Nike SB.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike SB Omar Salazar (23%)
3 – Nike SB Zoom FP (22%)

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STAR WARS x ADIDAS ORIGINALS (26%)
Star Wars and sneakers are not necessarily a perfect match, but adidas made us all believers in 2010 with their impressive collection of kicks inspired by the legendary films.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Jeremy Scott x adidas Originals (20%)
3 – Kazuki x adidas Originals (17%)

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JORDAN BRAND (50%)
While some of you might not be so in love with some of the newer designs coming out of JB, the Retros remain a juggernaut as Jordan Brand ate up 50% of the vote as your Favorite Footwear Brand of 2010.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike (39%)
3 – Nike SB (6%)

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NIKE SB (72%)
It may have appeared to be something of an off-year for Nike SB, but the diehard fans are still out there and voting as SB dominated the Favorite Skate Brand category with 72% of the votes.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Vans (11%)
3 – Supra (8%)

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NIKE 6.0 (51%)
Nike 6.0 stepped up their game quite a bit in 2010 and people are starting to take notice, a fact made clear by your selection of the Nike offshoot as the Brand Most Likely to Make Noise in 2011.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Gourmet (22%)
3 – HUF Footwear (18%)

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AIR JORDAN XI RETRO ‘CONCORD’ (42%)
The Air Jordan XI continues to be the most sought-after Retro model for many, and it looks like that will continue into next year as you’ve named the AJXI Concord as your most anticipated Air Jordan Retro release of 2011.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Air Jordan III Retro ‘Black/Cement’ (15%)
3 – Air Jordan VII ‘Bordeaux’ (14%)

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NIKE AIR FOAMPOSITE ONE ‘ROYAL’ (42%)
Despite Nike’s best efforts to create new classics in the sneaker game, the old reliable favorites still seem to get sneakerheads more excited than anything else, as evidenced by the landslide selection of the Royal Foamposites as your Favorite Upcoming 2011 Nike Release.

RUNNERS UP
2 – Nike Zoom Kobe VI (14%)
3 – Nike LeBron 9 (13%)

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