Sneaker News Presents: 25 Years of Gems on Sneakerpedia

Over the last year-and-a-half or so, the global community of Sneakerpedians have been uploading their personal collection of sneakers onto the Sneakerpedia database, creating a massive library of kicks dating back several decades for users to browse through and share with one another. It’s tough to pick a ‘best of’ list out of the thousands of featured shoes from over the years, so the Sneaker News staff decided to turn the clock back a quarter-century and pick out one standout sneaker gem from each year. Each shoe was remembered for being an impressive new innovation, a sick must-have collaborative release, or an under-appreciated sleeper, so check out this mixed bag of 25 Years of Sneakerpedia Gems below and let us know which of these is your favorite. Think you’ve got some gems that nobody has seen yet? Join Sneakerpedia right now and build your own crate!

1988 – Nike Air Control II

The Air Control II was a sequel to the ’86 Control. An otherwise understated model, the Control II utilized the two-piece midsole that connected at the midfoot. The mesh and suede upper provided stability and air flow, while the original Grey/Pink colorway caught the attention of shoe store browsers. These are a true underrated classic in Nike’s massive Running history! Image via Josh Cole

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1989 – Nike Air Flow

The innovative Air Flow was designed as a long-distance marathon shoe, using a neoprene upper shell to eliminate stress on the foot. The ‘sock’ design served as an evolutionary starting point for some of Nike’s most breakthrough designs – namely the Air Huarache and even the Nike Free nearly two decades later. A 2011 re-issue is considered by many to be one of the most celebrated Retro releases ever completed by Nike. Image via Marco Columbo

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1990 – Reebok Pump Bringback

Reebok changed the game with the introduction of ‘Pump’ technology, debuting first on the Reebok Pump Bringback. Several other brands followed suit with their own Pump mechanisms, but all of them left the gimmick behind while Reebok continued to push forward with re-engineered versions of Pump. The Bringback was the primary opponent to the Air Jordan sneaker, which reflect Jordan and Dominique Wilkins’ NBA Dunk Contest rivalries. Image via Mourad

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1991 – Nike Air 180

The Air 180 was the first real step in Air Max evolution, expanding the original Air Max unit from ’87 into a 180-degree exposure that made the Air visible through the sole. The Air 180 technology wasn’t limited to the running shoe, as the Air Force 180 Low and High featured the new Air technology as well. The Air 180 was also the first Nike Air Max heritage shoe that utilized the neoprene tongue. Image via ICEBERG

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1992 – Nike Air Bo Turf

Nike Air Trainers bearing the name of Bo are revered as some of the greatest shoes of all-time. However, they were cut out for gym floors and hard surfaces and not field turf, where Bo spent just as much time on. The Air Bo Turf was a shoe made just for field turf, using a tougher outsole with upper design cues from previous Air Trainer designs. Image via Ghettocentricity

1993 – adidas Mutumbo

adidas wasn’t nearly a big a player as Nike and Reebok was in the early 1990’s, but it made a lasting impression with the adidas Mutumbo designed for the African shot-blocking aficionado. Mutumbo’s passion for his home country was one of his most revered personality traits, making the adidas Mutumbo more than just a ‘special colorway’, but a tribute to a true global ambassador of the game. Image via MartyMcFly160

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1994 – Air Jordan IX ‘Olive’

Air Jordan colorways became progressively creative over the years leading up the Air Jordan IX, but the ‘Olive’ of 1994 stands as one of the most against-the-grain concepts ever. Although these weren’t across-the-board hit in ’94 or in the ’02 Retro, the Olive was a true slept-on gem and is one of the most distinct Air Jordan colorways ever. Image via Evanga

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1995 – Nike Air Max 95 ‘Neon’

This sneaker needs no real introduction. It serves as an unofficial representative for what many enthusiasts consider to be one of Nike’s greatest years of sneakers; the avant garde design by Sergio Lozano and visually infection Neon Green made this new design an icon in the making. Today, it is a staple of sneaker collections around the globe. Image via Clepington

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1996 – Nike Air Flight ’96

The Air Flight ’96 was definitely overlooked by Nike when it presented its 20 Years of Nike Basketball retrospective. The Air Flights were one of the most comfortable sneakers ever and many NBA players wore them. Penny Hardaway also had a PE version for him to wear at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Image via TOKYO-BRONX

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1997 – Nike Zoom Spiridon

The Spiridon was a pure performance model that later became a cult smash hit. Full-length Zoom Air embedded into the sole, a rubberized mudguard, and mesh upper allowed the shoe to be durable and breathable, while the pearlized Swoosh and reflective-silver piping gave the sneaker some nice visual pop. Image via Mayhem

1998 – Nike Air Talaria

The Talaria stands as one of the most innovative Running shoe designs in Nike’s history. It adopted Zoom Air for cushioning and featured an unconventional design with the trademark ‘Talaria’ font on the heel of the shoe. The Talaria would later be rebuilt as a ‘Boot’ version while serving as design inspiration for future ACG models like the Lunar MacLeay. Image via Truffa

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1999 – Air Jordan IV Retro ‘Oreo’

When the Air Jordan IV was re-issued in 1999 in the original White/Cement and Black/Cement colorways, Nike introduced the Jumpman logo to the heel, replacing the original Nike Air on the originals. These also arrived during the first wave of Retro releases after Michael Jordan’s final retirement in 1998. Image via Evanga

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2000 – Nike Air Woven

The Air Woven was created precisely with Japan in mind, and despite its cushioning and breathable nature, the Woven was perceived as a Lifestyle shoe. Most were released exclusively in Japan and several collaborations with HTM were created. Wovens continue to be a firm niche in the sneaker game, with 2012’s re-issues providing a nice ‘refresh’ of this iconic design. Image via B.Goode

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2001 – Nike Air Flightposite III

The final ‘Posite’ sneaker of the Nike Alpha Project was the Flightposite III. The upper consisted of a unique Foamposite-based shell with an inner bootie, but aside from the supreme fit of the shoe was the hypnotic 3-D panels on the upper – something never done on any sneaker in history. These turn-of-the-century classics defined the era of Nike Basketball’s out-of-the-box designs, which fluidly transferred to Shox. Image via SonOfRagingJoe

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2002 – Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Low

NYC-based Supreme has done several Nike collaborations since 2002, but none are as cherished and honored as the original SB Dunk Low. It came during Nike SB’s first official collection, standing out with the Air Jordan III-inspired colorways and materials. Image via kid_sneakerness

2003 – Atmos x Nike Air Max 1 ‘Safari’

Today, Japan-based Atmos is a legend in sneaker circles, and much credit goes to their work on this 2003 release of the Air Max 1. Inspired by the original Air Safari, Atmos composed what some consider the greatest Air Max 1 of all-time, using Safari print, rugged materials, and earthy colors to make their vision come to life. Image via some.old.fart

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2004 – Nike Air Zoom Generation ‘Wheat’

While LeBron’s first signature was a bit slow out of the gate, the ‘Wheat’ colorway made for LeBron’s first All-Star Weekend definitely gave it some buzz. The AZG already had a sturdy build (it was inspired by the H2 Hummer), but the tonal wheat gave it a work-boot effect. It didn’t hurt that LeBron’s performance in the Rookie Challenge was the single best in the game’s history. Image via T2the

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2005 – Stash x Nike Air Force 1 Low

Stash and the Nike Air Force 1 low met a point where both sides were at their undeniable peaks. Stash’s previous works with Nike were the stuff of legend, and the Air Force 1 Low as the collector’s shoe. Aside from the awesome colorway, the materials used were phenomenal , giving the sneaker an ACG-like resolve. Image via Josh Cole

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2006 – Nike Air Zoom Kobe 1

Nike signed Kobe Bryant to a major endorsement deal, but shelved any ideas of a signature sneaker due to Kobe’s personal issues off the court. A couple of years later, the Air Zoom Kobe 1 debuted; Kobe would go on to score 81 points in a single game wearing his first Nike sigs. Image via Nvrenauf

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2007 – Patta x Asics Gel Lyte III

Patta’s design of the Asics Gel Lyte III is considered by Europeans to be the greatest sneaker collaboration of their continent. The massively popular Gel Lyte III designed by one of the most respected sneaker boutiques backed by a legit crew was the perfect formula for an intense collab. Undeniably one of the best releases of ’07 and perhaps the best Gel Lyte III of the 21st century. Image via Jay BKRW Smith

2008 – Nike Zoom Hyperdunk ‘McFly’

Eric Avar designed the Nike Hyperdunk with the then fictional Nike Mag in mind, so Nike followed up by creating a limited-edition colorway called the ‘McFly’. It mixed in the soft grey and light-blue colors seen in the self-lacing sneakers from Back To The Future II; since its release, ‘McFly’ has become and incredibly trendy colorway, with sneaker customizers taking the concept head on with their own designs. Image via SneakerGuru

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2009 – Nike Air Yeezy ‘Net’

The ‘Net’ was one of the three original colorways of the Nike Air Yeezy – a collaborative signature shoe between Nike and hip-hop star Kanye West. The sneaker broke new ground as the first signature shoe for a non-athlete, and to this day remains as one of the most sought-after sneakers of the decade. Image via Rido

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2010 – Nike Air Max LeBron VII ‘Hardwood Classic’

Among the countless unreleased colorways of the LeBron VII, perhaps the most prized of that bunch was this Hardwood Classic colorway that matched Cleveland’s old-school uniforms. With the similarities to the Knicks uniform and the world awaiting LeBron’s  free-agency ‘Decision’ in the off-season, this PE had some unintentional controversy and mystique thanks to the indirect NYC connection. Image via Mayor

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2011 – Air Jordan V ‘Tokyo 23’

The Air Jordan V ‘Tokyo 23’ was a special release to celebrate the opening of Jordan Brand Tokyo 23 – the brand’s first-ever official retailer in Japan. The Tokyo 23 is one of the rarest Air Jordan Retros of all-time and commands an astounding price in the open market. Image via amgone75

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2012 – Nike Air Foamposite One ‘ParaNorman’

Not only was this sneaker an absolute stunner, the method of release embraced the age of social media head on. Available exclusively through a Twitter giveaway handled by LAIKA Studios, the ParaNormans were given away to 800 lucky Twitterers. Later, a select number was auctioned off on eBay, with proceeds going to charity. Image via bgv4