The Four Longest-Running Franchises in Sneaker History
In the sneaker world, it’s getting harder and harder to keep track of all the models by all the brands. There are literally thousands out there and it seems like there’s a new casual or performance shoe hitting the headlines every day, but how many of them have staying power? While most new sneakers are instantly forgotten and end up collecting dust in the annals of sneaker history, there are a select few that cut through the noise, and even fewer that earn a lasting legacy in the sneaker game.
The following four sneaker lines each have a long, illustrious and beloved series of iterations that all kicked off over twenty years ago and are still churning out bestselling models today. Their success is thanks to a perfect combination of great design, stylish looks, and functionality in their respective sports. But you don’t have to be a runner to have heard of the ASICS or know how to do a crossover to lace up a pair of . These models all transcend their sport to be more than just a pair of shoes. They’re sneaker icons.
Nike LeBron
First released: 2003
Current number of models: 22 + Soldier, Witness, and Ambassador lines
In 2015, signed a lifetime contract with Nike that has been reported to be worth anywhere from $500 million to $1 billion, so suffice it to say the brand considers him a pretty important athlete on their roster. Ever since he said ‘I’m a Nike guy’ when he announced in 2003 that he’d be signing with the Swoosh instead of , Reebok, or any of his other sneaker suitors, he’s had one of the most popular and innovative signature lines in basketball. Now up to its twenty-second model, the releases in fall 2024.
LeBron’s sneaker line started out on a high note his rookie season with the , which is now considered an all-time classic hoops shoe. His first signature model was designed by an all-star team of , Aaron Cooper, and Jason Petrie, the latter of which would go on to design every LeBron flagship model since. LeBron’s signature line reflects his style of play: strong, versatile, and innovative. ‘We always want the overall vibe of LeBron’s shoe to be aggressive, stylish, modern, and classic,’ said Petrie during the unveiling of the LeBron 15 in 2017.
If the Air Jordan line dominated performance basketball sneaker culture in the 80s and 90s, the LeBron line took over in the early 2000s after MJ’s playing days were over. LeBron sneaker hype reached its zenith in 2010 with the release of the now legendary ‘South Beach’ featuring a tropical teal and hot pink colourway inspired by James’s arrival in Miami to play for the Heat. Everyone wanted it, few could get it, and it perfectly defines early 2010s sneaker culture when Nike Basketball’s colourful and tech-filled models were being eaten up by collectors.
There are 22 Nike LeBron flagship models, but that’s actually not even half of ‘The King’s’ signature shoe output. In addition to the yearly headlining model, there has also been the Soldier, Ambassador, and Witness lines. The Soldier line of more affordable team shoes kicked off in 2007 (there was also the Nike LeBron 20-5-5 in 2005 that is essentially a Soldier model before the line existed), and James often opted to lace the models up on court. Most notably, he wore the Soldier 10 in the 2016 NBA Finals as his Cleveland Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors to take home the chip in seven games. After the Soldier line ended in 2020, the Witness series followed, with models designed to be takedowns of his flagship signature shoe featuring a similar look overall but with ‘dumbed down’ tech to make them more affordable. The Ambassador line is another series of takedowns that for the most part has only been available for purchase in Asia. On top of all that, Nike also just unveiled the first-ever LeBron training shoe, the .
ASICS Gel-Kayano
First released: 1993
Current number of models: 31
The ASICS GEL-KAYANO is second only to the Nike Air Pegasus as the most prolific franchise in running shoe history. Named after its initial designer Toshikazu Kayano in 1993, the GEL-KAYANO has always been intended to be an extra-stable shoe for runners who pronate, which means their feet roll inward or outward with each step. ASICS’ goal with the franchise is to offer runners a shoe that is ‘supportive and structured, yet nimble underfoot’. The design allows pronators to log serious miles without injury by pairing a stable midsole base that’s firm where it needs to be with an ample amount of soft Gel cushioning for shock absorption.
With their design philosophy based on the concept of kaizen, a Japanese word that translates to ‘continuous small improvement,’ ASICS have gradually tweaked and improved the KAYANO with each new iteration. If you were to look at a timeline of models since the first edition in 1993, you’d notice that there have been no radical changes from one to the next, but a steady evolution of incremental differences. About as crazy as ASICS got with the design was to add asymmetrical lacing to the GEL-KAYANO 15 from 2009, which was intended to give the shoe a better fit. But that’s not to say the line hasn’t been packed with plenty of tech throughout its lifespan, including the introduction of visible Gel in the midsole of the KAYANO 5, the FLUIDFIT construction on the that provided a more flexible fit and feel for the upper and sole, the seamless upper on the KAYANO 22 that reduced weight and used less glues/solvents, and FLYTEFOAM, a lighter and softer composition of EVA foam, on the KAYANO 25.
Because the KAYANO’s many iterations have often featured visible Gel, airy mesh, and metallic silver synthetic materials on their uppers, the franchise has become synonymous with the Y2K sneaker trend. The , originally from 2008, returned in 2020 and has since become one of the most popular retro running shoes on the market. More recently, the GEL-KAYANO 20 was reintroduced and has been enjoying a successful run with both general releases and elevated colabs from the likes of , , and .
Nike Pegasus
First released: 1983
Current number of models: 34
It’s fitting that Nike named the Pegasus running shoe franchise after a mythological horse, because the model truly has been Nike’s workhorse throughout its 41-year history. The has always been designed and marketed to be the most versatile, middle-of-the-road running shoe in Nike’s catalogue, and that’s exactly why it’s been so popular. Consumers love it because it’s not the most teched-out, highest priced runner Nike offers, but it’s not the most basic model either.
The history of the utilitarian running shoe begins in 1983. At the time, Nike Air was still a new technology, and prior to the Peg’s release, Air spanned the full length of the shoe because there were limits on the production techniques and design of the initial Air sole invented by Frank Rudy. With the Pegasus, Nike were able to reduce the weight of the shoe by only putting a smaller Air unit in the heel, which is where most runners strike first. And that’s been the design ethos of the Pegasus franchise ever since: giving runners exactly what they need – nothing more and nothing less.Because of the Peg’s humble design cues, many of the models in its history have gone unnoticed by style connoisseurs, but there are a few stand outs that have received the retro treatment. Popular bringbacks have included the , Pegasus ‘92, and the Pegasus 2005, the latter of which was recently reintroduced and has been benefiting from the Y2K sneaker trend. On the performance end, in addition to the 34 flagship Pegasus models, there have also been numerous Pegasus offshoots including the Pegasus Trail for off-road running, the Pegasus Turbo, and the upgraded Pegasus Plus, which was introduced in 2024 and features ZoomX, the same lightweight, ultra-responsive foam used in Nike’s Alphafly super shoes.
By the way, there has not been a new Pegasus every year throughout its 41-year history, and the model was even entirely dropped from 1998 to 2000. The current Pegasus is named the Pegasus 41, despite it actually being the 34th iteration.
Air Jordan
First released: 1985
Current number of models: 39
When Nike first signed an NBA rookie named to a sneaker deal in 1984 and gave him a signature shoe, they knew they were taking a gamble, but they were pretty sure they had someone special. Never could Phil Knight and company have dreamed that the would lead to the most famous, successful, iconic, coveted – and about a dozen other superlatives you could throw in here – sneaker franchises of all time that revolutionised the culture as we know it today. Air Jordan became not only a shoe, but an entire brand of its own valued at roughly $6.5 billion in 2024. Creating some of the greatest sneaker designs ever for the greatest basketball player of all time certainly has its financial perks.
Jordan Brand is a two-headed monster in the sneaker industry. One head is the retro division, churning out hit after hit of iconic models of the past like the Air Jordan 1, , , , and other favourites by renowned Nike designers including Peter Moore, Tinker Hatfield, Wilson Smith III, and Tate Kuerbis. Air Jordans numbered 1 to 18 are most loved by collectors and receive the most retro releases, especially numbers 1 to 14, which were the models from 1985 to 1998 worn by Jordan during his career with the Chicago Bulls.
The other head of this footwear monster is the yearly flagship Air Jordan performance model, created with the intent to be not only the most cutting edge basketball shoe on the market featuring Nike’s latest technological advancements, but also the most stylish and luxe sneaker on the court. The Air Jordan line has introduced a number of notable technologies and/or style details to basketball footwear, including visible Air in the Air Jordan 3, clear rubber outsoles on the , patent leather on the Air Jordan 11, interchangeable cushioning pods in the Air Jordan 21, the FastFit system on the Air Jordan 33, and full-length ZoomX foam in the .
There have been a few stinkers along the way – we’d all like to forget the – but overall, the Air Jordan line still ranks as the greatest franchise in athletic shoe history. The differences between the Air Jordan 1 and Air Jordan 39 are vast, but there’s no mistaking the evolutionary path that leads the franchise from 1985 to 2024 and the DNA of the GOAT that runs through them all.