Sneaker Freaker's 2024 Staff Picks

Choosing a ‘Shoe of the Year’ has never been more open-ended than it is now – the scene really is anyone’s game. Years of market fatigue have paved the way for smaller brands to carve out their space, and as we find ourselves somewhat jaded by hype, this shift has brought a mix of everyday comfort and more daring designs into regular rotation. At Sneaker Freaker, our team’s taste has always been diverse but this year’s SOTY list highlights how much the industry continues to evolve, becoming more dynamic and exciting than ever. The 2024 mix includes performance models like the AE1, collaborations with indie retailers who remain the backbone of our industry, and releases that breathe new life into the fading art of sneaker storytelling.

Here’s what the SF team loved this year.

Audrey: PUMA Mostro

Picking my sneaker of the year is always a tricky feat, and for 2024, it wasn’t about one stand-out pair but a whole model: the . First designed in 1999, it is a hybrid of an 80s surf shoe and 60s sprint spike and one of PUMA’s early ventures into the lifestyle market. When PUMA started to tease the comeback, I was surprised but not mad. Even though I didn’t wear my first pair until the early to mid-2000s and even then, so sporadically that I don’t even know what happened to that pair, the revival was well and truly on my radar, especially what was being seen on-foot. The Mostro started popping up on the streets and hitting subcultures where it felt at home – but what else can you expect from a shoe whose name is derived from the Italian word for ‘monster’.

So why is this my pick? Outside of the comfort and the design, it was about the storytelling. It’s been a ride since the late 90s and over the last few years specifically, we've had a good time getting deeper on the Mostro. I popped into the earlier this year and sat with Helmut Fischer (aka Mr PUMA) and PUMA Archive Manager Tung Hoang to talk all things Mostro. We delved into everything from the foundational surf and sprint spike footwear to the OG Mostro, the NuMostro, Ur Mostro, colabs, right up to the knee-high Mostro Alto.

Now onto the colabs, there were a number of strong releases like , and even revealed a 3D-printed version of the 1999 wildcard at . There’s no denying that out of it all, there is one that really caught my eye and that is the , which hasn't left my rotation since I opened the box back in the mid-year.

Look, the Mostro ain’t for everyone, there’s no denying. To me though, there’s nothing better than something with an interesting story and a little something different.

Gabe: adidas AE 1

For me, there was no competition in 2024. Unapologetically posterising every other performance basketball shoe on the hardwood, It’s impossible to imagine another model this year that could carry the universe-swallowing swagger of . One of the few performance sneakers that’s successfully stepped off the hardwood (shout out to all the fat-as-hell denim getting paired with these), the was also backed by a provocative roll out by Team Trefoil and scintillating run by Edwards that resulted in Team USA gold and a Western Conference Finals for the Minnesota Timberwolves – for the first time in two decades! Let’s see if adidas and Ant Man can go one better with the sequel.

Seb: adidas SPZL Blackburn

It’s commonly known that chefs enjoy simple meals when they’re at home, and the same can be said about us in the sneaker media when it comes to our footwear. After looking at wild colourways, super-limited drops and exclusives all day, I just want to wear something clean and tasteful on-foot. That’s where my sneaker of the year comes in – Team Trefoil’s ! I went through a phase earlier this year of rocking heavily, especially 95s and tried and true , but I was craving something a little more low profile. I wrote about the ‘Decade Pack’ way back in May and instantly knew I needed to scoop the Blackburns.

I remember when they originally touched down in 2019 in the super limited sub-200 run. The Blackburn was part of the adidas City Series and took its name from SPZL head honcho hometown. This time round, I copped these SPZLs as soon as they launched and have had ‘em on rotation ever since. The christmassy green and red two-tone may scare some away, but I was far from being frightened, which is a surprise because I’m a certified St Nick hater. The suede used is next level and I’ve been so afraid to ruin ‘em, I’ve gone home on a Friday before hitting the pub many times just to change my shoes.

Every time I have to pick my sneaker of the year, I’m always racking my brain because there are too many options. This year though, I knew exactly what I was choosing – salute to you Gary Aspden, keep doing what you're doing!

Georgie: New Balance 1906L

It’s no secret that I’m a bit of a stan – last year, the got my staff pick vote; however, this year I’ve come out as a certified defender. It might have something to do with the fact I saw the loafer first-hand at the show in Paris – I even nearly missed it because it blended in that well with the collection, but as soon as I did spot it, I was snapping pics immediately.

While sneaker brands making loafers isn’t exactly new, what I loved about the 1906L was that the team behind it went back to traditional shoemaking techniques. It wasn’t as simple as lopping the top off the silhouette, so it was this combination of old-school methodology and it (honestly) being something unexpected from New Balance that won me over. While it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I’ve come to appreciate brands thinking outside the box and I wish others would allow their designers a similar level of freedom. Test me for any substance you like, the 1906L was the fresh addition my shelves needed.

Jess: AMM x Air Jordan 4 ‘W.Y.W.S’

Everyone at the office is sick to death of hearing about this, but the is hands down my sneaker of the year. As soon as I saw it, I was enamoured by the smooth and subtle colour palette, and as more photos came out boasting its luxe build and materials, the more I knew it was a must-cop. The mix of that light pink, cream and black is so appealing to me as I usually opt for cream or white sneakers and this was the best way to dip my toes into some colour. It was my first pair of 4s and I was quite concerned about the comfort because I HATE wearing uncomfortable shoes, but honestly these are pretty good! I can walk around comfortably for 3–4 hours before getting some rubbing on my pinky toe, and even though I’ve worn them quite a bit, there’s no creasing on the toe box and they are still in mint condition. As an honourable mention, the other shoe I haven’t stopped banging on about is the . A retro tennis sneaker that got a revival this year, the T500 is the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn. I wore it for three weeks in Europe and we were racking up 10km easy every day and my feet weren’t sore once. On top of that, they’re sleek and versatile enough to wear with literally anything, and I’m hoping they bring out a triple white in leather as the ultimate staple.

Ollie: EARLS x ASICS GT-2160

There’s only one winner for me: the . As an avid advocate, it's great to see that they wasted no time bringing this silhouette back into the spotlight after its 2023 hype, and oh man did they absolutely nail it with this collaboration!

This pair is all about the details: a perfect mix of cotton mesh, brushed brown suede, and slick branding on the heel that ties it all together. But the real showstopper is that stunning mocha brown, off-white, and emerald green colour combination that had me hooked as soon as I laid my eyes on it. What makes it even more special is the story woven into the design, as it draws from Lewis Brown’s Maori roots in a heartfelt tribute to his late grandfather. It’s a sneaker with soul, and that’s why it’s my favourite of the year.

Camden: Action Bronson x NB1906R ‘Rosewater’

Few do ‘specialising in life’ better than . The Queens artist is a true Renaissance man. Action Bronson has long worn, rapped about, and even tattooed his love for New Balance. This genuine and authentic connection between the collaborator and the brand is a rarity in today’s climate. In 2024, Bronson followed up his wildly successful with a three-pack of 1906Rs, with my favourite being the colourway. The vibrant scheme is a staple of Bronson’s design language, and the marketing materials feature both him and his wife, offering a beautiful look into their love story. The sneaker itself is inspired by women’s exclusive colourways, harking back to the days when sneakerheads scoured the women's sections for elusive colourways in their size. What elevates this project to sneaker of the year is its representation of not only Action himself but also the sneaker community as a whole, as Bronson’s storytelling invites everyone to find themselves somewhere in the sneaker and its rollout.

Anth: UP THERE x New Balance 860v2

The legends Down Under at have returned with their fourth colab with New Balance this year. Not many teams care this much about their colabs, but it was brimming with so many details that it required a lengthy explainer video on their IG to outline the painstaking work they put into the shoe.

Aside from all the care presented in a nice little package, I just love how the shoe looks. These live in a liminal space between a loud pop of colour while being low-key enough that I don't feel like I'm obnoxiously peacocking. Again, not many sneakers can strike that balance. These Aussies have hit another six and I can't wait to see what they bring back in the next innings.

Cesca: CONCEPTS x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 14 ‘Out of Office’

I’ve found myself go full underconsumption core in 2024 – I’ve been trying to wear the pairs I own rather than expanding my collection. That said, x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 14 ‘' made a late play for my fave of the year. The searing fade reflects the battery (your personal one) that recharges as soon as you set that away message, and as well as being a good concept, it looks so damn good. I may not have bought them in the end, but something about those juicy hues makes me think it would have been worth the squeeze.

Zack: Supreme x Vans Skate Sid

When picking my favourite sneaker of the year, I almost always try to go with one that I actually bought myself. To me, that's the true gauge of how much I like a shoe: if I'm willing to actually spend money on it! My most memorable pair of 2024 is the colab in the red colourway. They released on my birthday in June, so I took it as a sign that I needed a pair. And I was correct! They turned out to be one of my go-to pairs all summer long. I wasn't necessarily in the market for a pair of sneakers with the 'F' word on them, but, oh well, f*ck it!

Soph: Kids of Immigrants x Nike Air Max Sunder

As a kid of immigrants myself, I’ve always appreciated what LA-based has done to celebrate community and heritage. Their campaigns are powerful, pulling at the heartstrings and making you feel like you’re part of the family. The video campaign is a perfect example of that storytelling magic.

Having already picked up a few pieces from KOI’s clothing collection, there would be no better way to complete the look than adding the KOI x Nike Air Sunder Max to the mix – in ‘Persian Violet’ of course! With its sleek neoprene upper, cage-like retrofuturist TPU covers, and a cosmic gradient of purple and pink, the design is easily my top pick for the year (even though it doesn’t come in my size…yet).

Oli P: Patta x Nike Air Max 1 ‘Chlorophyll’

A good friend has offered to sell me the OG x ‘’ on several occasions, and I was always tempted to take ‘em even though they were literally three sizes too big! Over the years, the ‘Chloro’ got the flowers it deserved and with this release, it became less of a unicorn and more of a ‘FINALLY!’ moment to many.

With Nike and Jordan Brand bringing back some of the grails I grew up with (hello Dunk and Union AJ4 rumours), I see the Chloros as a perfect homage to what Patta has achieved over the years and the brand they’ve created out of Amsterdam!

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