Here’s What the Sneaker Freaker Team Is Looking Forward to in 2025
It’s no secret that 2024 has been somewhat turbulent for the sneaker industry. , usually leading the pack, implemented a much-needed , while continued to after the loss of . But the New Year is all about rebirth, and we have no doubt that these challenges will spur on a much-needed refresh within the scene – something that we at Sneaker Freaker are very ready to welcome. As we creep closer to 2025, we decided there was no better way to kick off our end-of-year series than by asking the team what they’re most looking forward to over the next 12 months. From huge anniversaries to one-off drops and (hopefully) the end of a few long-term problems, there’s a whole lot riding on 2025. Let’s get into it.
Gabe: The Evolution of Anthony Edwards and the AE 1
adidas basketball are on a heater right now. Scoring big buckets thanks to poster boy and his scorching debut sneaker, the , expectations are sky high for the sequel. Backed by adi’s razor-sharp marketing campaign and Ant Man’s – dare we say it – MJ-esque game and gravitas, Team Trefoil struck gold when they inked a deal with the Timberwolves showstopper. But let’s not forget, successful sequels aren’t always a layup. While the experienced somewhat of a resurgence in recent years thanks to the likes of it’s important to remember that it almost blew up Jordan’s fledgling deal with Nike. Now, we’re certainly not expecting this to be the case here, but it’s important that adidas capitalise on the generational momentum Edwards is creating right now. Personally, I’ve also been mighty chuffed to see more Crazy 8s (KB8) hit the shelves, as adi period carries deep nostalgic virtue for a lot of sneakerheads like myself. It’s also very cool to see Black Mamba energy slither throughout the broader modern adi catalogue, including James Harden’s signature sneakers and inline designs like the space brick, the Crazy IIInfinity. Please, sir. I want some more.
Georgie: More Experimental Silhouettes, Please!
I've really enjoyed seeing get braver and push the boundaries throughout 2024, and I already know there's more to come next year. And though it's great that the has the girlies in a chokehold, I think next year we'll see some of the more experimental fashion fans gravitate towards the . The OG comeback in February set the tone for what's to come, but that really proved how versatile the monstrous model can be. Get ready to see plenty more variations in '25 – we're throwing it back 20 years with a Mostro for everyone!
Aside from Mostro-specific stuff, I really hope that other brands will venture into being a bit more experimental (read: not gimmicky) next year. The was another example of thinking outside the box and proving that brands should trust their designers to create valuable moments rather than just expecting them to rake in those $$$.
Seb: A Big Birthday For the AM95
Nike’s perennial is in my top five sneakers of all time, no doubt about that. I grew up rocking the legendary silhouette and have at least one pair in my rotation at all times. Many of the OG colourways have been mine and I’ve even come to adore the hectic hybrids Beaverton cooks up like the Ultra and Jacquard. So, of course what I’m most excited for in 2025 is the colossal 30th birthday of the Air Max 95 – whoop, whoop!
Turning 30 is a big deal, and while I’m personally yet to reach that milestone and have a jaded quarter-life crisis, the 95 is touching the millennial middle age bracket, but still remains as cool as ever. To celebrate the three-decade tenure, Nike are seemingly going all out and honestly, I don’t know what I’m most excited for. The OG ‘’ will be a can’t-miss cop, and Team Swoosh are surely going all out on their campaign roll-out. At first, I was unsure of the rumoured , but I’m just keen to see what they look like IRL. joints are surely going to cause mass hysteria for nostalgic old heads and 90s-obsessed young’uns. Aside from all these heavy hitters though, I’m sure the GR initiatives will be ‘preme, so fingers crossed I can snag a bunch to help celebrate.
I’m done with 2024 – bring on the 2025 Air Max 95 reign of heat.
Camden: Time to Fly For the Nike Pegasus Premium
2025 is set to be a historic year for sneakers, with grails and classics returning aplenty. However, I’m most excited for the new. Nike are a company built on innovation and they’re bringing the best of the lab to the streets in 2025 with the , a shoe that promises to be the next generation of Air.
Every sneakerhead remembers their first experience with Air – that clear bubble beckoning from the shelf of your local store. With the Pegasus Premium, the Swoosh delivers the first-ever sculpted visible Air Zoom unit. Sure, it’s no , but it is reminiscent of those iconic models that pushed the limits of performance footwear yet remained fashionable enough to dress up. The Pegasus Premium not only affirms Nike’s innovation prowess, but restores that feeling of excitement that originally drew us all to the game.
Jess: Quality, Not Quantity!
Overall, I want 2025 to be the year of thoughtful and quality releases. This is both in terms of the actual iterations, but also in the marketing, packaging and overall consumer experience. The price difference between the major footwear brands and the cheaper alternatives is absolutely massive, and yet the quality and experience doesn’t speak to that difference. New Balance have always avoided this downfall, consistently delivering quality releases at a fair price point, and I’m loving their revived model, as it’s super sleek, versatile, great quality, and the most comfortable sneaker I’ve ever worn. While Nike are a little bit lost, they do seem to be finding their way back with some higher quality releases and marketing that has their original spirit. The collection was a good example of this, as the materials and construction is genuinely well done. My pair of were packaged in a special box, use great quality materials, and are actually quite comfortable! On the note about comfort, everyone has been banging on about innovation, and while this is imperative for performance models, I think some attention needs to be paid to lifestyle shoes. It’s 2024, why are we still wearing uncomfortable shoes just because they look good? (The only one I’m not looking at here is NB).
Anth: Loading… the PlayStation Air Force 1
Being a 30-year-old dude, I've owned every iteration of the PlayStation since the jump. My early childhood memories were filled with nerd rage at my impressive (at the time) Sony 20-inch Flat CRT TV screen. I never got the chance to grab the OG in 2006 and in 2018 they dropped a new design that wasn't to my taste. So, I'm HYPED for the rumoured release of another PS pair next year. They don't have to be an exact retro of the ‘06 colourway, but anything with that old-school PS1 logo and iconic colours would have me copping.
L2, R2, L1, R1, L2, R2, Triangle, Square, Circle, Triangle, L2, L1 – IYKYK.
Cesca: Return Of An Icon
Call me single-minded if you will, but there's only one event circled in my 2025 sneaker calendar. And that's the presumed Air Max 95 'Neon' return – my forever favourite. What can I say, I'm a girl of simple pleasures. No future-forward tech innovations or bells and whistles for me. Just the perfect shoe in the perfect colourway and I'll be happy.
Zack: New Skate Silhouettes
I can't say for sure that I'll be trying to buy any of these because we don't know exactly what they look like, but the sneakers dropping in 2025 that I'm most intrigued about are the skateboarding editions of the Nike Air Max 95 and . We've already seen success with Nike SB's Air Jordan 4, so I'm really interested to see how the Nike SB Air Max 95 turns out and which Nike SB-sponsored riders will be skating in them. I'm not 100 per cent sold that the AM95 is a good skate shoe – at all – but my mind is open! As for the Air Force 1 SK8, I'm curious as to why this model is an in-line Nike release instead of a Nike SB release and whether it will actually be accepted by the skate community.