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Warm months and a lack of rain means our crispy clean pairs can come out! I compiled a list here of my top summer sneakers. I go to these for comfort and style every time it gets hot and sunny out!

Best Summer Sneakers For Sneaker Collectors

Lightweight, low top pairs of kicks with clean, crisp colorways are a must for summer! Great summer sneakers include the Nike Air Max 90, Air Max 1, Dunk, Air Force 1, Air Jordan 1 Low, Asics Gel Lyte 3, New Balance 1500 and Saucony Shadow 5000.

This is of course my own personal list. I tend to choose retro runners for style and comfort in hotter months. They have comfort and breathability built right in alongside a stylish look. I also like “standard” casual shoes like Dunks and Air Force 1s as long as they are lowtops. I’m not including things like slides, sandals or foam runners in this list; just traditional sneakers. Although those things make great summer options as well.

Nike Air Max 90

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The Air Max 90 is my favorite overall Air Max model and the Infrared colorway is my favorite release. For me, this shoe has the perfect balance of comfort and retro appeal. People tend to undervalue the 90 as compared to the Air Max 1, which means often times great colorways get slept on.

Overall the AM90 makes for a nice summer choice as it has a good amount of step-in comfort and fits fairly reliably at true to size. The pairs with mesh toeboxes allow for a good amount of breathability, and there are some eye-catching colorways out that will look extremely crispy with the sun beaming down on them!

Nike Air Max 1

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If I couldn’t get a pair of Air Max 90s for summer, next on my list would be the Air Max 1. Although the 1 being the more popular model overall might make it harder to get, depending on colorway.

My favorite release is probably the original white and red colorway, which I’ve owned a couple of retros of throughout my collecting adventures. Currently I have the anniversary pair from a few years ago in my collection.

This shoe is a great summer shoe for similar reasons to the 90, and often I debate which one I like more. We get almost the same light weight, comfort and stylishness. While I personally give the edge to the 90, I could easily understand someone giving these top billing instead.

Asics Gel Lyte 3

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The Gel Lyte 3 is the first non-Nike on the list I’d go to for a summer sneaker. Asics seemingly always has a number of great, bright colorways of this model available that are perfect for the hotter months.

While some are not fans of the split tongue layout of the GL3, I think it helps me slide into the sneaker quicker. I rarely re-lace a pair of these once I have them laced just snug enough to be slipped on and off.

Here’s another comfy, lightweight sneaker with plenty of breathability and retro appeal. If you want to venture outside of Nike for a great summer shoe, this is a great place to start.

New Balance 1500

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While there are multiple New Balances with great quality materials and a great shape, my preference over time has been the 1500 for summer.

I like the blend of simplicity and quality found on the 1500. While other NB’s might technically have the edge on either quality or comfort, for my foot shape, the New Balance 1500 has the best balance. Some find the fit a bit narrow, but for me the fit works.

The pointy toe side view, simple but detailed color blocking and the good-but-not-so-good-you-feel-like-you-have-to-baby-them materials make these a great choice for summer. I’ve owned more colorways of the 1500 than any other NB. Additionally, since these are typically made in the UK, there are less chances for someone here in the US to be wearing the same pair. So if you’re into unique footwear choices in the summer, give the 1500 a try.

Saucony Shadow 5000

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While I’m definitely more of a Shadow 6000 fan when it comes to Saucony, my favorite summer releases from them have been Shadow 5000s.

The Shadow 6000 is a great sneaker, but the 5000 feels sleeker and lower cut. I think looks wise and weight-wise the 5000 is the better choice from the brand for hotter, brighter weather.

Additionally, many of the general releases of this model actually release with decent quality. While you will get some releases with the felt suede and thin leather, overall the recent years have brought better textures on this sneaker with more affordable prices than many other brands. Great materials, sleek shape, and a lightweight, comfy experience. What more could you want from a summer sneaker?

One note though regarding sizes; when buying colorways from overseas keep in mind that often half sizes are not available for Saucony from those stores. In the US they seem to have them, but certain colorways only available in other countries don’t always have half sizes.

Nike Dunk Low

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Here we break away from the runners for something a bit more stylish for when it’s nice out. The Nike Dunk is a timeless classic that is simple enough to function as a summer sneaker, and comes in a large variety of hot-weather-ready colorways.

While not the pinnacle of style currently, the Nike Dunk has gone through waves of immense popularity and remains a solid choice for casual wear and still on trend. A simple 2 tone dunk makes for a great, straightforward streetwear-ready summer look. I opt for the low tops as summer sneakers, and save the Dunk highs for fall/winter.

I give regular Dunks more wear in the summer vs the SB Dunk, as I appreciate the lighter, simpler construction and lack of padding on the uppers of regular Dunks more in the hotter months. The step-in comfort on modern SB Dunks can be a bit lackluster in my opinion, at least when compared to older releases.

Nike Air Force 1 Low

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White-on-white AF1s are typically seen everywhere during the summer, and this has been the case for several years now. The Air Force 1, while a bit on the bulky side, is a solid, classic sneaker style that looks just as good in the summer as any other month.

Sure, most of the other shoes on this list are lighter with a lower cut (and I would only recommend AF1 lows for summer), but something about this sneaker still makes it a go-to as far as summer sneakers.

Timeless classics don’t go away just because it gets a little hotter outdoors. The thick sole on the Air Force 1 provides plenty of comfort and stability. Additionally, the sneaker looks great with shorts even though it’s the bulkiest and tallest on this list!

Air Jordan 1 Low

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The Air Jordan 1 is probably the most “sneakerhead” sneaker out there, and most collectors have at least one pair in their box stacks. I tend to look to the low cut versions during the summer months.

While many Air Jordan 1 highs sell out, often times the lows don’t get as much love. Additionally, lots of crisp, bright colorways are usually released around the summer time, making them a great sneaker to pick up for something new on feet for the season. J1 lows have been rising in popularity too, meaning some low top colorways actually do sell out when they initially release.

Jordan 1 lows come in a couple flavors. There’s the OG cut with Nike Air on the tongue and there’s the modern cut with a Jumpman instead. Both make for great summer pairs, although the padding on the modern versions might raise the step-in comfort a little. While not the lightest or most breathable sneaker on this list, they look great and stand out stylewise when the sun’s beaming down on them.

There are no doubt dozens of pairs you could go with on a hot summer day. The above are just my favorite models from my own collection to use as summer sneakers. Of course, the best summer sneaker for you is the one you find has the best combination of looks, style, comfort, weight and breathability for your foot shape, lifestyle and location.