25 Sneaker Releases to Look Forward to in 2025

2025 has only just begun, but it’s already shaping up to be an exciting year for sneaker enthusiasts like myself! From official announcements, runway presentations, leaked prototypes, and rumored launches, there’s a lot to keep track of (as of January 23, at least). Nike and Jordan Brand tend to leak their projects earliest, explaining their prominent spots on the list. Keep in mind that release dates and windows are subject to change. For those who can’t wait, check out HBX for new styles available now!

Nike Doernbecher Collection (January 2025)

Nike and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital are collaborating once more on their 20th series of shoes designed by young artists. Over the past twenty years, they have jointly raised $40 million USD for the hospital, with plans to continue fundraising as six vibrant sneakers make their way onto store shelves at the start of the year. The Nike Air 180, Air Jordan 6, Air Max Dn, Air Zoom Pegasus 41, Sabrina 2, and Air Max Sunder have all received fresh designs from creative minds of the younger generation, resulting in some of their most distinctive colorways to date for each silhouette.

Jordan Brand “Year of the Snake” Collection (January 2025)

This year, as a gamer, I’m hyped about the Jumpman team’s Lunar New Year celebration! They’ve put together an awesome collection themed around the Year of the Snake. Iconic Air Jordan models like the Air Jordan 1 Low (in both its original and standard versions), Air Jordan 5, Air Jordan 11 Low, Tatum 3, and Stadium 90 are all decked out in sleek white designs with eye-catching iridescent accents. Each pair even comes with a snakeskin Jumpman tag and a festive shoe box to mark the occasion. Can’t wait to add these stylish kicks to my collection!

Nike Air Foamposite One “Galaxy” (February 2025)

You might remember the Nike Air Foamposite One “Galaxy” shoe that was showcased in last year’s sneak peek of upcoming releases, but its release got pushed back to 2025. Despite the delay, anticipation for this shoe remains as high as ever, or perhaps even higher, considering the model had a notable comeback recently. Here’s a quick recap: This otherworldly pair initially debuted in 2012 during NBA All-Star Weekend and was immediately popular due to its “Galaxy” print on the upper, which caught the eye of sneaker enthusiasts worldwide. We’ll have to wait and see if it will make as big an impact a decade or so later, but it promises to be an intriguing narrative to watch unfold.

Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 “Brick By Brick” (March 14)

Nigel Sylvester’s collaboration with Jordan Brand has grown substantially over time, making him one of the most recognized partners on the Jumpman team. Following the release of the Air Jordan 4 RM last year, they are starting 2025 with a “Brick By Brick” edition of the AJ4. This premium orange design is a tribute to Sylvester’s journey and his hometown, New York City. Not only does off-white detailing appear on the midsole’s rear portion, but it’s also visible on the mini Swoosh in the forefoot and the “BIKE AIR” branding on the heel.

Yuto Horigome x Nike SB Dunk Low “Asparagus” (Spring 2025)

Last year, Japanese skater Yuto Horigome won his second consecutive Olympic gold medal in street skateboarding, sporting his first SB Dunk Low collaboration during the event. The shoe became popular in 2023 and is being used as a model for a new pair. This upcoming design, dubbed “Asparagus,” boasts a green and brown color scheme and displays Horigome’s cross-feather logo on the lateral heel.

Nike Air Max Craze (Spring 2025)

Nike has chosen the Air Max Craze as their next archived design to shine in the limelight once more. Originally launched in 2001, this sneaker is now set to reappear, as hinted during a recent SNKRS Showcase livestream by the Swoosh brand itself. Furthermore, whispers suggest an upcoming collaboration with designer Martine Rose, potentially boosting its resurgence even further.

ROMBAUT x PUMA Levitation (SS25)

Among the numerous Paris Fashion Week shows for Spring/Summer 2025, ROMBAUT’s collaboration with PUMA on the Levitation shoe design particularly caught attention. Debuted during ROMBAUT’s first show, the Levitation and Levitation Sock models sport a shape reminiscent of socks, but with a forward-thinking touch as PUMA’s Formstrip logo stretches past the heel of the upper. The color palettes vary from worn and weathered to pristine black.

sacai x Nike Zegamadome (SS25)

Designer Chitose Abe’s brand sacai is known for reviving classic Nike silhouettes, and they’re set to do it again with their three Zegamadome colorways. These colorways were initially showcased during the SS25 runway show in June of last year. The design combines elements from the 1981 Nike Lava Dome and the modern-day Nike Zegama. Each colorway comes with a printed Swoosh on top of the usual Swooshes at the midfoot, as well as two sets of intertwined laces in white, black, or gray/black. The traditional ZoomX sole cushioning of the Zegama is maintained, and a Vibram outsole is added to enhance its trail-ready performance.

COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS x Nike Sense 96 (SS25)

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m hyped to share that COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS is back on the scene again with the iconic Swoosh for another round of collaborations! Kicking things off is their very own hybrid silhouette – the Sense 96. This unique sneaker masterpiece marries the upper of an Air Max 96 with the sole unit of an ISPA Sense Flyknit, creating a perfect blend of past and present in one sleek package. The three colorways for this release include pink and off-white, all-black and off-white, each featuring the distinct CdGH+ wordmark on the tongue. Can’t wait to see what else they have in store for us!

Junya Watanabe x Oakley Factory Team (SS25)

Junya Watanabe has been a significant partner with Oakley Factory Team so far, and they’ve collaborated on popular shoe designs in recent collections. For the upcoming SS25 season, they are branching out into something new. A novel technical sneaker boasts a chunky form with multiple oval-shaped holes in its layers. Besides the conventional laces at the tongue, there is also an adjustment system that stretches across the sides of the black and white upper sections.

Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Dodgers” (April 13)

Last year, the Nike Basketball squad collaborated flawlessly with the Los Angeles Dodgers, launching a unique Kobe 6 Protro “Dodgers” edition, perfectly timed just before the team claimed their 8th World Series victory. With fans eager to witness if the powerhouse roster, bolstered by big-budget free agent acquisitions and Shohei Ohtani’s return as a two-way player, can repeat its triumph, the special blue, white, and red colorway is set for release shortly following the commencement of the 2025 MLB season.

Nike Kobe 8 Protro “What The” (April 13)

For a while now, Nike Basketball’s revamped version of the Kobe 8, known as Protro, has been making waves and is still the talk of the town due to new color schemes and restocks. Among the many releases slated for 2025, the one that stands out is a re-release of the “What The” colorway that left fans spellbound in 2013. This unique sneaker features an attention-grabbing design with its intricate pattern, but what truly sets it apart is its mismatched look.

A.P.C. x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 14 (April 2025)

This year, I’m excited to share that A.P.C. is adding its iconic Parisian style to the ASICS GEL-KAYANO 14 runner. I got my hands on these bad boys early and let me tell you, they are a sight to behold! The initial colorway dropped in December 2024 and it’s all about a crisp white mesh base with pops of white and metallic silver at the various overlays. You can spot the collaboration right away with A.P.C.’s co-branding on the sockliner, dubrae, and heel tab. Interestingly, the ASICS “A” takes the place of the standard A.P.C. “A” lettering on the heel tab. Can’t wait to hit the streets in these!

Air Jordan 4 “White Cement” (May 24)

2024 was an amazing year for the Air Jordan 4 as Jordan Brand honored its 35th anniversary in style. Riding this wave of excitement, the Jumpman team has been busy preparing some highly anticipated AJ4 releases this year, including the return of the iconic “White Cement” colorway. Just as expected, it features a white leather upper with the signature “cement print” on the wings, heel tab, and midsole, making it a true nod to its original design.

Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 “Navy” (Summer 2025)

2023 saw the exciting collaboration between Nike SB and Jordan Brand, resulting in a skate-friendly upgrade to the Air Jordan 4. The “Pine Green” colorway was one of the year’s most anticipated drops. Now, whispers about a follow-up have turned into reality with the unveiling of the Nike SB x Air Jordan 4 “Navy” edition for this year. The updated design, which I’ve been eagerly waiting for, features navy blue as the accent color, maintaining the unique skate-oriented build. As always, the Nike SB branding graces the heel, adding a touch of exclusivity to each pair.

UNDEFEATED x Air Jordan 4 (Summer 2025)

Nike has made it known that no sneaker they’ve produced is off-limits for re-release, and last year saw the highly limited Nike Dunk High “Wu-Tang” become popular among many. The next sought-after shoe to hit stores seems to be the 2005 UNDEFEATED x Air Jordan 4, which, at its initial release, was only manufactured in a run of just 72 pairs. Although we haven’t seen a preview of the 2025 edition yet, it is rumored to drop in two slightly distinct styles. The first will mimic the original MA-1 flight jacket-inspired color scheme and include Jumpman branding at the heel, while the other version will showcase the Nike Air logo instead.

Travis Scott x Jordan Jumpman Jack “Bright Cactus” (Summer 2025)

In 2024, Travis Scott unveiled not just one, but two pairs of his personal sneaker designs bearing the Swoosh symbol. The Jordan Jumpman Jack model was showcased frequently and even made it to SNKRS platform’s top five most sought-after releases for the year. However, a standout colorway, dubbed “Bright Cactus,” which was highlighted in 2024, is yet to be released. This unique color scheme features a yellow-green tone at the toe box and midfoot overlays, while the majority of the upper is covered with off-white. Black accents, provided by the Swooshes, collar, and midsole, add contrast.

Nike Kobe 3 Protro “Halo” (August 23)

Over the last two years, Nike Basketball has honored Kobe Day by releasing a unique, all-white “Halo” edition of a Kobe Protro shoe model. This initially reappeared the Kobe 8 for sneaker enthusiasts and later brought back the Kobe 9 in 2024. It’s rumored that this year they will revisit the Kobe 3, marking its comeback on store shelves in an all-white colorway, with further color variations expected to follow.

YZY BL-01 (TBC)

As a dedicated fan, I can confirm that Kanye West has made it clear that he’s moved on from traditional collaborations, focusing instead on growing his YZY brand to cater to his vast following. Lately, he’s dropped the YZY SL-01, a $20 USD slipper, and unveiled the YZY BL-01, or “The Bullys”, a new sneaker design that seems to draw inspiration from vintage skate silhouettes. This shoe features an uncomplicated upper in all-black, with nubuck and mesh materials used for its robust construction. Although he’s managed to keep his previous YZY products at the $20 USD price point, it remains to be seen if he can maintain that affordability with this upcoming release.

Westside Gunn x Saucony ProGrid Omni 9 and Triumph 4 (TBC)

In October when Westside Gunn unveiled his collaboration with Saucony, it was expected that we’d have to wait for their joint work. But surprisingly, within two months, the Griselda rapper shared a sneak peek of his colorful design on the ProGrid Triumph 4. Although no specifics about their first shoe together have been confirmed yet, this partnership is definitely worth keeping an eye on in 2023 as Saucony keeps gaining momentum in the fashion and lifestyle scene.

Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Low (TBC)

Supreme and Nike have collaborated once again on a new line of SB Dunk Lows, introducing five fresh colorways. A sneak peek at the collection showcases “Ocean Fog,” “Camper Green,” and “Ink” with suede uppers, while the “White” model is made of leather and the “Black” one uses nubuck. Despite the different materials, each shoe incorporates a “94” mark on the lateral heel in tribute to Supreme’s establishment in 1994, as well as displaying the Supreme logo at the midsole.

Tom Sachs x NikeCraft Mars Yard 3.0 (TBC)

Tom Sachs’ iconic NikeCraft Mars Yard series will carry on in 202X. The renowned American artist designed unique colorways for his own sneaker – the NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe – which were released seasonally, until his collaboration with Nike was temporarily halted due to allegations of misconduct towards his studio team. However, Nike declared last September that Sachs has shown and committed to promoting a culture of respect and inclusivity, and the partnership is resuming this year with the launch of the Mars Yard 3.0 sneaker. Given that its previous versions often sell for several thousand dollars per pair on resale markets, this release is likely to create quite a stir.

Signature Shoe Sequels

Fresh energy has been introduced to the basketball shoe market with the launch of various captivating signature shoe series. For instance, the adidas AE1 by Anthony Edwards was a massive success, Nike BOOK 1 by Devin Booker proved to be a winner, and Kyrie Irving generated global interest for ANTA with his ANTA KAI 1. It’s anticipated that each will release follow-ups this year, leaving sneaker enthusiasts eager to see if they can sustain their impressive momentum. Other upcoming releases that have fans buzzing include the Air Jordan 40, Nike LeBron 23, and adidas Harden Vol. 9, with the latter making its debut this week.

New Signature Shoe Lines

Notably, two well-known basketball players are set to introduce their first signature shoe lines. A’ja Wilson is developing her Nike A’One model, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be unveiling his initial performance sneaker with Converse. Moreover, although neither are expected to launch this year, the upcoming announcements about Caitlin Clark’s debut sneaker from Nike and Angel Reese’s first shoe with Reebok will undoubtedly generate a lot of anticipation.

Air Jordan 1 40th Anniversary

2025 signifies the 40th anniversary of the Air Jordan 1, and Jordan Brand is making it clear they’re going all out to celebrate this significant milestone. Throughout the year, you can expect a mix of collaborations, re-releases of classic designs, and new styles featuring the AJ1. The AJ1 could easily dominate our list with 25 entries, but here are some standouts: a potential fragment design x Union LA x AJ1 High OG, the iconic “Bred” AJ1 ’85, rumors of the return of the AJ1 Low OG “Chicago,” and Rui Hachimura’s new AJ1 Low OG “Cranes.” For comprehensive coverage of what’s coming up for this legendary sneaker in 2022, check out our guide to the Air Jordan 1’s 40th anniversary, which went live at the start of the year.

2025-01-23 03:57