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Sneakers are the MVP of your shoe rack: They feel comfortable on your feet and look great with all types of outfits. More and more fashion icons are embracing sneakers as part of a fashionable outfit. Especially when it comes to traveling or strutting through the city, comfy shoes have never been more in style.
While loafers and heels may be on heavy rotation for your 9 to 5, timeless trainers are essential in any wardrobe, whether you prefer a classic silhouette, a trendy, unique look or a high-performance pair. We tested 83 sneakers to find the best sneakers for women to shop now, including those from top brands like Nike, Adidas and Converse.
"What first comes to mind with sneaker culture is 'community,'" explained Dr. Delisia Matthews, an associate professor in the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University who is a leading expert in sneaker culture and shopping trends. "If we are going to talk about sneaker culture, the foundation is African American or Black culture," she said. Sneaker culture began to intersect more with fashion and Black culture during the 1980s with more and more brands offering styles that catered to the moment in hip-hop and pop culture.
Here, we help you narrow down the best buys, including affordable under-$100 buys and designer options. Note that for many of the hottest, trendiest shoes, many go to resale sites like GOAT and StockX to shop styles no longer available directly from retailers.
- Best Classic: Adidas Samba OG Shoes
- Best Reebok: Reebok Club C 85 Vintage Walking Shoe
- Best Cushioned: Hoka Clifton 9 Running Sneakers
- Best Sustainable: Veja Campo Chromefree Leather
- Best Trendy: Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 SD
- Best Retro: New Balance 550s
Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.

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