The 15 Best Places to Get Sneakers in 2022
The internet was established in 1969. Since then, the internet changed the way consumers behave forever by giving customers quick, effective ways to browse and shop products from their very own beds. This goes for the sneaker industry as well. Of course, there are some people who would prefer to go to the actual stores to buy the sneakers but the convenience of online shopping is always there..
With the world at your fingertips, it is often hard to know what sites are safe to use…especially during the holiday times with all the scams going on. Previously consumers were only allowed to go to the actual location, jumping from sneaker boutique to sneaker boutique. These days jumping from sneaker stores can be done within the matter of seconds…depending on how fast your WPM is.
Anyway, in order to help you guys navigate the long list of sneaker sites, we have chosen a few sites with unique stories and characteristics to help you know where to go.
Let’s start with Slam Jam. Located in Milan, the internet makes it possible for everyone across the world to have a chance at getting sneakers from here. What’s interesting about Slam Jam is the underground feel of the shop. The Milanese boutique found a way to uniquely tie different cultures together from clubbing to art and music then stepping into the fashion world.
The brand started out in a warehouse in 1989 but continued to grow as they sought out streetwear brands such as Stüssy. Although the store is located in Milan, the internet makes it possible for us all to shop there.
SSENSE is based in Montreal, Canada and is known for selling mainly independent, luxury, and streetwear brands. Founded in 2003 by three brothers: Rami, Bassel, and Firas Atallah, SSENSE offers a wide variety of formal footwear, attire and the usual on-trend sneakers.
SSENSE makes sure to hold the best of the best when it comes to luxury, high-end footwear by providing an insane amount of different brands and silhouettes. Whether you're looking for Balenciaga, PUMA, Fear of God, or Clarks Originals, you’re bound to find a shoe that speaks to you at SSENSE.
What separates SSENSE from other retailers is that it has an editorial team, headed by 032c’s Joerg Koch, that provides customers with a steady flow of content that ranges from seasonal guides to interviews with individuals from fashion, music, and the rest of the “culture.” Customers are treated more like readers, which results in those that take a time to browse the content on offer leaving the site with a better understanding of the product they have just bought. Another big project SSENSE runs is its Sneaker Week, which “explores the influence of footwear with no reservations” and is a multi-faceted approach to connecting with its customers on a deeper, less transactional level.
Founded in the late 1800s, Luisaviaroma is began as a hat store in Paris. Luisaviaroma specializes in an entirely online experience, allowing consumers to browse hundreds of labels ranging from classic to contemporary.
One of the more recent developments in the boutique’s 200-year history is the introduction of sneaker shopping. From exclusive drops to regular updates of the season’s best luxury and sportswear pairs, Luisaviaroma is an emerging power in the world of online sneaker stores. Feeling lucky? You’ll have to join the Luisaviaroma Sneakers Club for a chance to enter upcoming raffles.
MR PORTER was launched by online retailer NET-A-PORTER in 2010 and was originally described as the “first luxury men’s wear online retailer with a global reach” by the Financial Times. MR PORTER claims to sell more than 450 leading international brands, with worldwide express shipping to more than 170 countries (including same-day delivery in London and New York).
Like SSENSE, MR PORTER specializes in high-end footwear and clothing from brands such as Tom Ford, Brunello Cucinelli, Balenciaga, Gucci, Polo Ralph Lauren, Loro Piana, A.P.C., Amiri, and Nike. Recently, though, the platform has also been offering quick-strike-type releases.
In addition to its varied selection of product, MR PORTER distinguishes itself from other retails in a number of ways. The portal offers next-day delivery to certain locations, as well as a MR PORTER Premier Service, which provides same-day delivery in New York and select locations in New Jersey. MR PORTER also prides itself on customer service, which sets it apart from other sneaker websites and is important for a perfect shopping experience—especially when you’re returning a product. A strong editorial teamprovides customers with trend reports and other editorials.
Founded in 2007, Farfetch has grown to become one of the furthest-reaching groups in online retail. Selling products from over 700 boutiques across the world, it’s the perfect proposition when you’re on the hunt for new sneakers. Farfetch is a unique entity in the world of sneaker websites, and its USP is its sheer size.
As a company that owns many of your favorite luxury retailers, Farfetch’s reach is unrivaled. That extends to its sneaker offering, too. From luxury fashion house editions through to exclusive drops, you can find just about any kind of sneakers you want here. On the pages of Farfetch, brand-new drops sit alongside long sold-out exclusives from one of Farfetch’s resale platforms. It’s this variety that positions Farfetch as one of the strongest and fastest-growing sneaker platforms on the net.
One Block Down is the official sneaker plug for a lot of sneakerheads across Italy. Located in Milan and Rome, the sneaker retailer is a master storyteller, deeply entrenched in the culture. This is a core tenet of founder Patrizio Vita's vision for the store. In an interview with Lampoon Magazine, Vita expressed his goal of creating a space that showcases and brings together various subcultures. One Block Down and its product selection reflect that.
You'll find sneakers for just about every occasion — low, high, hyped, underrated, retro, OGs, basketball, tennis, running, trail, skate, and beyond in the physical stores and online. Nike x Sacai collabs, seasonal Air Force Ones, and elusive Jordan 1s have all come through One Block's shelves. On top of shoes, you can also cop t-shirts, hoodies, sunglasses, gloves, belts, and local streetwear magazines. You'll quickly learn why One Block Down has such a passionate fanbase.
Mischa and Oliver is another sneaker store born out of an obsession for sneaker culture. After spending some time in the shoe industry, the duo decided to take that passion and create a store filled with some of the region's best sneakers. If you're in the German sneaker scene, you have definitely heard of 43einhalb. The store has consistently supplied the public with exclusive YEEZY and Jordan releases along with a healthy mix of lifestyle sneakers.
Both store locations have a distinct retro-futuristic aesthetic that creates the perfect atmosphere for buying your own futuristic sneakers like the Foam Runners or a pair of Nike Adapts.
Sneakers N Stuff as a franchise is pretty great, but its website is even better. They consistently have the latest and greatest drops in the sneaker world available on their site. It’s not bot-proof, but it does take excess security measures in preventing bots from invading the site with a bunch of security protocols you have to do before it allows you in. Like every other sneaker site, they have a release calendar that shows you what’s coming down the line. They also have an abundance of brand products available on-site from Nike to Kahru. Not to mention all the sales it feels like they always have.
Now, GOAT isn’t really a website. But it functions in the same way that StockX and eBay do in terms of using a bidding system to purchase shoes on the secondary market. Unlike StockX, it doesn’t have an expansive view of the sneaker market. But when you’re making an offer you can see what the highest bid is and what you need to do to beat that bid out. They also sell both new, used, and defective sneakers and occasionally provide discounts for their customers to use so no sneaker goes to waste on this app. They also dabble in streetwear, too.
Like eBay, Grailed focuses on the most sought after kicks that have hit the secondary market. Let's say you’re looking for the Nike x Travis Scott dunk that dropped earlier this year. When you click on sneakers, that shoe is included at the very top of the site. You can click on it and it’ll show you every single listing of the shoe with prices to go with it. You can click one and make an offer or you can buy it immediately. Unlike StockX and GOAT, you can also message the seller to try and negotiate a bit or ask any questions you may have. This site’s biggest focus is streetwear, but its system is so good for sneakers even if it’s not as expansive as some other places. Grailed is also a great option if you don't care about having sneakers in perfect condition; you can find a grail pair of kicks for far below traditional resale price just to have the opportunity to rock a beloved sneaker.
END. is one of the most popular online sneaker websites, thanks in large part to its raffle system, END. Launches. The retailer launched (pun intended) its ancillary site to combat bots and prevent its site from crashing at the time of popular releases — a big problem before retailers adopted the raffle system.
Since then, most sneakers (and sometimes even apparel collections) pass through END. Launches. The system is fully automatic: users log in to their END. account, sign up to a sneaker’s launch, and if their name is drawn, money is automatically charged to their account and the shoes are dispatched to the address on file.
In addition to hyped releases, END. offers a great selection of staples and footwear classics. A quick browse of the retailer’s footwear selection shows everything from the Balenciaga Triple S to the Common Projects Chelsea boot, with brands from adidas and Nike to Jimmy Choo and Palm Angels to be found on the sneaker website's digital shelves.
Footpatrol opened in London in 2002 before moving to its current location in Soho in 2010 and opening a Paris location in 2018. The London location recently received a facelift, giving the space a similar layout and look to the Paris location. Like most of the retailers on this list, Footpatrol has a history of collaborating with brands on various special projects.
The original layout and design of Footpatrol’s London store was inspired by the hidden boutiques of Japan and put together by design duo the Wilson Brothers. Inside, you’ll find Japanese exclusives and other sneakers that are hard to come by in Europe. In addition to big brands such as ASICS, Mizuno, Nike, and adidas, you’ll find a number of niche labels that provide a nice break from the norm.
KITH was founded in 2011 by Ronnie Fieg, one of the most popular sneaker collaborators of recent years. Perhaps best known for his work on ASICS GEL-Lyte models, Fieg has developed a penchant for reviving archive models and has since expanded both his business and the number of brands he works with. These range from Nike and adidas to Cap’n Crunch cereal and Versace. The collaboration with Cap’n Crunch cereal saw KITH launch KITH TREATS, an in-house cereal bar that was born out of Fieg’s love for the breakfast food. In addition to a number of cereal options — all named after Fieg’s closest friends, family, and influential people in the music, style, and sneaker sphere — customers can refresh themselves with a milkshake or some soft-serve ice cream.
As well as a growing number of physical locations, KITH has a large online presence. Sneakerheads can buy limited drops on a weekly basis through KITH’s online raffle system. A quick browse of the footwear category online shows sneakers from Veja, ALYX, Eytys, and Filling Pieces, to name a few. Fieg is a stickler for authenticity, so you can be sure that anything stocked at KITH was selected with care. Alongside its curated product portfolio, KITH also has an in-house line that has gone from strength to strength since its debut. The collections comprise of complementary capsules that release alongside some of the limited collaborations mentioned above, as well as seasonal drops of everything from basics and layering options to high-quality product fit for any type of wardrobe.
Sneaker Politics has been around since 2006 and has a large physical presence in its home state of Louisiana, as well as a location in Austin, Texas. The retailer has also carved out a reputation as a premier source for online sneaker shopping. Alongside limited sneaker collaborations — which Sneaker Politics often releases via in-store or Instagram raffles — you can pick up on-trend footwear by the likes of Casbia, Nike, adidas, and New Balance.
The retailer’s connection to Louisiana was felt during the recent re-release of the Nike Air Jordan 3 “Katrina.” Sneaker Politics hosted a block party, which was attended by the likes of Juvenile, Bun B, Pell, and Neno Calvin, all of whom performed live. In addition, the first 100 customers to arrive received a free basketball, as well as the chance to win the highly-limited Jordans.
Even more recently, Sneaker Politics hosted a back to school edition of its popular “Shake Back Sunday” event. Shake Back Sunday is an in-store event that happens on the first Sunday of every month at each of the retailer’s locations. The point of these events is for the community to come together and play games, win prizes, talk sneakers, and have a good time hanging with like-minded people. Because of this, and many other special releases and events, Sneaker Politics is one of the most community-minded stores out there.
