Without a doubt, one of the most special things about SoleSavy is the countless conversations our members have about their favorite and least favorite things in the world of sneakers. In an effort to further these convos, we took to the community with a simple prompt: “What’s your favorite non-hype sneaker?” Quickly we were inundated with responses ranging from slept-on collaborations available for under retail on the aftermarket to perennial favorites restocked year-round.
Today we wanted to share some of the more popular replies as part of an ongoing series highlighting all the low-key heat out there.
adidas Forum High ’84
2021 is proving to be a big year for the adidas Forum. The Three Stripes has been going full-force with the 80s-basketball silhouette, with classic colorways like the OG “Bright Blue” and high profile collabs proving especially popular. Pictured above is the “Orbit Grey” colorway styled by Canadian member @Juberry. This colorway could even the recently retro’d Air Jordan 1 High 85 “Neutral Grey” a run for its money in the right hands (or feet?).
“[These] are still sitting on the website and I was able to use a discount code to purchase the pair for just under $100 CAD (not including taxes). Considering the price, the sleek silhouette, and quality/build, I can see these becoming my beaters for as long as they’ll last. They are also much more comfortable than Jordan 1s for the slightly wider feet that I have”, says @juberry.
ASICS Gel-Lyte III
Available in more colorways than you count, the ASICS Gel-Lyte III has been a fan favorite for years, and with good reason. While the silhouette often gets picked up for the collab treatment, the same level of quality construction and stylish colorblocking is present on many GR pairs. US member Edward tells us, “I’ve always liked the ASICS Gel Lyte 3. It’s a classic. You see a lot of people copping Ronnie Fieg’s and all, but what about the OGs?“. With triple-white, sleek black, and several adventurous colorways in abundance, there’s something for everyone with this forever stylish, Japanese runner.
New Balance 993
Controversial opinion: the 993 is one of New Balance’s top three silhouettes. While the 992 had a landmark year in 2020 due in no small part to some highly-coveted collaborations, the 993 is the younger brother that often gets left behind. Arriving in a chunkier silhouette without sacrificing any of New Balance’s trademark style or comfort, the 993 lands right between “dad sneaker” and modern runway attire (much like the 990v5 loves to tout). Premium suede uppers and an array of classic colorways make the 993 a staple in anyone’s wardrobe year-round.
Member Angel L. talks fondly of both the 993 and Nike’s own dad-esque Air Vomero stating, “Both are incredibly comfortable with 2 vastly different aesthetics. You can always catch the Vomero’s on sale, & with hype around the NB 992’s, the 993’s are always sitting for some decent prices. Especially in the outlets.”
As covered in our latest issue of the Unboxed newsletter, the “Indigo” colorway is readily available right now.
Nike Air Stab
The love for this silhouette really took me by surprise personally. It’s always a treat to find out about a shoe that totally flew under your radar. While the Nike Air Stab hasn’t received a proper retro in over five years, that hasn’t stopped several of our members from singing its praises.
For the uninitiated, Canadian member Maurice Li (@maurice) tells us: “The Nike Air Stab originally dropped way back in 1988 as the second-ever ‘Air Max’ shoe to release after the AM87/AM1 (even though it wasn’t branded as a ‘Max.’) It has seen a few retros since, but none more eye-catching or widely known than the ’05 Footpatrol collab which remains one of my favorite pairs in my collection. There was also a second Footpatrol colorway in Tan/Brown but it isn’t as iconic. There haven’t really been any retros that I know of since 2015 so hopefully, they find their way back as it’s a comfortable and good-looking shoe with unique teeth/icicles blocking the exposed Air unit in the midsole.”
Nike P-6000
The Nike P-6000 is the oft-forgotten inspiration and main building block behind Off-White’s Rubber Dunk from last year. Having released in 2019, this is one of the more modern silhouettes in this entry. Taking inspiration from the Christian Tresser-era of 90s Nike runners, this shoe combines the chunky build of a skateshoe and curvature of a running shoe into a very forward-thinking pair of kicks. Do these look familiar at all? Despite the name, Off-White’s Nike Rubber Dunk was built primarily off of the P6000’s blueprint, rather than the Dunk. While Virgil Abloh’s Dunk/P6000 hybrid wasn’t for everyone, the OGs are far more versatile and have proven to be a fan favorite amongst both members and staff here at SoleSavy.
Best of all? They’re the cheapest option on our list with prices ranging anywhere from $60 to $90 USD. Hopefully, Nike hasn’t sealed these away just yet as the potential for more fire colorways is quite high.
Responses have been edited and condensed for clarity*