The Definitive SUMMER ATHLEISURE Shopping Guide

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Photography:
TATSURO NISHIMURA

The dictionary definition of athleisure is “casual clothing designed to be worn both for exercising and for general use.” It’s a truthful amalgamation, as items created for athletic pursuits often take on a second and typically much longer-lasting life as casual favorites. This phenomenon is especially clear in the world of footwear, where year after year, brands put forth their best and boldest new tech, often to see it become a beloved lifestyle staple.

Sometimes this process takes decades while sometimes it takes mere weeks/months, but it almost always happens, and it could certainly be argued that it’s never been occurring at the frequency it is in 2019. Athleisure has grown past its origin as a trendy buzzword for those in the know to become an all-consuming style ethos that varied cultural circles partake in. As it’s especially poignant in the summer when staying cool and looking cool must go hand in hand, we’ve compiled a dozen of the best shoes that boast three of the most popular technologies — Air Max, Futurecraft, and React — on the market into one list. Although each may be different, they all have one thing in common: you can get ‘em on eBay now. Read on, and ensure that your summer sneaker rotation is on point, no matter what style you may prefer.

No technology in sneakers is more instantly recognizable and globally beloved as Air Max. Aerospace engineer M. Frank Rudy first presented his air bag technology to Nike in 1977, and more than four decades later, Max madness is still just as fervent as ever. Nowadays, Air Max artfully toes the line between performance and style, and is still responsible for some of the hottest releases on the market. Cactus Plant Flea Market recently took the highly-technical Vapormax 2019 and added their perfectly imperfect style to it, getting at the very core of what made the shoe and its tech interesting in the first place by toning down its acute seriousness. Max Air has also played a part in many a meaningful project, the latest of which is the 2019 “Be True” collection, in which the Air Max 90 was adorned by the eight colors from LGBTQ activist Gilbert Baker’s signature Pride flag. And, as part of Nike’s “On Air” campaign, amateur designers from around the world added fiercely personal touches to various Maxes, the most unique of which was Cash Ru’s Air Max 97 “Shanghai Kaleidoscope,” a shoe that nodded to his city’s skyline.

Nike Air Max 90 BETRUE

Made via a groundbreaking Digital Light Synthesis process that combines light, oxygen, and liquid resin, adidas’s Futurecraft technology both looks and feels as if it’s straight from a sci-fi flick. Needless to say, that’s made it quite popular with athletes and designers alike. The Futurecraft 4D may be the most recognizable shoe of the bunch, presenting an Ultra Boost-esque knit upper that adds to the next-gen stylings. The Alphaedge 4D follows in the Futurecraft’s footsteps, but presents a slightly sleeker design for a race-ready look and feel that helps you hit your top gear on the track or in the streets. And the collaborations add fresh aesthetics: the KITH 4D boasts a multi-color high-top chukka boot-esque upper that wouldn’t look out of place on the trails, while Y-3’s signature ninja-inspired style cuts a sublimely stealthy swath.

adidas Alphaedge 4D Core White

Nike’s React foam has stormed onto the athleisure scene over the past few years, becoming a staple at gyms and on the streets alike. And why wouldn’t it? It’s inherently sporty, tremendously stylish, and — above all — extremely comfortable. What’s more versatile than that? Although many models featured the foam before and many more will offer it after, it’s safe to say that the React Element 87 was the most influential of the bunch. It may be a pure lifestyle shoe, but it gives off an inherently sporty style with its translucent upper/lightweight tooling, and was lauded by many as the very best sneaker of the year when it debuted in 2018. The next generation of casual React arrived this spring thanks to the React Presto, a re-worked iteration of a turn-of-the-century Swoosh Brand classic that’s already proved quite popular. And last but certainly not least is the Epic React, a line of ultra-light running shoes that provide a top-ranked ride and have also grown to be a beloved everyday option.