The Best Sneakers Of 2023 | Complex Con(versations)

What's your #1 sneaker of the year?

Not having the @full size run” boys on this especially on their last season of their show, is sneaker blasphemy

Can we get Ronnie Fieg on the panel next year? He’s unbiased about brands and would be in favor of some shoes other than AJ 1,3, and 4.

This has all the energy of trying to lead a meeting at work that doesn’t have a clear agenda. Kudos to Joe for weathering the storm, but this panel needs a remix next year.

they lost me as soon as they started talking about friends/family pairs and dropping so much $$$ on whatever pair. the 10 ten should always be accessible to the general public

There are so many sneakers that should have been on this list. Jae tips, Ronnie Fieg sambas, Action Bronson 990v6, and some others. The panel needs to be different and have some people represent the East Coast and other places in the world. Not just East coast people who obviously love only air force ones and Jordans.

Noctas on this list is insane 😂

Someday this conversation needs to be done with a group who cover sneakers all year as their day job from multiple independent entities.

This was a tough watch, could have used some more structure here. My head still spinnin'

I’m ready to start a gofundme to fly anyone other than Clark and Jim to the next panel! Clark hyping his own shoes that would be outlet specials if they were a GR and Jim spending a quarter of the time talking without a mic, then when he holds it up all I hear is Easter feets.

Can we get some people on next years panel who don’t live in their own little sneaker bubble? More excited for the sneaker of the year show with Welty and Dunne

This list and panel is all over the place.

This year end list could be done so much better. Welty and Dunne should be involved, Jim Jones and Clark only likes AF1 and Jordans. Bring in a new panel in 2024. Guests should come in with their too 5 and compare.

Clark claiming 300 pairs was a “release” is crazy 😂 but I respect the hustle.

need an episode of the pod discussing from complex pov why they made the list the way it is. actually talking about each sneaker moment and why it was deserving of the spot. felt like joe was trying to get there talking about the mesh shoe summer only for the convo to be dominated about vomeros in that section. NB and asics had a huge year and what about born raised and jarritos dunks not even discussed

It’s so obvious to me that the panel on these things every year are the wrong people !! Jim Jones shouldn’t be on no sneaker panel !! Let’s get a real sneaker panel let the people vote on the judges cuz these 4 people are out of touch

The terror squad Air Force 1s are this year’s Khaled 5s.

Dear Complex, I have been looking forward to this discussion for quite some time. Here are some thoughts. As both a long time viewer of both FSR and Complex Sneakers Pod/Show, I can tell you that not having the context for the list is a huge disservice. First and foremost however is the problem with the format in which this is being delivered. This conversation is more than an hour long and I don’t know why you are trying to limit this to an hour. ALLOW THE NECESSARY TIME for the panelists to make their argument, that is why they are there. Here is how I would improve this delivery if you NEED to keep it to an hour: 1. Give the list upfront in two sections. 10-6, 5-1 2. Keep a running scoreboard. This year, you guys upped your graphics game (Great job btw) with the screen in the back. The list should be put up and adjusted live as the discussion is being had. 3. If you are going to talk about Brendan and Welty, just have them be part of the panel and they can give the complex perspective as the two list sections are being given. 4. Make the panelist give you a ranked top ten, and have those list available so everyone can see all the shoes at once and they can shuffle selections. In all honesty, if this was 2 hours long, I know I’d watch it. I know people want to argue the size and composition of the panel. I get that. But the only way to expand the horizons of the panel with east and west coast influences, or as Clark says Sneaker vs Hype, then you have to make this discussion LONGER. It can be 7 people, but if they only have 10 seconds to talk, you can’t really get their perspective. Honestly, this year’s list was a miss, and it breaks my heart to say it. I truly appreciate all your hard work, and I know you can do better. I know you will. With much love and respect. -J

Brendan shouting "you can‘t buy 'em anyway" got me in TEARS 😭😭😂😂

990v6 is the most comfortable sneaker I have worn, the Carhartt go HARD