These Are the High-Top Sneakers You Need

If you’re afraid of looking too youthful in a pair of Converse, we suggest Chuck 70s. They’re a bit more premium than the Taylors and don’t wear quite as flat or quite as cheap. Black canvas on a white sole is a classic. There are many iterations of the Chuck Taylor All Star, many of which are very good. But none of them—none!—beats the comfort and throwback charm of the Chuck 70.

An all-white SK8-Hi requires not that you be a skater, but that instead you honor these shoes with a great pair of pants to match. Say, something cropped and wide? Denim, even? These are the easiest high-tops to style, and we love them for that.

If you want a leather upper versus a more casual canvas, Nike Blazer Mids are our favorites. You can go for the classic black swoosh, but we also like the small hit of color (like this green or a blue) for something different. Wear them with your favorite light color denim and a fresh T-shirt.

Beckett Simonon’s high-tops are a more substantial, chunkier shoe that can easily be worn with a more tailored pair of slacks or dark denim. Great for the office, great for a date, great for just about anything.

Now, if that old-school, lived-in high-top is what you are going for, there’s nothing more old-school than a P.F. Flyer. The lightweight canvas sneaker comes in black and white, with a few iterations of both. It’s designed for cool spring and summer outsidoor (non-active) activities.

PONY’s high-tops are also extremely ’80s. They have a bit more chunk than a Chuck but not as much as a Jordan. They’re sporty but not in a off-brand way. We love the personality the bright blue stripe gives, but there are more subtle colors, too.

Veja’s high-tops are not as popular as the lows, but we’re making the case for ’em. These are just as comfy to wear, look put together enough for work, and have a more modern sillohoutte, for those not ready for the full retro approach.

Greats makes these high-tops that look significantly more expensive than they are, and they feel that way, too. They’re fresh right out of the box, with a more supportive platform and hugged-in collar than some of the canvas options.

What is there to say about the Air Jordan 1 that we haven’t already said, and said again still? It’s definitely the most sneakerhead-y sneaker on this list, but we love a simple colorway (like this brown suede, or an all white) for keeping on trend but staying out of the hype cycle.

For high-tops that are an upgrade in more than just aesthetics, Zvelle’s leather sneakres are some of the best constructed shoes we’ve put our feet in. You can’t go wrong with the all-white version, but for something a little different, we’re partial to this cool navy leather.