Spring Sneaker Roundup: 6 Fresh Sneakers for this Season

Koio is a sleek luxury sneaker brand built on quality craftsmanship, better materials, and timeless styles. The brand dubs itself as “modern luxury footwear” as its sneakers are made in Tuscany, Italy with LWG-certified leather. (The Leather Working Group awards certification to tanneries that implement environmental best practices.)

The Koio Capri Regenerative is Koio’s more planet-friendly version of its popular Capri model. What does “regenerative” mean, you ask? The materials used in this shoe are from a process using regenerative farming (reverses carbon emissions) in the Swiss Alps.

I typically wear a size 10.5 in sneakers, so I opted for the recommended size 10 as Koio only has whole sizes. They fit perfectly. Koio ships its shoes in the shoe box, which is a neat trick to not waste paper… the shoe box is the package. Immediately after picking up this shoe, I could feel its quality. I’ve worn a few different leather sneakers, but a lot of the time they make my feet sore. Not with Koio; from the first wear they’ve felt like sneakers, not dress shoes (i.e. they’re comfortable).

At this point I’ve been wearing them for a few weeks and I can tell these are going to last for several years. When I first put them on, they felt sort of “boxy,” but now they fit like a glove. Quality isn’t just a marketing buzzword here – they really are built to last. The other great thing is the versatility of the style—I’ve worn them out with sweatpants and with dress pants and they look good with both. The Capri Regenerative comes in three timeless colors and retails for $495.

In my opinion, these are “The Ultimate” sneakers. The 574, typically spotted in the iconic gray version, is affordable, comfortable, and stylish (you can wear them at the gym or with jeans). In college, I bought around five different colorways and even bought a used pair off of eBay because they looked so great (I actually happened to get the most compliments on this pair).

The only issue with the 574 is how quickly they wear down. Because they’re made of a mesh upper, they get stained and wear down faster than a leather sneaker. But on the flipside, they’re inexpensive enough that if you go through a few pairs, it’ll still run you about the same as one pair from some other brands.

Cariuma is probably the most unique sneaker brand that’s come out in a while; the brand is from Brazil and was created by two former corporate executives who shared a love for skateboarding. The whole line is simple, versatile, and fashionable—all the makings of a classic sneaker. While looks are obviously a priority for the brand, they also make their sneakers in ethical factories with natural materials and recyclable packaging. Shipping is carbon neutral and for every pair of shoes purchased, Cariuma plants two trees in Brazil!

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The SALVAS are Cariuma’s staple sneaker: “They’re the blue jeans, the white tee—a staple for the sneaker age.” according to the brand. The upper is made of premium leather, the sole is slip resistant with natural rubber, and the insole is cork and bio-based.

SALVAS come in eight clean colorways and are priced at $129. They run true to size, but you better act fast as they’re oftentimes sold out! Customers rave about them, saying “Have worn them 80% of the time since receiving my order…” and “This is my new favorite shoe… Worth every penny.”

Greats is a classic “digitally native” brand; they started out in Brooklyn in 2014. The “Royale” model is a simple and classic silhouette made of full-grain leather. I had an all white pair a few years ago that held up, well, great. I find leather sneakers to be uncomfortable sometimes, although The Royale has almost 3,000 reviews with a 4.8 star reviews… so, it’s safe to say that these are a beloved shoe.

They’re priced at $189, which seems fair for a long-lasting leather sneaker. They claim to handcraft the shoes at a best-in-class factory and they also have a lot of classy colorways along with some fun limited-edition styles.

I recently got a pair of Tracksmith’s new Eliot (check out our full review of the brand), a very neutral, down-the-middle trainer, and I absolutely love them. I wear them casually, not for running (although they’re designed for sport and they’d be a great option), and they give me a nice ride throughout the day while still looking good with jeans. Tracksmith describes them as “inspired by the pep of New England’s natural surfaces”—this is very accurate!

I have them in white, and my only suggestion is to get the new black colorway because the mesh upper will get dirty quickly.

Okay, hear me out: good looking sneakers that are designed to be slipped on and off. Kizik claims to be “The world’s best hands-free shoes. No tying, no pulling, no heel crushing, no hands. Never bend down to put on shoes again!” Sounds good to me!

I’ve never had a pair of Kiziks, but being able to wear sneakers without having to tie and untie them every time I wear them sounds like a miracle. And the reviews are great. One buyer said “Best shoes I’ve ever had, The only brand I will ever get again.” There’s a signature “cage” that springs back whenever you slide in these shoes; this would be nice for me because my sneakers usually get massive creases in the heel from when I slide into them without untying them. The Prague comes in nine different colors and is priced at $109; Kizik also has several other models for lifestyle and athletic use and for women.

Ever been walking down the street, accidentally stepped in the puddle and got your socks soaking wet? Fear no more! Vessi is the waterproof sneaker brand that actually looks good.

The shoes are 100% waterproof, but they incorporate a temperature-regulating knit that allows you to still sweat so you don’t have stinky feet at the end of the day. In addition to being waterproof, Vessi sneakers are super easy to keep clean: just throw them in the washing machine and air dry. The Weekend is priced at $125 and comes in a few different colors, but hurry… they seem to sell out of their models very quickly!