10 Great Low-Top Sneakers For Summer

10 Great Low-Top Sneakers For Summer

We set you up with ten great summer sneaker options to get you through the warm weather months in comfort and style.

Matt DeSciora

There are four non-negotiables everyone needs in order to live their best life in the summer: sunscreen, water, plenty of PTO, and a low-top sneaker. Unfortunately we can’t offer much help with the first three, but we can make a few recommendations on what low-top sneakers should be on your feet this summer, and beyond.

We know what you’re thinking: “What gives low-top shoes the nod over mid or high-tops in the summer months?” For one, low-top silhouettes look great with shorts. Something about a low-top’s sleek, streamlined design really jives well with shorts of any length. And most importantly, low-top shoes do a better job of keeping your feet cool than high-tops. Who wants all the padding of a high-top shoe around their ankles when it’s hot outside? Not us. Not you.

Selecting a low-top sneaker shouldn't be rocket science. All you need is a shoe that’s casual and comfortable, in a colorway that vibes with your style.

Rather than go on and on about why you need a low-top shoe or three in your closet this season, we’ve assembled a list of some of our favorite new low-top sneakers by New Balance, Jordan, Nike, and adidas to give you a better idea of the silhouette’s greatness.

In no particular order, these are some of the best low-top sneakers for summer 2023.

Air Jordan 11 Low “White Cement”

Take one look at the Air Jordan 11 Low “White Cement” and try to come up with one situation in which you couldn’t wear this ultra clean colorway this summer. Sure, you wouldn’t want to wear this or any of the sneakers we’re about to feature in a summer monsoon or anything, but outside of a rain storm? The Jordan 11 Low “White Cement” is a great option.

adidas Samba OG “White/Black”

The adidas Samba has been used in a few different collaborations already this year, and been released in various types of materials, too. While you truly cannot go wrong with any colorway, the classic OG “White/Black” is still the benchmark of all Sambas.

Nike Air Max 1 ‘86 “Big Bubble - Red”

This Air Max Day, Nike honored the legacy of its Air Max series by bringing back the Air Max 1 in its original form, complete with an oversized Air bubble and all. Unsurprisingly, the shoe has been everywhere since its release, with the Air Max 1 ‘86 “Big Bubble - Red” being among the most popular colorways. If retro kicks are your thing, look no further than this throwback-inspired shoe.

Women’s Nike Dunk Low Premium “Pink Oxford”

We talked about how a low-top shoe can go anywhere in the summer, and while that’s true, sometimes you want a shoe that you wear on “special occasions” because of the way it looks. This summer, that shoe could most definitely be the Women’s Nike Dunk Low Premium “Pink Oxford.”

Nike Air Force 1 Low “Color of the Month - White Jewel”

The Nike Air Force 1 is an iconic summer sneaker, especially in its “White on White” colorway. And while that’s still the case in 2023, we think the shoe’s new “Color of the Month - White Jewel” colorway is just as timeless and just a little bit different with its unique white jewel Swoosh.

Action Bronson x New Balance 990v6 “Baklava”

Action Bronson’s New Balance 990v6 “Baklava” is a bonafide “Sneaker of the Year” candidate for 2023. The colorway is just as bold as “Bronsolino’s” outsized personality, and one of the very best releases for the new 990v6 model.

Women’s Nike Vomero 5 “Photon Dust”

One thing about sneaker culture, you never know what shoe will be trending next. Earlier this year the Nike Vomero 5 emerged as one of the hottest sneakers on the market in spite of the fact that it hadn’t been a regular part of Nike’s collections in years. Now midway through the year, the Vomero 5 is still scorching hot, and available in great colorways like this women’s-exclusive “Photon Dust” style.

New Balance 1906R “White/Red”

Another shoe that has unexpectedly caught the attention of the sneaker community this year is the New Balance 1906R. Like the New Balance 2002R, the 1906R debuted in 2010, and features a retro-yet-modern design that looks more at home in today’s era of sneaker styling than ever before.

Bad Bunny x adidas Campus Light “Cream”

No Ye? No problem for adidas. The Brand With the Three Stripes continues to create excitement without Kanye West in the picture thanks in part to its highly successful collaborations with Bad Bunny. Earlier this year, adidas and Bunny dropped the adidas Campus Light in “Cream,” which garnered high praise from sneaker aficionados. The light colorway also makes for a perfect summer option.

Travis Scott x Women’s Air Jordan 1 Low “Olive”

After exploring other Nike and Air Jordan models, Travis Scott is back to working on the Air Jordan 1 Low, having just released a women’s-exclusive colorway of the vintage basketball shoe called the “Olive.” The colorway takes design cues from Travis’s original Jordan 1 Low collaboration from 2019, but with a black suede base, white leather overlays, and an olive green Swoosh. The results are quite, quite good, as you can see.