The 10 Most Anticipated Sneakers of 2020

Image via Complex Original

Release date: May 23 (select skate shops), May 26 (SNKRS)

In what almost seems like some sort of hypebeast fantasy, New England ice cream purveyors Ben & Jerry's have collaborated with Nike SB on a Dunk Low. The design mimics the look of Ben & Jerry's signature pint and includes faux cow hair, a Swoosh that's literally dripping, a rainbow tie-dyed liner, and other wild details. Nike has confirmed that the pair will be released at select skate stores globally on Saturday, May 23 followed by a wider release online via SNKRS on Tuesday, May 26. The pair retails for $100.

Release date: May 29

After dropping his Nike SB Dunk Lows earlier this year, Travis Scott returns this month with a twist on Nike's 270 React model. Nicknamed "Cactus Trails," this pair appears to take on a pre-distressed aesthetic that looks like it's trudged through terrains of all sorts. Nike has yet to officially confirm the collaboration, but after a few delays, this pair appears to be locked in for a May 29 release. 

Release date: May 30

After what's been an unusual amount of "will it really drop" speculation for an Air Jordan retro, the "Flint" XIII is finally set to come back at the end of the month. Although it wasn't a Chicago Bulls colorway, this makeup (short for "Flint Grey") has always been one of the model's most coveted styles. This time around, it's back with reflective details on the panels, a feature that was sorely missed on the sneaker's 2010 iteration. 

Release date: Summer 2020

First seen in sample form at Virgil Abloh's "Figures of Speech" exhibit at MCA Chicago in 2019, it looks like the designer's take on the Air Jordan IV will be making its way to retail this year. Said to be a women's exclusive, this "Sail" colorway features translucent support wings and heel tabs along with a gum-like outsole. A retail price of $200 is expected when these touch down, which will reportedly be sometime this summer.

Release date: Holiday 2020

Never one to settle for what's expected, Virgil Abloh showed up to NBA All-Star Weekend to release his black Off-White x Air Jordan Vs in another, never-before-seen colorway of the shoe. Nicknamed "Plot Twist," this pair is exactly that: a flip on the black colorway that uses pre-yellowed details for an aged look. The elements that made the first pair stand out remain, including Abloh's signature deconstructed design and the somewhat controversial circular cutouts, but lean toward one of the OG "Fire Red" colorways rather than the "Black/Metallic" variation. 

Release date: TBA

Ronnie Fieg is one of the sharpest in the industry when it comes to teasing product, and the rollout for Kith's first-ever Nike Air Force 1 collab has been nothing short of stellar. Initial teasers showed what's believed to be a friends-and-family exclusive with a blue liner and green mini Swoosh, but further previews have revealed a Japan-inspired colorway in white and red with a contrasting sail midsole. On the Complex Sneakers Podcast, Fieg revealed that the pair was originally planned to coincide with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which have of course been put on hold due to the ongoing pandemic. With an expected retail price of $120, fans can hope for this pair to arrive sometime this year.

Release date: TBA

Chances are, you may have heard a thing or two about these already. Arguably the most hyped pair on this list, the pair is Dior designer Kim Jones' latest grand achievement. It was produced in Italy and features Dior's signature oblique pattern on the Swoosh, among a myriad of other details included a hidden Dior-stamped footbed. Only 1,000 pairs are expected to drop at select Dior stores for a retail price of $2,000. In March, Dior and Jordan Brand announced that the collab would be indefinitely delayed due to Coronavirus, however, it's still expected to arrive this year. 

Release date: TBA

Originally introduced in 2012 in the form of the ultra-limited Tom Sachs x Nike Mars Yard 1.0 which used NASA-approved Vectran material, the silhouette was reissued with a more practical mesh base in 2017. Still not exactly easy to come by, the shoes were released through Space Camp demonstrations and have become one of the more coveted collaborations in recent memory. Surprisingly, recent leaks show what are purported to be new pairs set to drop sometime this year. Stay woke. 

Release date: TBA

Call it a Croc rip-off, make all the memes you want, but know that when the Yeezy Foam Runner eventually drops this year, you'll be seeing it everywhere. The slip-on style and reportedly palatable retail price ($75) gives it everyman appeal while the futuristic cutouts and experimental materials (Kanye West and designer Steven Smith showed off an American-made version with algae during a recent panel) help it stand out from its counterparts. 

Release date: Spring 2020

Teased as part of Kith's Spring 2020 collection, this exclusive New Balance 992 isn't an official collaboration, but the Ronnie Fieg-helmed retailer is the only place you'll find them. The colorway itself mimics the brand's beloved CL colorways and also calls back to Fieg's previous "Steel Blue" projects. With the USA-made 992 having quite a moment this year, readers can expect this pair to sell out quickly, and with teasers already abound, a drop could take place sooner than you know it.