More run for your money: the best men’s sneakers for under $200
Nods to the noughties and throwbacks to the 80s and 70s, here are the best new sneakers trends for men under $200
AS FASHION TRENDS hit peak recursiveness, your sneakers should be keeping pace. From car-seat leather to chunky mesh uppers, today’s best trainers under $200 nod to the golden age of dial-up internet, nu-metal, and bootleg DVD box sets. But this isn’t pure nostalgia. It’s about selective memory.
Nostalgia comes in many forms, but nowhere does it seem to recycle itself as quickly as it does in sneakers. Who knew that in 2025 we would be coveting the streamlined skimpiness of Puma Speedcats?
The current Y2K sneaker wave retools retro silhouettes with just enough irony and engineering to feel fresh again. Racing DNA is everywhere. From the Puma Speedcat’s motorsport suede to Nike’s P-6000, a maximalist mashup of track heritage and suburban dad-core. Performance style has become performance aesthetic. Once built for sprint drills or speed drills, now remixed for cafés and city loops.
Then there’s the indoor-sports renaissance. Handball shoes, like adidas’ Spezial, once clung to hardwood courts. Now they pair just as easily with oversized denim and washed-out hoodies. The adidas Italia 70s leans into that same gym-class cool, updated with a matte black finish and minimalist shape that looks lifted straight from an iPod silhouette ad.
Related: The 14 best sneakers at Paris Fashion Week spring/summer 2026
Even skate shoes are skimming the floor again, literally. Vans’ Super Lowpro hits below the ankle with a sloped silhouette and pastel green suede that reads more stylised than street, a flex for those in the know. Meanwhile, brands like New Balance and ASICS are keeping their sneakers chunky and breathable, subtly tweaking archival running shoes for the fashion crowd. The 740 and GT-2160 both manage to feel technical and vaguely Y2K in trend.
What ties it all together? A sense of reissue without reverence. These are sneakers that borrow from the past, yes – but they’re worn with self-awareness, irony and a bit of fun. And crucially, you don’t have to spend more than $200 to get the look.
The best men’s sneakers under $200
Adidas Originals Handball Spezial
First introduced in the ’70s, the current Handball Spezial still comes with the sturdy lightness that the eponymous sport requires. A simple shoe, it’s a reminder of why you really can’t improve on the classics.
Vans Super LowPro
Running shoe trends in the ’80s were a far cry from the technical beasts that we see on tracks today. But the soul (pun) remains the same. Vans’ Super LowPro revives the low-to-the-ground running silhouette that has slowly made its way back onto the feet of contemporary runners, giving you a better feel for the ground, allegedly. All we know is this green is cool as heck.
Nike P-6000
Another throwback, this time to the 2000s and the intersection between running and raves. The P-6000 favours cushioning and midsole support, perfect for high intensity dance intervals over the course of a weekend. Or just kicking it during the week.
New Balance 740
Even New Balance – the sneaker of choice for the quiet luxury gang – has had enough of subtlety. Another noughties reference, this time with acid trip colourways to bring the design up to speed.
Adidas Originals Italia ’70s
My favourite word when it comes to sneakers: limited. Makes it feel like a competition. The Italia 70s, with their subtle gloss leather, contrast stitching and suede detail are distinctly cool for their deliberate decadence.
Puma Speedcat
These were all over Paris Fashion Week in 2024 and there’s been no sign of slowing down for the Speedcat trend in 2025. A collab with A$AP Rocky has cemented the slim-soled sneaker as the shoe of the moment.
ASICS GT-2160 Breeze
Comfort? Check. The right amount of vibe? Check. ASICS are a perennial favourite and the GT-2160 combines the best of the brand’s DNA. A racer that’s lightweight with enough chunk to anchor your outfits. Simply the best.
Esquire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
Related:
