The trainer landscape is vast. The market is rife with seemingly endless options, spanning technical styles based on performance models, iterations that are streamlined like “real” shoes, and trainers that slip into pump territory, coined “sneakerinas” for their hybrid traits.
Shop the best winter trainers at a glance:
The news in trainers for the autumn/winter season? The Samba hype from several years ago has birthed a wider market fixation on slim-profiled footwear, often inspired by retro designs. Marathon trainers from the 1970s have been a recurring reference among brands, which have interpreted the skinny soles, minimal silhouettes and pared-back accents of vintage runner styles.
By contrast, trainers that defined the “gorpcore” movement – courtesy of Salomon, Merrell and other outdoor specialist labels – have continued to gain traction as popular lifestyle footwear options. Originally designed to withstand the elements, with high-spec materials and details, these are trainers that will serve well beyond the commute, and pair well with slouchy jeans or cargos.
Colourways of the most popular trainers of the moment come in a full spectrum of brights and neutrals, in matte, metallic and tactile finishes, while soles can be found in every shape, from flat-to-the-ground to curvaceous with a bobbled tread; wafer-thin to intentionally chunky and cumbersome. And texture-wise, for winter trainers there’s been an uptick in tactile surfaces like pony hair, scaly prints and satin.
Scroll on to see the winter trainers trending now.
Slimline trainers
Wales Bonner X Adidas
Miu Miu X New Balance
Practical trainers
X On Cloudsolo Hiker Rubber-Trimmed Twill Sneakers
“Trainer” trainers
Gel-Kayano 12.1 Lace-Up Mesh and Rubber Sneaker
204L Trainers
Tactile trainers
Wales Bonner X Adidas
Plimsoll-like trainers
