From the new Sambas to the best shoes for a soggy run – 64 trainers to tick every box

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I bet you know very few people who don’t own a single pair of trainers. Even the most cursory glance at people’s feet on the street, in the office or, occasionally, on a red carpet (Spike Lee is never not in his Air Jordans) is proof that they have transcended their original purpose.

But does that mean it’s OK to wear them to work – and if so, which ones? Does wearing black or white ones show your age, as much perhaps as how you wear your socks? What should you actually wear to run in – and, most burning of all, what is the new Adidas Samba in this post-Rishi world (clue: there’s more than one)?.

Whether you think everyday trainers are a slippery slope towards casualness, or you’re one of those people who lust after trainers the way that some of us fetishise handbags, let us help you with your next pair. What trainers are in fashion right now? The discourse around this is endless but, with gen Z adopting a buffet-type approach to fashion, there’s no one shoe dominating. In fact, they differ wildly.

For teens, on the chunky side of things, there are Skechers (the Y2K classic that had Britney Spears in the ad campaign) and the Balenciaga Triple S, a shoe given the nod by Vogue for 2025, even though it’s been around since 2017. Also in the mix are “Frankenshoes”, like the Axel Arigato Marathon Ballet with bow detail and New Balance “snoafers” (half sneaker, half loafer).

Anything that looks a bit like a football boot is popular, says stylist Roz Donaghue, such as the Samba Long Tongue that was part of the coveted Wales Bonner x Adidas collab last year. “People are getting the Puma Speedcat (£90), so they don’t have the same as everyone else,” she says. “They’ll wear them with baggy jeans.”.

Ugg Lo Lowmel. £125 at Ugg. £125 at Size. Keen Jasper. £110 at Keen. From £128.12 at Amazon. Skechers Slip-ins: D’Lites New Scene. £80 at Skechers. From £76.36 at Amazon. Axel Arigato Women’s Marathon Ballet. £240 at Axel Arigato. £240 at Farfetch. New Balance Men’s 1906L.

£280 at StockX. When then prime minister Rishi Sunak was seen in a pair of Sambas last April, gen Z went into national mourning for their favourite footwear. Donaghue still likes them, but points to other Adidas options, such as the SL72, with a bouncier sole, or the slightly rounder Spezials – Harris Dickinson pulls off the Handball Spezial in Babygirl with aplomb.

Keeping the smarter 70s shape – slim, rather than chunky – is key here. “An alternative might be an Onitsuka Tiger trainer. They have the slimness, but they’re a bit cooler.”. Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66. £150 at Onitsuka Tiger. Adidas SL72 OG. £85 at Adidas.

From £50 at Size. Adidas Spezial. £90 at Adidas. £90 at End. Nike Internationalist By You. £109.99 at Nike. Gola Classics women’s badminton plimsoll. £65 at Gola. From £53.49 at Amazon. Lots of fashion brands have tried to solve this conundrum. While you can buy trainers that will appeal to those happier in smart shoes – made by everyone from Tom Ford to Marks & Spencer – the best versions are those that feel more like a hybrid than a compromise.

See Clarks’ Tor 80. Rather than lean into smarter footwear, they reference their own classics: the chunky sole resembles the desert boot, making a clever combination rather than a poor imitation. Alternatively, if you simply can’t leave your Stan Smiths behind, the Grenson 1 U is part leather brogue, part trainer lookalike.

Dune London Men’s Trilogy. £109 at Dune London. £109 at John Lewis. Allbirds Wool Runner Go. £125 at Allbirds. Grenson 1 U. £225 at Grenson. Clarks Women’s Tor 80. £120 at Clarks. £84 at Coggles. Arc’teryx Vertex Alpine GTX. £220 at Arc’teryx. While the pandemic accelerated the relaxation of office dress codes, trainers still raise an eyebrow in some workplaces. Veja’s smart (and more environmentally friendly) Volleys have dominated the office-acceptable trainer category for a decade, but other brands do the same job. Converse’s Jack Purcell – minimal and monochrome – are a good, affordable (£65) option. Or tech bro favourite the AllBirds’ Mizzle (from £60): discreet, with a round toe and no logos, they’d almost pass as shoes if not studied too carefully.

Not a fan of the tech bro look? The collab with London brand Shrimps might change your mind. Otherwise, the rules are simple: in a corporate workplace, go for a style that has a matching sole and upper – and no one will realise you’re wearing trainers.

Zara Men’s Basic. £29.99 at Zara. Converse Jack Purcell. £65 at Converse. Veja Volley. £120 at Office. £120 at Accent Clothing. Common Projects Men’s Achilles. £340 at Mr Porter. From £235 at Flannels. Novesta Star Master 42 Mltr/003 Trnsp. £38 at End. £59 at Toast.

The Guardian proclaimed 2015 as “the year Stan Smiths went mass”. A decade on, Stan Smiths are at the back of the shoe cupboard. While it doesn’t quite have the same ubiquity (yet), the Salomon XT-6, a bolshie but oddly elegant shoe, is gaining similar status. “I think Salomons are really cool,” says Donaghue. “They’re slightly chunkier, a bit like a dad trainer but sleeker than something like Asics.” Need more encouragement? Rihanna is a fan.