The everlasting appeal of vintage runners

These are sneakers that you can wear anywhere with anything.

The 70’s and 80’s were when most of the best-looking running shoes were born. Regardless of brand, all of these styles had identical silhouettes, varying only in colors and materials, made mostly in combinations of mesh, suede and leather overlays sitting on top of an EVA midsole and terrain-gripping rubber outsole. Though many brands released mostly identical designs with slightly varying functional aesthetics, most of these are now treated as classics with an unbelievably consistent market demand.

They have made their way into every person’s life, one way or another. Even better, these designs have evolved over time. New tech comes in to improve the wearability. There are more artistic takes on the original design. Okay, these new takes are not always what fans hope for, but the point is: these shoes keep coming back to life, and they’re probably here to stay.

It’s hard to rank these sneakers by popularity. These are pairs that you can wear anywhere with anything. By anything, I mean every outfit you can think of, regardless of the season. They look awesome when dressed up, fresh out of the box and even when worn down.

That being said, I barely know people who don’t own one of these pairs. The people who do, they probably have several pairs in their closets.

So here are some personal favorites from every brand I’ve tried recently and in the past, and across different price ranges.

1. Saucony Shadow Original

This often-overlooked American running brand has been slowly making its way back after a long hiatus here in the Philippines. The Shadow Original has the trademark design of the 80s but has a slightly thicker midsole than its counterparts. You can shop these at all Saucony stores locally.

2. Puma Roma 683

One of Puma’s older runners makes a gorgeous comeback, with earth accents courtesy of a Tyakasha collab. Get them at Soleacademy and Puma Select stores for P5,495.

3. Tretorn Rawlins

Nylites aside, I never imagined that Tretorn had these beauties until maybe late last year. These are pretty hard to find, as there are only limited stocks locally. But sooner or later, they’re bound to restock in new colorways. Look out for these at the SneakPeek and Res-Toe-Run.

4. New Balance 996

This is the sleeker version of the 574, and looks best in shades of gray. They go well with ribbed socks and hemmed trousers, and these fall-inspired colors will make you want to wear a wool coat too. These are out for P4,795 at your nearest New Balance, Athlete’s Foot and Capital Ph stores.

5. Nike Daybreak

The 80s waffle soled runner is back in its OG form and on everyone’s radar after its much-anticipated collaborations with Jun Takahashi, and in bold colors too. Get them at Commonwealth Ph for P4,995 or online via Nike PH and Size Official. And hurry too, they’re usually not around for long.

6. Asics Gel-Lyte

While I love these, my dad probably loved them more. They’re honestly one of the more comfortable 80s shoes, and I would say the tech is at par with what we have in most sneakers these days. What else can we say about Japanese craftsmanship? Shop these for P5,190 at Capital Ph; just check online or call for in-store availability.

7. Adidas SL 72 and SL 80

Last but never the least, these two are long overdue for a return, and what better timing than this coming holiday season? Look out for them at your local Adidas Neighborhood stores or online via adidas.ph.

There’s so much more out there, of course. There are other great brands with similar styles to consider, from Reebok, Diadora, Mizuno, and Onitsuka. Even Converse has an occasional drop of their own version, the Auckland Racer. So if you ever find yourself in a sneaker conundrum, always remember, these classics can never go wrong.