With Black Friday passed and the holiday shopping window fully open, the sneaker giants are duking it for your attention in a month packed with high-profile releases.
Be they retro Air Jordans, flame-riddled Nike runners or a divisive sneaker-loafer hybrid from New Balance, December is shaping up to be a strong end of the year for kicks. Lil Yachty will get his first release through a special Air Force 1 Low, while a Kobe Bryant tribute will also decorate the same model. Fear of God is set to debut its second Basketball sneaker from Adidas, and the Brand With Three Stripes will also unveil the modernized Adizero SL72 through a collaboration with Bad Bunny. And of course, we can’t forget one last Travis Scott release to get the people going.
Below, Footwear News breaks down all the best sneaker releases coming in December. You can also find a list of every Air Jordan, as well as the best Adidas sneakers and best Nike sneakers, at the respective links.
Release Date: December 1
Price: $130
SKU: 401665-01, 401665-02
Puma’s experimentation with the recently revived Inhale sneaker sees it transformed with iridescent colorways in purple and green.
Release Date: December 2
Price: $130
SKU: IB5720-100
Lil Yachty’s first sneaker to release to the public follows a lineage of rap label Air Force 1s that include Jay-Z and Fat Joe.
Release Date: December 4
Price: $160
SKU: U1906LAI
New Balance’s sold-out 1906 Loafer returns in all-black treatment for the second colorway confirmed for December.
Release Date: December 4
Price: $240
SKU: FZ9902-001
One of the most beloved Foamposite One colorways hits stores again for the first time since 2017.
Release Date: December 4
Price: $285
SKU: HQ3501-100
Nike’s annual Ekiden collection nods to another from more than 20 years ago by decking out four runners, including the Swoosh’s premier super shoe, in flames.
Release Date: December 5
Price: $135
SKU: FZ1291-600
An official “Wizard of Oz” collaboration following the highly anticipated release of “Wicked” includes a wear-away upper to invoke ruby slippers.
Release Date: December 5
Price: $450
SKU: FZ4237-001, FZ9042-001
Two Air Max Plus variants take different approaches to color and the application of Swarovski crystals, with the black pair being exclusive to Foot Locker.
Release Date: December 6
Price: $130
SKU: FZ1151-100
This Kobe Bryant tribute pays homage to a similar pair he wore during his brief period of sneaker free agency between Adidas and Nike.
Release Date: December 6
Price: $120
SKU: 3028807-419
A new era for Curry Brand and Under Armour begins with the Curry Fox 1, which makes Aaron Fox the first person not named Steph to get a Curry sneaker.
Release Date: December 6
Price: $125
SKU: 311308-01
LaMelo Ball’s signature basketball has never shown any shyness for color, but this edition of his fourth model still manages to stand out for its boldness.
Release Date: December 6
Price: TBD
SKU: JQ8482, JS0977
Fear of God’s second Adidas Basketball shoe is intended to hold up better on the court and has already been seen at the NBA level.
Release Date: December 7
Price: $200
SKU: DD0587-110
A new and clean Air Jordan 5 colorway that will quickly gain fans.
Release Date: December 7
Price: $190
SKU: HJ7679-900
With the release of her PE, Paige Bueckers becomes the first college athlete to ever get a Nike release.
Release Date: December 11
Price: $160
SKU: U1906LAF
New Balance’s third 1906 Loafer deviates from monochrome themes with a tough mix of brow, grey and blue.
Release Date: December 13
Price: $160, $200
SKU: HF5516-001, HF5515-400
Stash’s highly collectible Air Max 95 and Air Force 1 duo from 2006 makes its first-ever return, albeit with a few changes that include plays at better waterproofing.
Release Date: December 14
Price: $230
SKU: CT8012-104
Jordan Brand’s tradition of holiday Air Jordan 11 colorways now brings back the colorway Michael Jordan wore for the ’96 All-Star game and which also represents his University of North Carolina.
Release Date: December 14
Price: $110
SKU: JI4070
An shimmery blue treatment for Anthony Edward’s hit signature sneaker release could be one of two made for Christmas, with an even more colorful edition having leaked previously with the same SKU.
Release Date: December 15
Price: TBD
SKU: JP8816, JP8815, JQ8757
Adidas has tapped Bad Bunny to debut its modernized SL72, which features an Adizero sole unit for better comfort than you’d otherwise find on a more than 50-year-old sneaker.
Release Date: December 21
Price: $150
SKU: DM7866-202
Travis Scott’s love of browns and the Air Jordan 1 Low collide on what could be the last blackbuster sneaker release of 2024.
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
