As the hottest summer on record winds down and hopefully fall weather begins to give us some relief, it’s time to break out those kicks from previous seasons or refresh the wardrobe with something fresh for 2023. I typically refrain from dropping styles from high profile brands in these lists, but some of the styles from the big guys can’t be denied. The criterion for this list is simple:
- the pair has to look premium
- the price has to come in at under 200 dollars
- the design has to be unique and stand out
- the shoe has to be light color because I want to do more lists for different color boots (lol)
1. Karhu IKONI TRAIL 1.0
BRIGHT WHITE / DAWN BLUE
$155.00
You’ll notice a theme in this post. These kicks will be able to pass for a summer sneaker by color or some other option when the sun sneakers up on you after you dress too warm on a random fall day. Karhu is a brand that remains in rotation. While the sneakers are hard to find in local retailers, you can order them online of course. This pair has the hint of gum on the outsole and a rugged midsole, but it’s the asymmetrical design that rules here. The forefoot shape allows your toes to splay for a more natural feel reducing the potential for knee pain.
2. Merrell Hydro Runner Mid
Moonbeam
$185.00
Remember when you said you wouldn’t wear Crocs? Merrell made a molded, more functional version called the Hydro Moc and I still passed on it because it was just a high-performance Croc. Seriously, the shoe showed up on fashion sites and I still couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger although I knew it would work very well when I went to Miami and had to walk on those rough beaches. Maybe Merrell was listening to my inner thoughts because they decided to upgrade the Hydro Moc with a GORE-TEX® sock bootie. Creating one of the strangest, coolest looking trail shoes on the market. Is this too much white for the fall? Worried about having to clean these and the Karhu? Check out the next pair.
3. Timberland GreenStride™ Motion 6 Mid Hiker
Light Grey Nubuck
$150.00
I tried to avoid a light color, but you can’t front, these are dope. They have that Nike Antarktik look from 4 years ago and the best part is it allows you to rock that 50th anniversary Hip-Hop connection without going overboard with the NYC Timb look. This model features a lot of recycled content and materials, but it’s the price that places it third on the list. The Antarktik ran 250.00 a pop. These are a much more manageable 150 and the light grey just feels like fall.
4. UA HOVR™ Summit Fat Tire Delta
White Clay / Black / Green Screen – 302
$180.00
Full disclosure, I own a pair of the HOVR Summit FTs and they are easily one of the most comfortable sneakers in my collection. Unfortunately, my pair didn’t come with the zip off cuff which adds another level of design, but the fact that UA updated this sneaker with very little fanfare shows that they just don’t get how important this sneaker is to their potential to crossover. The original iteration of the sneaker was designed for an urban ninja. The apparel from the sketches nailed the utilitarian aspect and could have given UA just what they needed to gain some fans in lifestyle. Under Armour never delivered on the apparel and they never really promoted the shoe. This model is still buried inside of the site. I’m officially saying this list isn’t in order because the UA HOVR FT is my favorite model shown.
5. ASICS GEL-SONOMA 15-50 MT
Cream/Sand
$140.00
$84.95
I’m positive this is an unexpected sneakerboot and on sale makes it that much more of a find. I have a pair of Merrell’s with this rough suede and ripstop construction and it always gets a second look. In a mid-cut with a more athletic outsole that is still rugged, and the harness design is derived from a pair of ASICS cross country spikes, so you know the lock-down is on point.
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