So let’s circle back to the sneaker culture of 2016

The internet has a way of taking us on a trip down memory lane. Lately, posts saying ‘2026 is the new 2016’ have been making the rounds, coming from the idea that 2016 was the last year before everything online started to feel… just a bit too much. Whether that’s entirely true or nostalgia simply doing its thing, there’s no denying how certain things from ten years ago still feel so familiar.

Call it collective effervescence (as the internet calls it), but some things immediately mark 2016 as its own time: VSCO filters, sunflower tops, ‘chella outfits, you name it. Even the sneakers we wore — you just know which ones scream 2016.

Apparently, sneakers are one of those things in fashion that stays a staple even as trends change. In 2016, though, it trickled down differently. Although Instagram and Snapchat were already part of our lives, style wasn’t yet as dictated by algorithms or influencer cycles as they are now.

What people wore was shaped a bit more organically — by schoolmates we see on campus, friends we meet at parties, and strangers we encounter wherever we go; and less by fitness trends, FYPs, or ‘run-club aesthetics.’ Looking back, that’s what made the sneaker culture of 2016 feel special.

So let’s look back at the sneakers that defined that era. Some of these might still be hidden in your shoe rack, others you probably haven’t thought about in years.

Nike Roshe Run

Designed by Dylan Raasch and named after the Zen term Roshi, the Roshe Run stood out in the mid-2010s for its stripped-down look. In 2016, it was a usual sight in everyday settings.

Nike SB Stefan Janoski

Built for professional skateboarder Stefan Janoski, the shoe was originally intended for technical skating but later gained popularity beyond the parks. By the mid-2010s, it regularly showed up as part of everyday dressing.

Nike Air Max (90 / 95 / 97 / Thea)

Nike’s Air Max line introduced visible Air cushioning to footwear design, a feature that once felt futuristic. In 2016, pairs like the 90, 95, 97, and Thea were commonly seen even outside sports settings.

🛒: Nike Women’s Air Max 90 LV8 Shoes

Nike Flyknit Racer / Nike Flyknit Trainer

Nike’s Flyknit technology was developed using data on how runners move. By 2016, the models appeared frequently outside training environments.

Nike Air Force 1

Released in 1982 as a basketball shoe, the Air Force 1 has remained present across generations. In 2016, all-white pairs continued to show up across a wide range of outfits.

🛒: Nike Men’s Air Force 1 ’07 Shoes

adidas Ultra Boost

Once marketed as adidas’ most responsive running shoe, the Ultra Boost quickly gained popularity beyond running. By 2016, it was commonly worn alongside casual and street-style looks.

🛒: adidas Lifestyle ULTRABOOST 1.0 SHOES

adidas Stan Smith

Named after the American tennis player, the Stan Smith was briefly pulled from the shelves before being reintroduced in the early 2010s. By 2016, it had become a widely worn sneaker across creative and casual circles.

🛒: adidas Lifestyle Stan Smith Decon Shoes

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star

Originally designed as a basketball shoe in the early 1900s, Chuck Taylors have passed through more fashion cycles than we can count — and in 2016, they remained a constant in people’s daily wardrobes.

🛒: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Ox Unisex Shoes

Vans Old Skool

Introduced in 1977 as Vans’ first shoe with the side stripe (originally called the “jazz stripe”) the Old Skool also drew renewed attention in the mid-2010s.

🛒: Vans Classic Old Skool Unisex Shoes

New Balance 574

Released in the late 1980s as a hybrid road-and-trail shoe, the 574 occupied a steady place alongside newer releases through the mid-2010s.

🛒: New Balance 574v3 Men’s Sneakers

adidas NMD

Drawing from adidas’ 1980s running archives, the NMD debuted in late 2015. It quickly became one of the brand’s most visible pairs throughout that period.

These are the sneakers we wore in 2016, before algorithms changed the way we form our personal tastes, forever.

🛒: adidas Lifestyle NMD-R1 Shoes Unisex

Is being influenced by algorithms a bad thing?

Not necessarily. Still, there’s something comforting about looking back at a time when style moved through shared spaces and regular sightings, rather than showing up all at once through a screen.

However you come across good things is fine. Just make sure you’re still steering the ship. — Rappler.com

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