7 Best High Top Sneakers in 2026
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There are a few things to consider when buying high-top sneakers. Not only should they be stylish, but they must be comfy and supportive as well. For this reason, we tested high-top sneakers, both around the city and in our independent lab. The result is a curated list of the best-of-the-best picks! For each pair, we explain why it deserves to be at the top.
How we test high top sneakers
- To avoid any biased feedback, we purchased all tested high-top sneakers with our own funds.
- We put these sneakers through various outdoor tests by wearing them in our day-to-day lives. We noted down everything, from how they fit, if they are comfortable straight out of the box, to how breathable and durable they are.
- In our shoe lab, we make our reviews even more profound by performing over 30 various tests to measure parameters like shock absorption, breathability, flexibility, toebox and outsole durability, insole thickness, and traction, among others.
Best high-top sneakers overall
What makes it the best?
We had the chilliest and chicest walks around town in our Nike Blazer Mid 77 shoes. This classic sneaker remains stylish with its clean look, effortlessly complementing various outfits. Its flexibility adds versatility, making it suitable for a range of occasions. Add a grippy outsole and a stable ride, and we’ve got the best high-top sneaker we’ve tested in the lab.
The sneaker felt so effortless on foot, bending and twisting naturally with our strides. It proves its remarkable flexibility in the lab by earning a 2/5 torsional rigidity rating and a bendability score that’s 44.2% greater than average.
The minimalist 17.5/11.5 mm stack offers great ground connection and a high level of stability, further enhanced by its high collar. What also kept us surefooted is the relentless grip of the outsole, featuring the brand’s iconic spiky herringbone pattern. This solid traction honors its basketball heritage.
However, the shoe feels very flat, which isn’t great for all-day wear. Those who prefer more cushioning should explore other sneakers.
Pros
- Incredibly easy to style
- A Nike iconic design
- Minimalist and clean vibe
- Forever trendy
- No signs of wear after several uses
- Durable structure
- Comfortable out of the box
Cons
- Narrow width
- Difficult to put on
- Too flat for all-day wear
Best versatile high-top sneakers
What makes it the best?
Easy to match and easy to move with, the Converse Chuck 70 High Top is our ultimate versatile high-top sneaker in the lab. Its iconic silhouette transcends time and remains to be a closet staple for many. In our walks, it offered a grounded and uncomplicated ride, allowing us to take charge of our movements while offering much-needed traction.
Surprisingly lightweight for its size at 17.0 oz (482g), it offers unexpected flexibility, bending effortlessly during wear. Despite its appearance, it's 37.4% more flexible than average, enhancing comfort and maneuverability.
The shoe’s below-average platform magnifies the ground while the plush OrthoLite insole, measuring 13.9 mm, adds cushioning for extended walks. Compared to the average kick in our lab, its insole is boldly 8.3 mm thicker!
With its signature diamond-patterned outsole, reminiscent of its basketball roots, the Chuck 70 ensures superior grip even on wet surfaces. No matter what surface we tackled, we remained surefooted throughout.
However, despite its high-top feature, it lacks heel and ankle support since the canvas material doesn’t have any structure. Those who prefer more lateral stability should check other options.
Pros
- Ever-popular, iconic silhouette
- Versatile for any outfit and occasion
- Highly durable construction
- Light for a high-top sneaker
- Grounded platform
- Surprisingly flexible
- Affordable price point
- Great grip for wet and dry situations
Cons
- Not breathable
- No arch support
- Very narrow profile
Best high-top leather sneakers
What makes it the best?
We strutted around town with the best high-top sneakers and found Nike Dunk High as our best leather kick. It’s got a retro hooper vibe that looks timeless and our lab confirms it’s high quality upper. The shoe offers a grounded and stable ride and is stiff and flexible in the right areas, balancing comfort and support flawlessly.
Starting from the top, Dunk High sports an all-leather look which we further tested with our blowtorch. Since the panels didn’t catch fire, we can confirm the material’s authenticity. It also displayed incredible durability in the toebox area by earning a 4/5 durability score in our Dremel test.
During our wear trials, we had steady footing and ground feel thanks to the low 22.6/14.9 mm stack. Being so close to the ground naturally boosts our control over footwork, keeping its basketball heritage alive. The high-top also supports our ankle without the uncomfortable stiffness and rubs.
Surprisingly, Dunk High feels effortless to walk in and our bend test quantifies this with a result of 4.8% more flexible than average. The more we wore these sneakers, the more they felt comfortable on foot. However, note that Dunk High requires a break-in period and feels highly stiff at first. Those who prefer comfort out of the box should explore further.
Pros
- Iconic and classic look
- Retro hooper vibes
- Superb quality
- Real leather
- Incredibly durable
- Very stable and close to the ground
- Great value for money
- Eye-catching silhouette
- Many colorways
- Extra top eyelet
Cons
- Needs breaking in
- Leather creases easily
Best all-weather high-top sneakers
What makes it the best?
Our go-to and top pick for high-top sneakers in any kind of weather is the Vans Sk8-Hi MTE-2. We found this shoe an exceptional defense from any adverse weather and other environmental factors, not just because it acts as a foot shelter but also because it’s a tank with matchless sturdiness!
We tested this sneaker in rainy and snowy conditions, and it provided us with long-lasting comfort and coziness. We confirmed that its Hydro-Guard 360 component effectively sealed the sneaker’s upper and repelled moisture. Also, frozen toes are something we never had to experience with the Sk8-Hi MTE-2 embracing our feet.
Due to the robust ankle support this high-top kick provides, we are able to enjoy it in various outdoor activities as we are also granted excellent stability. Combined with outstanding durability, this sneaker made us feel unstoppable! We found that it’s strong against heavy use.
At $150, we found this sneaker reasonably priced. However, it goes beyond the value of most sneakers by 19.3% so if you prefer something that’s at a lower price range, we recommend seeking other cheaper high-top sneakers.
Pros
- Top-notch weatherproofing
- Supportive foothold
- Real suede
- More flexible than it seems
- Grippy
- Super plush insole
- More than 10 colorways
Cons
- Heavier than average
- Not the best for hot summers
Best high-top platform sneakers
What makes it the best?
The Converse Run Star Hike takes height, comfort, and fashion to a different level and is definitely an eye-magnet during our walks. With its crazy stack, robust outsole, and durable upper, it’s our best platform pick among lab-tested high-top sneakers.
Our wear tests confirm the shoe rises above normal, but our jaws dropped upon measuring the stack with our caliper. At a massive 50.5 mm, the heel is the highest we’ve ever encountered while the 27.9 mm forefoot is almost as tall as the average heel of sneakers (29.7 mm). Run Star Hike pushed the limits further with its comfy OrthoLite insole measuring a solid 14.2 mm, 163.0% thicker than average.
The upper features the classic look of Converse, a style icon over the decades. Our Dremel shows its protective nature when it earned a solid 4/5 durability score.
Underfoot, the outsole breaks records further with its black chunky rubber in the heel at 12.5 mm—by far the highest number we’ve seen. This adds a great deal of height to the shoe and a confidence boost in our walks. With an outsole hardness of 88.1 HC, this sneaker can last many seasons. However, we recommend avoiding rainy and snowy weather as it has zero grip on wet surfaces.
Pros
- A modernised icon
- Incredibly stylish and trendy
- Height and confidence booster
- Comfortable OrthoLite insole
- Durable structure
- On the affordable side
- Surprisingly roomy toebox
Cons
- EXTREMELY heavy
- Slippery on wet surfaces
- Might squeak
High-top sneakers with the best support
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Incredibly comfortable
- Superb traction
- Overall durable materials
- Cool and fashionable retro style
- Great ankle support
- Spacious yet true to size
- Immaculate hooper aesthetics
Cons
- "Not really Jordans" for some
- Not the best to play basketball
- Requires a break-in period
- On the heavier side
Best budget high-top sneakers
What makes it the best?
Contrary to its name, Vans SK8 Hi costs an affordable $65, well below the $100 range. This makes it our best budget high-top sneaker among those we have tested. It is a classic skate shoe from the 70s and is still relevant up to this day with its minimalist and versatile look. Our lab confirms its impressive ankle support and breathable comfort.
On foot, the shoe feels highly versatile due to its almost nonexistent midsole, allowing us to move freely. It gives us much-needed ground connection, which is highly essential for its original purpose as a skate shoe.
Our ankles felt very much supported by the shoe’s high-top nature and adjustable shoelaces. Thankfully, it never felt stuffy thanks to the canvas material’s breathable nature, a rare feature for shoes of this height. Unfortunately, this means the shoe isn’t weatherproof, so we recommend keeping them dry.
Pros
- Classic silhouette that works with any wardrobe
- Fits true to size
- Breathable
- Durable
- Comfortable when broken in
- Padded collar for ankle support
- An easy silhouette even for a hi-top
Cons
- Takes time to put on
- Can take time to wear in
- Not good in wet weather
High tops: style only or function as well?
High tops are usually bought for 3 reasons: the looks, the extra warmth, or the ankle support (you’re in for a big surprise about this one further down). Whatever you’re in the market for, we have to agree that high-top sneakers look great and are here to stay.
What’s even better is the fact that we get to look for high-tops in basketball or even running shoes. Some of them are great for casual wear, and any extra features are surely welcome.
Do NOT expect ankle support from high-top sneakers
It sounds wrong. Are we sure? Yes, we are. When writing about ankle support in basketball shoes, we actually looked at 30 studies and found out that there’s no evidence that would support the idea of wearing high-tops to prevent ankle strains.
- When compared to low tops, high-top shoes do not limit how much or how fast the ankle rolls during landing. Not just that, but high-tops reduced and delayed the activation of key ankle stabilizers just before the landing, which means they may reduce the natural ability to stabilize the ankle rather than increase it. Fu et. al, 2014
- High-top shoes may help prevent some ankle sprains, but it depends on the loading conditions. Ricard et. al, 2000
- Looking at 622 college basketball players who played the 2-month season wearing different shoes (high tops, high tops with inflatable air chambers, and low tops), 15 ankle injuries were recorded during 39,302 minutes of player-time: 7 in high tops, and 4 in the other 2 groups each. This suggests that there’s no strong relationship between ankle sprains and shoe type. Barret et. al, 1993
- A systematic review of 6 studies has shown that there is no strong correlation between the type of shoe collar and ankle stability. Yiang, 2020
Based on all of this, you should not rely on high-top sneakers for ankle support. It’s better to do targeted exercises that help with ankle stability or, if needed, wear ankle braces.
Breathability of high-top sneakers
The extra material around the ankles certainly does not help with breathability, but the main question is, how breathable is the toebox? That’s what we test in the lab.
We created custom 3D-printed casts that direct the smoke into the toebox. We turn the smoke machine on and then watch where the smoke comes out and at what pace. Based on this, we assign each sneaker a 1-5 breathability score, where 5/5 is the most breathable and 1/5 the least.
We also examine the upper material under the microscope. This allows us to better understand what’s happening, plus we really love the up-close look. Sometimes, the threads are super colorful or look as if they were intertwined with Christmas lights.
While we look at the breathability of sneakers at the toebox, one should be aware of the tongue thickness as well. We’ve all experienced the sweaty instep at some point, haven’t we?
Some sneakers have extremely thick tongues, which may be a problem if you have sweaty feet. Fortunately, we test this in the lab, so you can always find the tongue thickness in our reviews.
How heavy are high-top sneakers?
Some high-top sneakers are classified as high-tops only because they have very thin above-ankle canvas sides. Others have designs that ask for more materials and, therefore, more weight.
The average weight of sneakers is 13.8 oz (390g). Knowing that, you can better understand whether a pair you’re considering is heavy or not.
Durability of high-top sneakers
When we test the durability, we focus on the wear and tear. We don’t test for the quality of the glue or for how the upper is stitched. Looking at wear and tear, there are 3 areas of particular interest: the toebox, the heel padding, and the outsole.
In all 3 tests, we use a Dremel. When performing the test on the toebox and the heel padding, we look at the damage done by the dremel and assess it on a 1-5 scale. 1/1 is reserved for sneakers with the least durable toeboxes and heels, while 5/5 is only for the most durable ones.
This heel padding was rated with 2/5, given the size and depth of the damage.
The difference between these 2 tests and the outsole one is in the tire tread gauge that we can use to measure the depth of the dent on the outsole.
This outsole ended up with a 1.5 mm deep hole.
If you prioritize durability, we recommend looking for higher numbers in toebox and heel padding durability (4/5 or 5/5) and lower numbers (meaning the damage was smaller) in outsole durability.
Is the leather fake or real?
After checking the durability of the sneaker, you may want to know what type of materials were used. When it comes to leather and suede, we want to know if they are real or fake.
We get an answer to this question by torching the upper! Back to the lab.
This is what fake leather looks like when exposed to fire. It bursts into flames suddenly and becomes like a glue
Real leather smells like burnt hair and is easy to scratch; it’s definitely not gluey
We perform this test in more than 1 place on the upper, wherever we notice that the materials are different. However, we will note down that it’s real suede even if there are smaller details made of fake suede. We care about the majority of the upper.
Nailing the fit in high-top sneakers
Some high tops are simply too narrow, and even though they look great, they don’t look that good that one would hurt their feet. Or maybe you have narrower feet and struggle with sliding in sneakers? Let’s address that.
First, we pour our special liquid into the sneaker and put it in the freezer for 2 hours. This allows us to create a gel mold of the sneaker’s interiors. Once the gel mold is ready, we measure its width: where the sneaker is the widest and at the big toe.
Thanks to these 2 measurements, you can choose more or less room exactly where you need it based on the shape of your feet.
And, not just that. We also measure the height of the toebox because some people simply need more vertical clearance due to the volume of their feet or big toe pointing up.
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