6 Best High Top Sneakers

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.