7 Best Platform Sneakers in 2022

When it comes to thick-soled kicks that offer a voguish flair without much froufrou, to our picky noses, nothing beats the Vans Old Old Skool Platform. Its classic, minimalist, simplistic, and unisex style tickled us. 

We consider this a wardrobe essential as it instantly elevates our look. This kick blends well with a hodgepodge of streetwear clothes without us needing to put in much effort.

We felt like Bella Hadid looking fab even with a pair of washed-out skinny pants, a white shirt, and this platform shoe.

Aside from a runway vibe, we are drawn to the comfort it gives. Even with its pair of thick slabs of rubber nestled underneath, these didn’t weigh us down. We didn’t feel like our feet were strapped to bricks either. It’s fun wearing this around town for several weeks as it feels light too.

We’ve put these through a ground test and waited for its sole to bottom out and thin out, but we failed. These are SOLID! Like the Old Skool, this shoe is equipped with a hard-wearing sole that refuses to say goodbye quickly. 

If you’re looking for a platform kick that’s ageless, fab, and will keep you surefooted for long hours of the day, have no second thoughts with the Vans Old Skool Platform shoes. These will give you that needed LIFT.

If Michael Jordan is irrefutably NBA’s GOAT, we think that the hoop star Air Force 1 is the greatest when it comes to iconic Swoosh sneakers. When we speak of iconic platform kicks, the Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 scores buckets and receives the highest elevated spot. 

We’ve tried wearing the AF1 and the revamped thick-soled version. The base of the platform style is more pumped and thicker. The injected airbag integrated into the midsole gives us an added boost in height.

Such air technology implanted under the heel also helped soften any stress that came in contact between the ground and our feet throughout the month-long sneaker endurance test. 

It's a premium Swoosh sneaker, but we didn't feel robbed of with hefty cash. Like most AF1s, this platform version is solid, lasting, top-notch in terms of quality. Full-grain leather, high-quality suede, and sterling lining are just some of the features that make this STELLAR!

If you’re looking for a platform kick that’s for keeps, infinitely timeless, indisputably iconic, we highly recommend you get this AF1 into your sneaker stash. This stylish LV8 doesn't fail to elevate!

We’re over the moon with Converse Run Star Hike. This Converse Chuck with a striking, spunky sole isn’t only a star in style but stellar in comfort too! 

We’ve tried dozens of platform sneakers and this shoe surprisingly stole our hearts! After sporting this around town frequently in a week for a month, we were taken aback by how friendly it is to the feet.

How did it stun us? That squatty, rigid sole is heaven for our feet. It may not be as forgiving as most rubber compounds used in most platform kicks but these are super supportive! Rearfoot and midfoot control prevents unnecessary foot torsion so we didn't end up having feet, ankle, leg, and back nightmares. 

Some of us with plantar fasciitis and mild ankle instability, and mild osteoarthritis swear by how this shoe made them smile. It accommodated customized orthotics for enhanced arch support. 

Did we mention that its toe box didn’t squeeze our toes? We know that the longer we use this we won’t have any trouble with ingrown toenails, bunion growth, and blistered pinky toes. 

Converse design team is just so whip-smart to come up with a sneaker that’s as functional yet totally fab as the Run Star Hike.   

If you find retro Nike Air Force 1s irresistible for their classic-meets-new style, you would probably love the Air Force 1 07 LV8 more for its catwalk-ready aesthetic. Its lively colors, textures, and thickset sole invite you to romp it as any top fashion model would. Need not worry about durability and comfort, as this kick is wearable almost year-round.

We find the Puma Cali Sport among the must-have platform kicks exclusively for women. This throwback ‘80s shoe is among the classic designs worth adding to any style-savvy individual’s sneaker arsenal. 

We felt like princesses wearing this as its cushioning and lining makeup is so gentle to our feet. It’s one of the welcoming, snuggly, and plush pairs among the heaps of platform sneakers we’ve tried on. 

Running from one errand to another and staying up on our feet almost the entire day wasn’t taxing. Thanks to the ultimate comfort this shoe offers since day one. It dampens any possible foot and leg stress while making us cover most of our week-long priority tasks. 

Durability isn’t an issue. The upper is dressed in high-quality leather that gives it a more premium look. Its sole held up all the pounding we did the entire month as we tossed this around the city for a test drive. 

We just love the added boost in height it gave us. Being creative with our wardrobe, whether for work, leisure, or even formal affairs, was fun.

If you’re building up your sneaker wardrobe with sassy staples, you’ll never go wrong with an ageless, sporty, thickset soled pair from Puma.

Skate-brand Vans doesn’t only prove that platform sneakers can be stylish, comfy, and convenient, but downright affordable too. Vans Slip-On Platform sneaker offers tons of bang in exchange for a few bucks. 

If you want to level up your sneaker game without having to spend a fortune, the Slip-On Platform from Vans is among the wisest pickups you can scour out there. 

That streamlined, incredibly versatile form turned us from skeptics to fans. We went beyond the obvious and tried wearing it for several weeks. If we would choose a single slip-on platform to put into our daily rotation, this would be our top pick. So it wasn’t a feat for us to add it to our highly recommended budget sneaker list. 

Those padded collars complimented by sufficiently cushioned insoles were a treat for our feet. Aside from excellent cushioning, this shoe makes our feet breathe. It prevents us from getting sweaty feet under warm weather.

Like most platform kicks, this shoe comes with a sturdy and beefy base that isn’t 100% flexible. BUT our feet didn't feel tired wearing it 8 hours straight for several days in a week. 

Never was there a chance that it altered our gait and made us walk like chickens or ducks. On the contrary, it gave us the confidence and attitude to strut this in style any time of the day.

And the best part next to durability is its $55 price tag. That’s quite hard to beat.

Introduced in 2019 as another addition to the Nike Air Force 1 sneaker collection, the Nike Air Force 1 Shadow has established a name for itself in the industry with its notable design. It also captures attention with how it stayed true to its origins while honoring women around the world. This women-exclusive, low-top silhouette doesn't disappoint when it comes to style and comfort.