6 Best Leather Sneakers in 2023

Jaydee
Jaydee on
6 Best Leather Sneakers in 2023
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If you're on a hunt for sneakers that offer instant comfort and get even better as you wear them, leather sneakers are your best bet. With so many leather sneakers available, finding the best one without reading hundreds of reviews is not easy.

Whether you're new to the sneaker world or planning to add another leather kick to your collection, we will help you out. We have spent hours sifting through over a thousand pairs of leather kicks and concocted several recommendations for your easy reference. 

How we test sneakers

We meticulously assessed more than 100 leather sneakers to help you find the best one for you. To give you honest and fair reviews, here is our approach:

  • We buy these kicks using our own money to stay unbiased. 
  • We thoroughly test these sneakers to check their comfort, durability, and many other parameters.
  • We gather all available reviews from other wearers of these leather sneakers. 

Based on the above, we assign a CoreScore for each sneaker. Ranging from 1-100, this scoring system will determine how this shoe performed for the majority.

Best leather sneakers overall

Adidas Stan Smith
93
Superb!

What makes it the best?

The Adidas Stan Smith is a legendary sneaker with a claim to fame as the original white tennis shoe for the masses. Culture has respected that for the last 50 years the Stan Smith is still as relevant today as it was when the man was winning trophies. It's fair to say that with its robust design and sleek looks, it's probably going to last another 50.

Pros

  • Classic silhouette
  • Numerous colorways and collaborations
  • Easy to style
  • Durable
  • Weatherproof

Cons

  • Runs large
  • Lack of support
  • Takes some time to wear in
Full review of Adidas Stan Smith

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black (FW2640)
White (H04334)
Beige (FU9595)
Cloud White / Cloud White / Green (M20324)
White (FX5501)
Cream White/Pantone/Pantone (HP5580)
Ftwwht/shopnk/rayblu (FY9021)
Black (M20327)
More colors

Best chunky leather sneakers

Nike Air Max 97
91
Great!

What makes it the best?

What else can be said about the Nike Air Max 97 that hasn't been said before, the shoe has literally had books written about it. It's an athletic, versatile, and comfy sneaker that looks incredible in so many colorways. There's a reason it's been one of Nike's most popular sneakers for decades. Like others in its family, this is a silhouette that will stay relevant for years to come and work with most wardrobes.

Pros

  • Good all-season sneaker
  • Good for sockless wear
  • An identifiable piece of fashion history
  • Fits true to size
  • Near indestructible
  • Lightweight
  • Feels as athletic as it looks
  • Great even for winter

Cons

  • Takes some time to wear in
  • Attaches to stains easily
Full review of Nike Air Max 97

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Metallic Silver Chlorine Blue (DQ9131001)
Pink Gaze/White/Black (DZ5327600)
Black/Lime Glow-white (DM8126001)
White/Grey/Yellow (DQ8961100)
001 metallic silver/chlorine blue (DM0028001)
100 coconut/sail/black (DV5451100)
Bone/beige (DX3947200)
Black/blue/grey/white (921826011)
More colors

Best minimalist leather sneakers

Reebok Club C 85
92
Great!

What makes it the best?

The Reebok Club C85 is a piece of history. Made to fit in with the cleanest, upper-class circles the sneaker world took hold of the Club C85 and hasn't let go. From skaters to rappers, this sneaker has gone the distance and continues to do so, comfortable, durable, and stylish it's all you need.

Pros

  • Ideal price point
  • Comfortable in-shoe feel
  • Durable construction
  • Easy to clean
  • Lightweight
  • Water-resistant
  • Surprisingly breathable
  • OK for sockless wear

Cons

  • Lacks modern inner shanks for support
  • Slightly loose fit
Full review of Reebok Club C 85

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Core Black Pure Grey 8 Vector Red (LWV95)
Chalk/Vector Blue/Vector Red (MAQ73)
Black (AR0454)
Chalk / alabaster / glen green (GZ4945)
White (AR0456)
White (AR0455)
Green/Brown (GZ1871)
Chalk/Chalk/Semi Classic Teal (LYT49)
beige (FX1379)

Best retro leather sneakers

Adidas Busenitz
91
Great!

What makes it the best?

The Adidas Busenitz has been around for a while. It stands on its own against modern skate shoes because of its durability and versatility. More than anything it's a really clean-looking sneaker that works just as well on a night out as it does in a skatepark. It helps that the shoe is easy to clean, sturdy, and has loads of cushioning to keep you comfy and supported.

Pros

  • Incredibly durable
  • Fits true to size
  • Grippy as anything
  • Technical shoe for responsive skating
  • Surprisingly weatherproof
  • Classic silhouette
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Takes a long time to break it
  • Narrow in the toe box
  • The big tongue isn't for everyone
  • Not very breathable
Full review of Adidas Busenitz

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Collegiate Burgundy/Clear Blue/White (DB3124)
Black (EG2478)
Black (G48060)
Savannah/yellow tint/cloud whi (EF8465)
White (H03346)
Bliss/Shadow Navy/Scarlet (GY6899)
Crystal White/Semi Lucid Blue/Gold Metallic (HQ2026)
Core Black/Grey One/Gold Metallic (GX9746)
More colors

Best classic leather sneakers

Nike Air Max 90
90
Great!

What makes it the best?

The Air Max 90 is a sneaker with a backstory. Everyone has seen it and most love it. If you grew up between 1990 and 2010 you probably wanted a pair. Each pair feels ready to last another 30 years, with breathability to boot. Regardless, Nike renews these year after year offering more and more options to whet any appetite.

Pros

  • Very durable
  • Breathable
  • The stuff of legends and rightly so
  • Huge amounts of colorways
  • Great price for a statement shoe
  • Fits true to size
  • Quality materials
  • Easy to clean
  • Stain resistant

Cons

  • So stiff it asks for adjustment period
  • Normal and wide feet find it too narrow
Full review of Nike Air Max 90

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Grå (DC6083500)
Brown (DC6083200)
001 wolf grey/cool grey/pure plati (DQ0789001)
White/Black/Light Smoke Grey/Starfish (DM0029101)
001 photon dust/varsity red/white/ (DO8902001)
100 white/light bone-sesame-black (DV3335100)
200 bucktan/velvet brown/campfire (DZ5175200)
Light Iron Ore/University Red/Summit White (DZ4839001)
More colors

Best leather low top sneakers

Nike Air Max 98
89
Great!

What makes it the best?

The Nike Air Max 98 suffers from middle child syndrome. Trying too hard to be equal to what came before (the AM 95) and carefree enough so that people don't notice. It is a comfy, retro-styled Air Max with elements of creativity. It's definitely one for the history books and holds true in today's trends.

Pros

  • Retro-styling
  • Lots of colorways to choose from
  • Fits true to size
  • Speed lacing is easy and secure
  • Air pocket comfort

Cons

  • Lacks creativity in the design
  • Less durable than it looks
  • Quite stiff
Full review of Nike Air Max 98

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Platinum Tint/Electric Green-Bright Crimson-Black (640744015)
Desert sand/club gold-sail-uni (AO9380003)
Multi (640744500)
White/Pure Platinum-Black-Reflect Silver (640744106)
Purple (640744200)
Wheat/metallic gold-black (BV6649708)
White (640744110)
White (AJ6302100)
More colors

Comparison of the 6 best leather sneakers

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Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Best price
Ranking
Popularity
# of colorways
Author
Jaydee
Jaydee

Jaydee dispels the myth that women can't be experts when it comes to sneakers. With hundreds of sneaker articles under her belt, she gained a surefire edge over others claiming to be experts. Since joining RunRepeat in 2017, she’s published formidable arrays of sneaker write-ups - some covered in lifestyle magazines. Interested in scrutinizing a pair of sneakers? Jaydee is the best person to talk to as she can intuitively chew it over with you even while doing her laundry. When she’s not writing, you can catch Jaydee playing with her two kids, online shopping, and spending far too much time on Instagram.