7 Best Platform Sneakers in 2023

Judith
Judith on
7 Best Platform Sneakers in 2023
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IDEALLY, the best-fitting pair of platform kicks will let you park your wedges and ramp up your look while giving you an added inch or two of height, PLUS the confidence to pull off your style. 

BUT you’d hardly get the right pick of platform sneakers just by judging them based on the images. We’re here to help you get the right choice minus all the headaches. 

No pair of sneakers from our listing here skipped our full-scale wear test. Yes, all 100+ of them!

At the end of the day, we want you to stand (a bit taller) and be prouder that you clinched the best fit, style, and value for a pair of platform sneakers. 

Best platform sneakers overall

What makes it the best?

Another entry into the Adidas Originals collection, the Nizza Platform Vulc stays authentic to its lineage, boasting great overall comfort and breathability. The elevated counterpart of the Adidas Nizza Low, this posh kick wears its exemplary workmanship up its sleeve. Meanwhile, its timeless look underscores versatility, making it very easy to work with styling-wise. The comfort and style that the sneaker brings also add valuable stars to its overall rating.

Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Timeless appeal
  • Breathable
  • Premium materials
  • Height booster
  • Comes in sustainable versions

Cons

  • Unsatisfactory durability
  • Easily gets dirty
Full review of Adidas Nizza Platform

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Men
Women
Any color
Black (FV5321)
White (FV5322)

Best premium leather platform sneakers

What makes it the best?

During the '70s, platform shoes were used by disco-goers to draw people’s attention to themselves. Today, AJ1 Elevate Low is the platform sneaker that captures popularity from the crowd because of its 4.5 cm sole height, along with its striking colorway selections. Sneakerheads keep gushing over the unique branding subtleness of the sneaker and its insane cork insole that provides incredible foot support and comfort.

Pros

  • Has premium leather
  • With good-quality cork insoles
  • Gives extra height
  • Clean and subtle design
  • Offers cool colorways
  • Convenient to style with simple and crazy outfits
  • Unisex

Cons

  • The tongue is stiff at first
  • The upper easily creases
Full review of Air Jordan 1 Elevate Low

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Men
Women
Any color
Stealth/Titanium (DH7004005)
White/White/White Onyx (DH7004102)
White/sail/dark beetroot (DH7004161)

Best platform sneakers for all-day wear

What makes it the best?

This kick is not kidding when it says it is bold, as it got fans on their feet for hours, no complaints! Adidas Gazelle Bold, a classic brought to new heights, is adored by kick lovers for having the oomph its OG is missing. The word “super cute” is endlessly used to describe this sneaker, and boy was the news right. If you want to stand out (literally and figuratively), lock your eyes on this one!

Pros

  • Extraordinary on-foot feeling
  • Terrific arch support
  • Comfy for all-day wear
  • Flexible and bouncy midsole
  • Gives wearers extra height
  • A fresh twist on a classic
  • Gets lots of compliments
  • Versatile design
  • Perfect for casual or smart casual
  • Comes with an extra set of laces

Cons

  • Too roomy
  • Heavy
  • On the pricey side
Full review of Adidas Gazelle Bold

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Men
Women
Any color
Core black / cloud white / core white (HQ6912)

Best futuristic platform sneakers

What makes it the best?

Just by looking at this one, you already feel elevated from the ground. With its rugged outsole details, together with its substantial midsole, the height addition is definitely not a question mark. Upon inspecting reviews, we can confidently inform you that Converse Run Star Hike is leading in the high-top platform sneakers domain. 

How could it not be the best when despite its chunky construction, it is not burdensome on the legs? We know it appears dense and weighty, but we did the research, and trust us, it isn’t. Also, we found that its high-top construction is effective in providing not just ankle support, but also extra ankle protection. You got the power to lock your foot down in your secure-feel preference.

What’s shocking is that this sneaker doesn’t grip well on the ground. Yes, its outsole is spiked and rugged, but we learned that in terms of grasping performance, there is a shortfall. We recommend searching for other kicks if traction is of great importance to you.

Pros

  • Stylish
  • Uniquely-modified Chucks
  • Comfy
  • Elevated
  • Lightweight
  • Pairs well with any attire
  • Supportive

Cons

  • Gets dirty easily
  • Its laces are too long
  • Lacks traction
Full review of Converse Run Star Hike

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Men
Women
Any color
Black (166800C)
Egret/Egret/White (171575C)
White (102697M)
GREY (405933K)
Citron Zest/Black/White (172361C)
Blue/Vintage White/Black (171894C)
Cargo Khaki/White (171667C)
White (172362C)
More colors

Best chunky platform sneakers

What makes it the best?

Yes, it's true. The Converse Run Star Motion isn't for everyone. But if you're the type that loves a pair of beefy kicks that SCREAM, this is the one. Apart from its fascinating exterior, this shoe boasts a marshmallow-like in-shoe feel and an unbelievably versatile and lightweight construction. It's truly a unique piece that one can wear every day.

Pros

  • Show-stopper
  • Compliment magnet
  • Comfy
  • Surprisingly light
  • Well-built
  • Supportive
  • Height-boosting
  • All-rounder

Cons

  • Limited colorways
  • Roomy
  • Leaves some crease marks
Full review of Converse Run Star Motion

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Unisex
Any color
White (171546C)
Black (171545C)
Pink/White/Gum-Black (172247C)
Egret/Pale Amethyst/Storm Wind (172891C)
Slate Sage/Light Silver (172892C)
Light Twine/Egret/Mouse (171547C)

Best value platform sneakers

What makes it the best?

As ingeniously built as the Vans Slip-On, the Slip-On Platform delivers the same level of comfort and style as before. This iteration from Vans channels the greatness of the OG model but with the benefits uniquely associated with platform sneakers. A kick that will add a few centimeters to your height, the Slip-On Platform translates to pampered steps out in the urban jungle, whether or not the sun is in full force.

Pros

  • A platform for high comfort
  • Chicness overload
  • Quick break-in
  • Supportive for all-day wear
  • Monochromatic appeal
  • Makes you taller
  • Breathable

Cons

  • Dirt magnet
  • Frail sole unit
Full review of Vans Slip-On Platform

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Unisex
Any color
Black (VN00018EBLK)
White (VN00018EBWW)
White (VN0A3JEZW00)
Grey (VN0A3JEZ1AW1)

Comparison of the 7 best platform sneakers

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Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Best price
Ranking
Popularity
# of colorways

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How we test sneakers

  • We purchase all the platform sneakers with our own money. We don't let the brands dictate our views on the shoes.
  • As a team of sneaker specialists, we spend several weeks wearing the sneakers. We scrutinize the shoes based on fit, breathability, flexibility, durability, and most especially, comfort. 
  • We take the platform sneakers to our lab and we do different tests that measure a number of parameters. We collect data and compare them to the mean values to give you more idea of where the shoe stands depending on which parameter. Moreover, we cut the shoes into pieces so we can see everything in detail.
Author
Judith
Judith

If Sneakerology exists, Judith’s close to earning her Ph.D. She owns not stacks of kicks, but hundreds of published sneaker content online, headlining grails, greats, GRs from over 30 global brands. She’s a natural creative wordsmith, a hype monster at times, who writes and edits lifestyle articles professionally for over two decades now. If you're lost in a sea of popular or undervalued sneaks fishing for that best catch, she’ll gladly help out between sips of coffee or lemony mojito.