Here Are The Best Trainers To Wear All Day Every Day, From New Balance 550s to Nike Air Max

When it comes to footwear, we know one thing for certain: comfort prevails. That's why, even outside of the weekend, you'll find us in clogs (Birkenstock's Boston), Chelsea boots and, of course, trainers, trainers and more trainers. What brand wins the prize for best trainers depends on whether you're looking for retro appeal or technical prowess.

But to rewind ever-so-slightly, if you're only wearing your trainers to the gym - or the commute - you honestly don't know what you're missing. Staking a claim on our 'on-duty' footwear rotation, the best trainers are an effortless go-to for nearly every occasion. Taking you seamlessly from home to the office to the pub, they add a touch of zero-effort cool to almost any outfit. Want to add some bite to a blossom-sprinkled dress? Try an everyday pair of New Balance 550s. Looking for the perfect pair of shoes for your 'nice top and jeans' combo? It's got to be Onitsuka Tiger's Mexico 66, the ultimate cool trainers for now.

We've got the revival of the dad trainer, the new hype of the Nike Dunk, as well as a trip back to trainer classics like the Adidas Samba, New Balance 550s and Nike Cortez. From styles that have been around forever to reinvented classics, the best trainers are worthy of investment for that level of power-comfort we’re seeking.

What are the best trainers to buy now?

The style set seems to agree that anything the classic trainer brands and cult sportswear giants put out is the go-to. Bella has been repeat-wearing her Adidas Sambas; Hailey Bieber loves Salomon, New Balance 2002R and Nike Jordan 1; Rihanna's a fan of Vans.

A lot of the biggest trainer brands also do a brisk trade in designer collabs. See: Miu Miu x New Balance, which was first spotted on the catwalk in October 2021, Adidas x Gucci, Asics x Kiko Kostadinov, we could keep going because there are a lot of cool trainers out there (Adidas Originals x Wales Bonner also gets a mention...).

Anything these brands put out are great investments because they're guaranteed to keep coming back around. Converse High-Tops, Nike Air Max, we can’t imagine a life without them (not to be dramatic).

The popularity spike for cool trainers has led to a buzz around using more sustainable materials in the market. Brands such as Veja, SAYE and Allbirds are working hard to reduce their footprints as much as possible by using low-carbon materials like Tencel Lyocell.

When it comes to styling, anything goes. Cool trainers are a wardrobe staple all year round – perfectly paired with sharp tailoring, baggy jeans and of course, your friend and mine, loungewear. The future, at least where your footwear is concerned, has never felt so comfy.

How did we choose the best trainers?

Team Grazia has pretty much made a career out of being obsessed with trainers. Seriously. We all have a favourite pair that we can't spot wearing, whether it's something with retro appeal from Adidas, something techy from Salomon, or something that combines a little bit of both from New Balance, Nike or Asics.

What should you look for in a pair of white trainers?

Despite being difficult to keep clean, white trainers continue to prove incredibly popular. There's a white trainer for everyone, whether you're into sleek leather styles or something more sporty. I would recommend investing in a cleaning kit when you purchase a pair of white trainers so that you can keep them looking as close to box-fresh as possible. The high street is brilliant place to start for white trainers because almost every shop will have an affordable version (M&S, Jigsaw, Whistles, all have superlative takes on the kind of white trainer that you can wear to work).

SHOP: The Best Trainers 2023