Clean, crisp, and cool as a cucumber, the best white sneakers for men are non-negotiables. Whether you’re Joe Schmo or Joe Jonas, white sneakers are an essential part of every guy’s wardrobe. No wonder there are so many to choose from. From the household names that your grandparents grew up with, to the up-and-comers of the modern era, every brand has their own interpretation of the classic white sneaker.
There’s a rush when you cop a brand new pair. Pristine. Gleaming. Scuff-free. And that new sneaker smell! Ideally, white sneakers get better with a few knicks and bruises. Snag a pair in spring and come fall they’ll have garnered enough patina to make flea market junkies fork over a fistful of cash. Sure, there’s a little sadness when you thank your old, roughed-up white sneakers for their long and distinguished service and set them free. They delivered hundreds of wears; held down hundreds of fits. But there’s beauty in this stylish circle of life.
To keep the circle going, we surveyed hundreds of potential contenders, tested out the cream of the crop, and settled on these nine picks—along with eight honorable as the best white sneakers for men. Now go forth and be fresh.
The Best Men’s White Sneakers, According to GQ
In This Guide
Best White Sneaker Overall: Converse Chuck 70 Canvas High-Top Sneaker
Looks-wise, the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star has hardly changed at all since it first hit the hardwood in the early 1920s; it’s still the white sneaker you probably think of first. In terms of construction, though, the no-frills GOAT hit its peak in the ’70s: the canvas upper was weightier, the rubber midsole rode up a little higher, the toe cap was a touch smaller, and the patch on the back of the heel was a cool retro black rather than the standard white. A few years back, Converse decided to make them that way again. For a cool $90, the Chuck 70 gets you all those key design upgrades, plus the benefit of modern cushioning installed into the thicker vintage outsoles. They’re the same Chucks you’ve always loved, only better. The only choice you have to make is whether you want the high-top or the low-top version.
Chucks are as classic as it gets, and the Chuck 70 is significantly better than its regular counterpart. I’ve owned plenty: The canvas is burlier, the silhouette is chunky but not in an overly trendy kind of way, and the insole is supremely cushion-y. In other words, they’re well worth the minor price jump, so we’d recommend springing for the upgraded version. GQ associate commerce editor Tyler Chin also upgraded from the standard Chucks to the Chuck 70s when he graduated high school and says he likes the retro silhouette, added support, and higher quality. “The 70s didn’t look or feel as flimsy as the cheaper Chucks,” he points out. We concur.
Best Upgrade White Sneaker: Reproduction of Found German Military Trainers
Don’t call these Margiela dupes. Reproduction of Found’s familiar kicks get their inspiration from the same place as as the ultra-luxe versions, straight from the West German Army. And like Margiela, they’re not so much inspired as they are a bar-for-bar rip of the original. The main difference is that these aren’t unissued/decommissioned secondhand versions. They’re also made with better materials like supple Italian leather, suede and mesh lining, and rubber soles identical to the OGs. RoF’s are crafted in a factory in Slovakia that’s been making sneakers for generations (including military-issued joints). The point is, these are about as real as they get.