Bye Chunky Dad Shoes, This Is the New Sneaker Trend You’ll Soon See Everywhere

While the popularity of the Dad Shoe isn’t going anywhere soon, there is a new front-runner that will soon outshine the beloved (and worn to death) chunky sneaker this fall—and if you haven't picked a pair up already, it's time. The latest favorite goes even further into the past. This fall, it's all about the vintage-style running sneaker.

Life after the Fila Disruptor 2 and Martine Rose’s reimagined Nike Air Monarch 2 moves away from chunky and more towards sleek, like the sneaker worn by first-ever women's Olympic Games marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1984. Specific? Yes. True? Also yes. 

The most hyped versions of this vintage-inspired trend include Nike’s Sacai collaboration, the LDV Waffle. Released in three different colors, there are some obvious fashion-over-function additions like the double tongues, double swooshes, and double laces in the marrying of two old running silhouettes, the LDV and the Waffle Racer. Samuelson’s marathon-winning shoe also saw an August re-release as well as fashion rehaul with Japanese imprint, Undercover. You can always go with what Nike considers their first "modern" running shoe, the classic Cortez. Both versions of the Daybreak and the Cortez are still available on Nike.com, whereas the Sacai collab is only available on resale sites like StockX and GOAT. 

You can easily hop on board with this trend without going full sneakerhead, too. ASICS has quietly been releasing updated, fashion-forward favorites in the last few months and just debuted a Kiko Kostadinov campaign shot by (and featuring) fine arts photographer Juergen Teller. Look to ASICS GEL-1090 and the GEL-NANDI 360, two re-released retros that just hit the market, and ASICS GEL-KAYANO 5 OG styles for bright, on-trend options that won’t have you feeling too much like a hypebeast. Trail running versions are cool, too. ASICS has the GEL-FUJITRABUCO 7 G-TX, while Salomon has high-function that the high-fashion crowd loves in the S/LAB XT-6 SOFTGROUND LT ADVs.

Finally, if you want to opt to stick to a pure classic, the New Balance 990v5 is the way to go. A Steve Jobs' favorite, they also kind of give off some Larry David vibes. More importantly, they're incredibly comfortable and super versatile. This has all the high-level ease you'd want in a sneaker made for running errands, but would also really add an effortless feel to an oversized suit and a slicked-back ponytail look. Like the new tagline says: “Worn by supermodels in London and dads in Ohio." Accurate. But now it's a sleeker, '80s dad silhouette. 

Here's what Amazon reviewers had to say about the Fila Disruptor 2 sneakers. Plus, why you should be switching up your sneakers at the gym.