Our monthly series highlights the top releases from leading athletic footwear brands. Whether you’re an avid sneakerhead or just looking for the perfect pair to complement your style, navigating the vast world of sneakers can be overwhelming. From understanding where to buy to decoding the latest trends, consider this your road map to finding the perfect pair.

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July focused on collaborations and everyday essentials. August, on the other hand, brings back past favorites while celebrating new beginnings. Adidas goes back into its tennis and basketball vaults. Jordan Brand proves it remains the standard when it comes to premium releases, and both Puma and Asics remind everybody they fit any occasion.

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Adidas Billie Jean King

Adidas pays homage to Billie Jean King, one of the greatest women’s tennis players and disruptors in sports history. Her signature shoe returns just as it debuted in 1974. Blue suede uppers, white three stripes, and a rubber outsole give the shoe a casual vibe perfect for the office or date night.

Release date: Aug. 1

Retail: $110

SKU: KH9856

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Adidas Harden Vol. 1 “Pioneer”

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden and Adidas are celebrating 10 years of partnership by retroing the NBA veteran’s debut signature shoe, the Harden Vol. 1. Launching with the original “Pioneer” colorway, the 2016 favorite still holds up on and off the court.

Release date: Aug. 1

Retail: $170

SKU: BW0546

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Adidas Harden Vol. 10 “Northern Lights”

Plenty of sneakers borrow the “Northern Lights” nickname, but few actually look the part. The blend of teal green, blue, and white mirrors the aurora borealis, making James Harden’s latest Vol. 10 one of the line’s most eye-catching colorways.

Release date: Aug. 1

Retail: $160

SKU: LA5917

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Barbie x Reebok Angel Reese 1

WNBA star Angel Reese has earned the “Barbie” moniker for her on-court play and her off-court fashion. Now, things have come full circle as the Angel Reese 1 arrives as an official Barbie collaboration. Hits of Barbie’s iconic pink accent the upper and heel, complementing the mostly chalk-colored shoe. Expect to see fans wearing them at Atlanta Dream games this season, alongside a newly released Angel Reese Barbie doll that completes the package.

Release date: Aug. 3

Retail: $160

SKU: 100278889

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JJJJound x New Balance 740

By now, we all know what to expect when JJJJound appears here: clean design allowing the materials and the shoe to speak for themselves. The 740 features a dark-neutral upper, clear overlays, and pops of dark navy and red to create a simple but striking pair. Though arriving in the dog days of summer, it’s going to be a go-to pair in the fall.

Release date: Aug. 6

Retail: $160

SKU: TBD

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Kith x Salomon XT-EVO

For their &Kin Fall 2026 collection, Kith worked with Salomon as the footwear brand introduces an entirely new silhouette, the XT-EVO. While the bright hues of the lemon/lava falls colorway have garnered the most attention, there’s something subtle and smooth to the black coffee pair that makes it a winner in its own regard.

Release date: Aug. 7

Retail: $200

SKU: SL45568800 (Black/Lemon/Lava Falls), SL45568900 (Black Coffee/Excalibur/Bluing)

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Vandy The Pink x Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1

Korean-American streetwear designer Vandy The Pink teams up again with Asics for another serving of ice cream. Last year, the brand delivered a banana split-inspired offering. This time, the question is simple: Chocolate or vanilla? For me, it’s the vanilla pair, which features pops of yellow, pink and green across the shoe with a vanilla upper, evoking a scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day. Complete with packaging that pays homage to classic ice cream shops, these shoes are a must-have.

Release date: Aug. 8

Retail: $195

SKU: 1203b302-100 (Vanilla), 1203b302-200 (Chocolate)

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Nike Ja 4 “Nightmare”

​The first three entries in Ja Morant’s Nike signature series have been strong sellers, including the Ja 3. The Ja 4 will help keep the streak alive. The debut “Nightmare” colorway features an obsidian, black and voltage green palette, while the JA-Frame midfoot wrap offers stability and style.

Release date: Aug. 13

Retail: $130

SKU: IM4135-405

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Puma Suede Bloom

The Puma Suede, a staple on this list, features premium materials for everyday wear. The latest version returns with a feminine update, pairing soft pink, white and black with satin laces, frilled trim, and faux pearls. It makes a versatile gift or a stylish everyday option for any occasion.

Release date: Aug. 13

Retail: TBD

SKU: TBD

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Converse Shai 001 Lace-up

While we wait to see what Nike and Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have planned for the Shai 002, he closes out his Converse chapter with a three-pack of the Shai 001 Lace-up. Ditching the zipper shroud and monochromatic look, the “Cheetah,” “Lime” and “Berry” colorways bring a brighter, more casual feel that should have no trouble attracting attention.

Release date: Aug. 14

Retail: $120

SKU: A24323C-507 (Berry), A24322C (Lime), A24961C-251 (Cheetah)

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Free The Youth x Air Jordan 16

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Sometimes a sneaker just needs a new point of view. Ghanaian creative collective Free The Youth delivers one on the Air Jordan 16, transforming the model with a metallic silver finish and a removable shroud inspired by Ghana’s tawny eagle. Those choices revitalize the classic silhouette.

Release date: Aug. 15

Retail: $255

SKU: IV7638-001

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Larry June x Adidas Adistar Control 5

While rapper Larry June has already released two albums this year, he now has a different project to celebrate. His Adistar Control 5 arrives dressed in a gradient pattern of orange, red, and green mesh that immediately brings thoughts of summertime fun and sunsets. Paired with Adidas forefoot cushioning, these are the perfect shoes to carry us through the dog days of summer into early fall.

Release date: Aug. 15

Retail: $160

SKU: KZ7294

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Air Jordan 3 “Laser”

Jordan Brand looks to start the fall season a bit early as the Jordan 3 gets the laser treatment across a plush brown suede and white leather upper. Flipping the typical Jordan 3 layout and removing the elephant print and making the white leather upper the focus makes these stand out in any crowd. The leather uppers are laser-etched with various symbols to represent moments from Michael Jordan’s NBA career.

Release date: Aug. 22

Retail: $230

SKU: JA1369-001


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Westside Gunn x Saucony Grid Jazz 9 “Awesome Gods”

Few current rappers embrace excess quite like Westside Gunn, so it’s fitting that his latest Saucony collaboration is just as loud. The self-proclaimed Fashion Rebel mixes multiple animal prints with splashes of pink and yellow across the Grid Jazz 9, then finishes the design with Saucony and Griselda branding throughout. The result is a maximalist design that refuses to blend in.

Release date: Aug. 28

Retail: TBD

SKU: TBD

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Air Jordan 8 “Bin 23”

There are premium releases, and then there’s Jordan Brand’s “Bin” series. For $350, you get premium leathers and nubuck, plus wooden shoe trees, suede dust bags and other elevated details. If there was ever a shoe that deserves the white-glove treatment, it’s these. Grab these now and save them for the fall season, and watch the combination of a pine green shoe and red wax seal on the tongue grab everybody’s attention.

Release date: July 24

Retail: $350

SKU: IO2053

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Reebok Engine A “Pump”

Reebok pays homage to one of the greatest basketball shoes of the ’90s with the latest Engine A. Taking the classic Reebok Pump that Dee Brown made popular and copying it right to the Engine A body is a prime example of how the simple moves are often the best. And yes, you can pump up the tongue just like Brown did.

Release date: July 31

Retail: $160

SKU: 100277685

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