5 Pairs of Sneakers That Can Last Through College

Over the years, New Balance has evolved from a soccer dad shoe to a product highly coveted among anyone who enjoys a well-made, comfortable, and stylish casual sneaker. The EVA foam midsole of the 574 keeps your feet comfortable, and you don’t have to worry about the gallons of liquids or tons of food that may land on them. The leather, suede, and mesh upper can soak up anything on a Friday night and still be ready to wear for Saturday morning brunch.

The overall perception of skaters usually includes adjectives like nonchalant, carefree, and subversive. People gravitate towards these people because of their mystique. This even goes for posers who don’t actually skate but want to emulate the look. A pair of Vans Authentics is generally a solid purchase, considering they’re light on the pocket. Plus, the canvas upper and nearly indestructible vulcanized sole can take one hell of a beating. Price point and functionality aside, there probably isn’t a cooler pair of sneakers that look infinitely better when they’re covered in unidentifiable stains from all your nefarious activities.

The overall construction of the wildly popular Foamposite is similar to that of a boot: It's made from a polyurethane liquid that’s molded into a foam-like upper for superior durability. This is necessary when walking from class to class in rain, sleet, snow, hail, dust storms, and anything else that can fall from the sky. The best part about Foams is that they can be worn in class and the gym. Breaking ankles in your Foamposites is one hell of a feeling. Yes, the shoes are a little pricey but there are a variety of colors to choose from, and you can definitely find a good-looking pair on sale somewhere. The Foamposites should last you all four years as long as you’re not constantly kicking steel beams.

You were a four-year letter winner at your small, podunk high school with dreams of dominating the college ranks. But those dreams were quickly shattered when you meet Micah, a 6’7”, 215 lb linebacker who looks like he could eat you in one bite. Hey, at least there are intramurals, so you'll need a stylish pair of shoes that can go the distance. The Nike Air Presto is a solid choice since it’s a lightweight running sneaker that contains stretch mesh or modern Flyknit uppers, depending on what version you pick up. These sneakers might bring back memories for your parents, so carrying on their sneakerhead legacy while running through campus would surely make them proud.

The most universal shoe out there—covering anyone from sneaker nerds to sneaker upstarts, toddlers to old farts, men to women, and every other subculture out there —is the Adidas Stan Smith. It’s a shoe built literally for everyone. You can show off the fashionista in you by picking up a pair of uber-chic, premium leather Raf Simons collabs, go simple yet stylish by grabbing a pair of the lightweight, breathable Primeknits, or kick it simple and purchase a few pairs of the O.G. They look good with everything and don't let half of your campus owning a pair discourage you from picking up a pair of Stans: The reason they have is that they're so good and easy to clean. If that's not your thing, they look even better a little beat up.