So, you know your Maison Margiela Sprinters from your Miu Miu Plumes, were aware of ON before it collaborated with Loewe and Zendaya and know that the best place to showcase your newest pair of Salomon XT6 is in line for a pastry at Jolene’s Stoke Newington address, not the hiking trails they were designed for.
If any of the previous sentences resonated with you, then it might be time to expand your horizons a little further afield and familiarise yourself with the best underrated trainer brands. Though the aforementioned mainstream, trending brands aren’t unappealing in the slightest, there’s something quite smug about wearing a style that’s discreetly chic and unsung.
After all, with sportswear conglomerates like Nike and New Balance unrelenting when it comes to releasing new styles, it can sometimes feel like a chaotic pursuit to invest in a pair of trainers that are still trend-forward but aren’t necessarily so ubiquitous. And as trainers have become quite the covetable artefact, why not eschew the chase for the latest hot drop and opt for something that can become a sartorial hero to the style-conscious like yourself?
Indeed, the styles below require no waitlists, resellers or scalpers. Instead, they offer a quiet edge and distinctly contemporary approach to styling. It might sound oxymoronic to be compiling a guide to the most underrated trainer brands, given the fact that they’re often glossed over because of their lesser-known status.
In spite of this, the labels listed below are already gaining traction and garnering quite a devoted following, even if you haven’t heard about them yet. So, for the fashion insider who wants insights into cultivating a well-edited wardrobe, scroll through for the best-kept shoe secrets that you’ll not only become instantly infatuated with, but quickly start referring people to. Trust us, these are too good to gatekeep.
The 12 Best Underrated Trainer Brands to Shop in 2026
1. Dear Frances
Style Notes: Resolute in its commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and premium design, London-based footwear brand Dear Frances traces its style philosophy to one singular principle: minimalism. The key product is called the Balla trainer, which might pique the interest of those familiar with its iconic mesh ballet slipper. With a similar, undulating curve through the front, this style is sparse in the sense that the silhouette is distilled to its bare essence, leaving only a wash of mesh, a touch of suede and a premium leather finish. These mesh trainers definition of treading lightly.
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Inject a soft sensuality into your wardrobe with this pair.
Subvert monochromatic outfits with this fluid style.
This dusty blue hue will pair so
2. Chloé
Style Notes: Under the helm of creative director Chemena Kamali, Chloé has undergone a breezy transformation that has brought the French maison in line with the bohemian shapes set out by the brand’s founder, Gaby Aghion. Relaxed, fluid and balmy are adjectives that can describe almost any of Chloé’s collections, but they feel incredibly pertinent when describing their polished and poised elasticated trainers. The most prominent is the recently released Kick sneaker, which borrows codes from both ballet flats and boxing shoes to deliver a sleek and simple shape that would suit the shoreline of Saint Tropez and the concrete streets of Le Marais alike.
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This blush pink colourway will team well with the brand's ehteral puff-sleeve silhouettes.
Slip into summer with this slimline style.
When it comes to wearing suede trainers, this summer is proving to favour anti-neutral tones like powdery pastels and deep tones.
3. Wales Bonner
Style Notes: A suite of viral Adidas Sambas has certainly made Grace Wales Bonner a titan of her time, but you need not wait for her next link-up with the sportswear conglomerate in order to achieve the nostalgia-laden and craft-forward sensation imbued into her designs. In fact, many a style savant knows that it’s her eponymous label where the British fashion designer showcases her best work. Through blending retro sportswear with soulful tailoring and an energetic cadence, she offers retro-futuristic shapes that are as joyfully opulent as they are luxuriously laid-back.
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From Chanel to Carmela Soprano, leopard print has become a timeless style adopted by the style inclined.
Forget bowling bags, this flat-sole, rounded-toe bowling shoe-esque trainer will be all the rage.
After years of serving as second best, silver trainers are quickly claiming top spot.
4. A.Emery
Style Notes: It’s said that necessity is the mother of invention, and after failing to find a pair of premium, leather sandals at an accessible price point, it seems this adage came in clutch for A.Emery founder Anna McLaren. The shoes she designed to fill this gap in the market are the fashion editor-approved Jalen sandals, and though we could wax lyrical about that style for hours, we felt it appropriate to turn your attention to the brand’s equally chic trainers. The Adams trainer, as it’s known, boasts a low-profile, vintage-inspired slanted tread and suede webbing that creeps around the side of the shoe, juxtaposing the mesh windows and grosgrain ribbon-esque laces.
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Two-toned shoes are all the rage, and this iteration is equally covetable.
The subtle berry undertone adds so much depth to the traditional all-black trainer.
Don't be so quick to dismiss high tops, especially when there are options as chic as this one.
5. Nelson Made
Style Notes: In what can only be described as the perfect city stomper, Nelson Made’s signature Lyn sneakers offer a fluid solution to functional footwear. The rounded contours and slim-cut shape are only accentuated by the butter-soft leather, which will make walking around town—and hopefully clocking up your daily 10,000 steps—not only feel like a dream, but almost as if you’re wearing something as dainty and graceful as a slipper.
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This toffee tone style is ideal for your morning coffee run.
The supple leather makes wearing these feel as soft as treading on marshmallows.
The napped texture brings a rich intensity to this minimalist trainer.
6. Song For The Mute
Style Notes: Sydney-born fashion label, Song For The Mute, has become a cult favourite for creative types who prioritise narrative-driven clothing designed by proudly independent labels. (Think: those who douse themselves in Le Labo Santal 33 and will only buy their sourdough from Forno.) Now, with a collaboration with Adidas, the artistic essence of the brand is being brought out on a larger scale, serving as a shortcut to achieving that hand-crafted and covertly chic sensibility.
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Cobalt blue has become catnip for style insiders.
The classic three-striped silhouette we all know and love, in a style that's completely unique.
With a satin sheen and contrasting butter yellow accents, this style is the personification of summer.
7. Cecilie Bahnsen
Style Notes: Despite hailing from Copenhagen, there’s nothing minimalistic about the designs of ethereal fashion brand Cecilie Bahnsen. (Well, perhaps her pristine colour palette of cloud whites, baby’s-breath pink and sky blue.) Both dreamlike and functional, the Danish designer’s offerings fuse the practicality of Scandinavian fashion with the delicate, demi-couture techniques she learned after cutting her teeth in the Parisian ateliers of Dior and John Galliano. Thanks to her collaboration with Ascis, these juxtapositions and ethereal contrasts are being realised through footwear, with darling lace-up styles rendered with botanical motifs and in soft shades.
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Often trainers can feel so inherently masculine, and this flirty style subverts this all together with botanical motifs.
Pair with hotpants and a peasant blouse.
8. Dries Van Noten
Style Notes: After making an appearance on the Lyst Index of the “hottest products” of 2025 and having a custom pair appear in Harry Styles’ latest music video “Dance No More”, can it really be said that Dries Van Noten is an underrated trainer brand? We’d wager yes, given the fact that so many of the brand’s styles are yet to reach mainstream audiences, despite one viral pair of suede, ‘70s-style trainers reaching viral status. Plus, with creative director Julien Klausner only taking over the reins from the beloved Belgian designer at the end of last year, it’s safe to say that these trainers will only skyrocket from here. Get it whilst it's hot.
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With a scalloped edge and leather trim, this style is reminiscent of track stars from bygone eras.
This style features all the polish of a trainer, but the ease of a slip-on.
The most ornate trainer currently on the market.
9. Keen
Style Notes: Technicality has become a trait that’s quite sought after in trainers, even if they’re being worn for a stomp through Broadway Market as opposed to a trek along the Ben Nevis. Still, no outdoor gathering, park picnic or simple stroll through mixed terrain—see: from your back garden to your local high street—would be complete without them. Hailing from Portland, also known as the home of gorp fashion, Keen has come on the scene to provide a solution for anyone looking for alternatives to Salomons. Though slightly more rustic with suede accents styled in oaty colourways, this is a brand that will bring the great outdoors to your doorstep.
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The combination between slate grey and powder pink is such an underrated fashion girl favourite.
Whether you're strolling through a garden or on a more intrepid trek, these will come in clutch.
For the thrill seekers who don't want to compromise on aesthetics.
10. Hoff
Style Notes: Under the direction of the newly appointed head of design, David Tourniaire-Beauciel, best known for his work on Balenciaga’s Sock sneaker and Triple S, Hoff embarks on a new chapter of contemporary movement. Whilst remaining true to its Spanish origins through the use of sun-kissed colour palettes reminiscent of the work of Gaudí and Picasso, Hoff’s newer designs are slightly more refined, making them far more versatile and contemporary by direct correlation. Plus, with celebrity endorsements from the likes of Sienna Miller, why not inject something a little high-octane into your shoe arsenal?
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This mellow yellow pairs so well with balmy hues.
Blue trainers always team well with blue jeans.
Peep the sweet gingham laces on these mesh trainers.
11. Gola
Style Notes: Despite operating for over a century, Gola still possesses the feeling of an under-the-radar trainer brand, in part due to its marketing as a ‘retro’ sportswear name for the modern age. However, with bright shades, saturated tones and bright prints, these trainers are nothing short of impactful, and serve as a great alternative to more colourful styles like the Asics Gel-Kayano and Adidas Gazelle.
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These trainers are anything but basic.
Paint the town with this poppy red style.
Such a great substitute for Adidas styles.
12. Alohas
Style Notes: With fashion-forward design elements like lace trims, beaded laces and suede trimmings, each Alohas collection feels like a reflection of the trend cycle, ensuring that you can put the right foot forward, everytime.
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These are a riff of the Miu Miu x New Balance 530s.
Shell sneakers are quickly becoming one of the biggest micro trends.
Alternative animal prints like deer, cow and zebra are quickly taking over.