Did you catch the aurora borealis on its recent sojourn south? Even if this interplay of solar winds and the Earth’s magnetosphere failed to light up your sky, this suitably named edition of New Balance’s 860 v2 line will shine in your sneaker rotation. A close cousin of the 1906R and 2002R models that have set the pace over recent seasons, this reissue boasts flexible ACTEVA LITE cushioning, shock absorbing N-ergy and ABZORB SBS pods in the heel, all in a tidy, futuristic package.

The obvious reference point for this souped up, luxury Italian-made edition of adidas Originals’ perennial stalwart is a certain semi-aquatic reptile that dates back even longer – perhaps 95 million years. As in the crocodile. But could there be a touch of another of the brand’s soccer icons tipping the scales? We speak of 1994’s Predator, which turned leather lamina into a marginal gain, around the time that xG was also first devised. Regardless, this elevated update of fashion’s favourite sneaker is probably at its best away from the football pitch.

From the introduction of the line in 1999, the Nimbus has always been at the forefront of running. Taking its name from the meteorological phenomena that its stacked sole resembled, that first model might have well come from another planet. A decade on, ASICS was still pushing the boundaries of biomechanics (and still is – the current model, the Gel-Nimbus 26, is a formidable piece of kit). The Gel-Nimbus 10’s rebirth as a lifestyle shoe, another 15 years on, is a no brainer. It chimes with the current vogue for runners of this vintage, and really stands out in this minty green with silver flourishes.

The 13th iteration of the 1080 line is an adaptable running shoe built for training days, marathons and everything between. Sitting on a bulbous base, stacked with Fresh Foam X across the midsole, they make for a comfy – bouncy, even – ride. It might not go toe-to-toe with the carbon-plated supershoes currently troubling the leaderboards, but it will get you there. And, unlike the cutting-edge firepower designed to last just one race, this shoe has legs. What’s more, in a slick shade known as Castlerock Grey, they’ll look the part on rest days, too.

The Nike Zoom Vomero 5 is a big part of the conversation around 2000s/2010s-era workhorse running shoes suddenly reappraised through a fashion lens. In its day (it was first launched back in 2011), it was a solid runner, popular for its great cushioning and stability. But ever since its rediscovery by A-COLD-WALL* creative director Dr Samuel Ross in 2018, what was merely an evolutionary ancestor of the modern-day line has become the main character. Here it is in a colourway previously seen on a prized edition of the Air Jordan 1, which tells you where this sneaker now fits in Nike’s roster.

The superior build quality and materials from an American factory is the key thrust behind New Balance’s Made in USA collection. However, ever since Aimé Leon Dore’s Mr Teddy Santis took over, unlikely colour choices have often been the first thing to catch the eye. The latest drop is no different, as this new version of the brand’s 2022 model demonstrates. Sure, the white mesh and creamy suede overlays lend themselves to the contours of this shoe, but it’s all about the pops of purple over the cartoonish black outlines. A plum job that Santis has made his own.