Here’s What Sneakerheads Are Looking Forward to in 2025

It’s set to be another huge year for the sneaker game. With massive re-releases coming in hot and new collaborations abound, the next 12 months are going to be pretty sick. But before everything breaks loose again, we took a minute to ask our followers over on Instagram what they’re looking forward to the most in 2025. In Captain Creps’ first Sneaker Survey ever, we got some interesting insights into what brands you’re most excited about, how your purchasing habits have changed over the past two years, the biggest challenges in the sneaker world right now, and so much more!

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What Sneaker Brand Are You Most Excited About in 2025?

In 2023, New Balance was probably the most hyped trainer company in the world. In 2024, adidas was at its peak thanks to silhouettes like the Samba OG and the Gazelle. But what brand are you most excited about in 2025?

Well, according to Captain Creps’ Sneaker Survey, 71% of those who took part said they were looking forward to Nike the most. And it’s no surprise, really. Not only does this year mark the Air Max 95‘s 30th birthday, it’s also the 40th anniversary of Jordan Brand. So if you’re a fan of the Swoosh, you’ve got a lot to look forward to this year. Plus, according to the latest reports, we’ll be getting some incredible restocks this year, like the UNDEFEATED x Air Jordan 4 that first dropped back in 2005.

What Sneaker Brands Will Have the Best Year in 2025?

So, now that we’ve talked about what major sneaker brands you’re most excited about, which of the smaller ones will end up having their best year yet?

Over the past five years, Crocs has led the charge thanks to the pandemic, and Salomon came a close second due to the rise of the gorpcore trend. But for 2025, 45% of you think that On will dominate the next 12 months. And while this may be a shocking statistic to some, it’s not really. According to Strava’s annual Year in Sport report, running club participation increased by almost 60% last year alone, and this number is continuing to skyrocket. Plus, the Swiss sportswear company has also linked up with some major labels like PAF and fashion houses such as Loewe, so they’re definitely doing something right.

How Have Your Purchasing Habits Changed Over the Past Two Years?

Some trainer enthusiasts like to buy a lot at once, while others like to invest all of their cash into one single grail. In Captain Creps’ Sneaker Survey, we asked if your purchasing habits have changed at all over the past two years.

According to 23% of you, they’ve more or less stayed the same, 34% said that they’ve actually started buying more pairs (we don’t blame you!), and the majority of you, at 43%, said that you’ve been copping significantly less. With the rising rate of inflation, the increase in retail prices, and the general state of the economy, we’re not shocked by this statistic. But recently, brands like Nike have started introducing more budget-friendly silhouettes so that you can still quench your thirst for footwear on a budget. Just take a look at the upcoming V5 RNR, for example.

What Type of Sneaker Release Do You Look Forward to the Most?

Let’s throw things back to about a decade ago. Around the 2015 to 2018 era, sneakerheads were pumped every single time a new model was revealed. Think of silhouettes like the NMD, the React Element 87, and the Air VaporMax, for example. These were extremely futuristic and were fitted with technologies and innovations that we had never experienced before. It was all very exciting.

But fast forward to today, and 49% of you are looking forward to retro comebacks the most. From the iconic Air Jordan 1 High OG “Bred” to the legendary adidas Ultraboost 1.0 “OG,” these are the trainers that you’re really going after. At 24%, you wanted more collaborations, and at 18%, you wanted limited edition exclusives. The rest of you, at a measly 9%, actually care about new sneakers, and that’s a huge contrast to what the game was like 10 years ago.

What Sneaker Price Range are You Most Comfortable With?

Earlier, we discussed how your purchasing habits have changed over the past two years. Almost half of those who took part in Captain Creps’ Sneaker Survey said that they’ve started buying significantly less. But what price range are you most comfortable with?

At a whopping 58%, most of you mentioned that you were happy with paying anything between £80 to £120 for a fresh pair of kicks. On the other side of the spectrum, 5% of you bougie boys are okay with paying over £160. With the state of trainer pricing at the moment, many pairs are currently over this price point. Even the Air Max 95, which was originally nicknamed the 110 due to its £110 tag, retails for £180. And with the “Neon” and the “Pink Foam” expected to make a comeback this year, we suspect that many of you will be shelling out over the next 12 months.

What’s the Most Important Factor in a Collaboration?

Collaborations have always played a major role in the industry. Think of the SB Dunk, for instance. Introduced in 2002, it wouldn’t have become the hype machine that it is today if Supreme didn’t step in and release its own versions. Since then, the sneaker world has been blessed with thousands of collabs, with a new one being announced literally every single day. But what’s the most important factor when it comes to these powerful partnerships?

The designer involved, the storytelling, and the resale value all ranked at around the same percentage, but at a massive 60%, it was the overall design that you cared most about. At the end of the day, you’re not going to buy something that doesn’t look sick. Just look at the upcoming Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Pink Pack.” If it didn’t look this good, would anyone care? Yeah, probably not.

How Do You Feel About Restocks of Highly Sought-After Sneakers?

As mentioned before, 2025 is going to be a huge year for restocks. The Off-White x Air Jordan 1 High OG “White” is rumoured to be returning, as is the PlayStation x Nike Air Force 1 from 2006. But does this harm the legacy of these sneakers? Do people even care?

Well, according to Captain Creps’ Sneaker Survey, 53% of you don’t really mind. In fact, you want sportswear companies to just release everything. 37% of you said that it’s okay if it’s done sparingly, and finally, 10% think that it ruins the exclusivity. And we get it! If it took you blood, sweat, and tears to cop something a decade ago, why should it be easier for current sneakerheads? They should have to go through the same experience just to acquire the same grail.

What is the Biggest Challenge in the Sneaker World Right Now?

About three years ago, resellers became a huge problem in the trainer game. Millions of people were using bots just to buy a limited drop, with the sole purpose of selling it off again just to make a quick buck. Genuine fans who were actually excited about the shoe would then miss out, and this became an issue with brands too, who began implementing countermeasures to ensure that everything was fairer.

But today, the biggest challenges have shifted. While resellers are still something that people are annoyed about, ranking in at 25%, it was actually the overall increases in price that have you worried the most. It’s a difficult cycle, really. Everything is getting more expensive at the moment, including the materials that manufacturers need to create your favourite trainers and the transport that’s needed to get them from the factory to your feet. So, naturally, prices will begin to shoot up.

How Do You See the Future of Yeezy in 2025?

Back in November 2013, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) left Team Nike for Team adidas. Under his Yeezy brand, he created a billion-dollar sneaker empire, with silhouettes like the 350 V2 and the 700. All of these were ridiculously hyped, and everyone wanted a pair. But in November 2022, the German giant officially cut ties with the American rapper due to a series of racist and anti-semitic remarks that he made online. Suddenly, prices were slashed left, right, and centre, and some of his hottest colourways were just sitting on shelves. So, is there a future for Yeezy in 2025?

To no one’s surprise, a resounding 47% of you said that YZYs were dead. 23% said that it’ll struggle to regain the hype that it once had, and 20% said that it will gradually fade away from relevance. But 10% of you were hopeful, saying that Yeezy will probably make a major comeback in 2025. Will we see 500s in your rotation again? Only time will tell.

Final Thoughts

At the end of Captain Creps’ Sneaker Survey, we asked our followers to sum up their final thoughts on the sneaker market right now. We received thousands and thousands of submissions, so instead of listing every single one of them here, we’ve hand-selected a few that we found particularly interesting.

@official_gla_ said: “Could be better. Too many simple pairs coming out with no imagination.” @sonuseehra said: “Saturated AF.” @paddockpk3 said: “The quality of adidas have gone downhill.” @niallvidal said: “I don’t buy anything unless it’s on sale or discounted.” @nielshekkers said: “Bring back early ’90s, late ’80s trainers.”