Maybe you think trainers are dead (what with the current appetite for polished alternatives like Derbies, ’90s-style boots and loafers). Or maybe, like me, you think tastes are simply evolving. The Samba fever that pervaded the early 2020s may have worn off a while ago – and even become, dare I say it, cheugy – but there are certain trainers that many of us are still copping for 2026. And more often than not, they’re throwback styles – the sort that stand the test of time, or are being reevaluated through a contemporary lens.
The Noughties obsession isn’t going anywhere, so it makes sense that we’d turn to aesthetics from one of the most beloved – and copycatted – decades for our footwear choices, too. To that end, here are all the Noughties trainers we’ll be wearing well into 2026.
Nike Air Rift
Jennifer Aniston in Air Rifts on the set of Bruce Almighty in 2002.
Alamy
Thought weird-ass ballet sneakers were a new phenomenon? Think again! In 1996, Nike released their Air Rift style, also known as the Ninja, which gathered momentum throughout the late ’90s and early ’00s (A-list fans included the likes of Madonna and Jennifer Aniston). These days, they’re more likely to be sported by off-duty fashion girls who’ve grown tired of their scuffed Tabis (plus Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lawrence, who’ve both been spotted in Air Rifts recently).
₹ 14,713
Nike – Air Rift sneaker
₹ 12,260
Nike – Air Rift mesh split-toe sneakers
Puma Mostro
Antony Jones/Getty Images
