The art of sartorial restraint is not a simple one, with overly ascetic approaches to minimalism often resulting in banality. The best minimalist sneakers for men are often touted as something of a sartorial palette cleanser — a blank canvas for the rest of your outfit, if you will. However, in our humble(ish) opinion, a really good minimalist sneaker should also add something to your look; perhaps in the way of a subtly contrasting heel tab or a tonal textural overlay. Maybe it’s simply its evident high-quality craftsmanship that draws the eye or its uncanny resemblance to a dress shoe. Point being: making a minimalist sneaker isn’t easy.
The rise (and rise and rise) of minimalism, with sneaker-specific minimalism spearheaded by the release of the Common Projects Achilles Low in 2004, has resulted in pretty much every footwear and sneaker brand having its own take on the style. And while variety is the spice of life, the plethora of choices in the market can make finding the right minimalist sneakers difficult. So, on that note, we’ve put together our favourite minimalist sneakers for men. Far from boring, these kicks eschew extraneous details and unnecessary heft in favour of sleek, streamlined silhouettes that are characterised by subtraction rather than addition.
The best minimalist sneakers for men in 2025
Read on to discover the best minimalist sneakers for men.
1. Common Projects Achilles Low
Price: from $456AUD
Provenance is important when it comes to menswear, so let’s start at the source. Making their debut on well-heeled…heels around the world in 2004, the Common Projects Achilles Low has since come to define the minimalist sneaker category. Their pared-back aesthetic, impeccable craftsmanship, and considered design details have solidified them as the blueprint for the majority of forthcoming minimalist sneakers. Crafted from supple leather, they come in several neutral shades are are differentiated from other minimalist sneakers by the ten gold embossed numbers on the heel that denote the shoe’s size, style, and colour. Luxury minimalism at its finest.
Established in: 2004
Founder: Prathan Poopat and Flavio Girolami
Headquarters: New York, United States
Materials: leather upper, rubber soles, gold embossed details on heel counter
2. They New York Circle Low
Price: $359USD
See? We told you minimalist sneakers don’t have to be boring. These two-tone kicks feature a semi-circle die-cut on the midsole, with the black-and-white colour scheme creating interest while retaining versatility. Careful attention to detail is paid, with the silhouette retaining its streamlined form despite the cutout, and the rubber sole acting as a seamless extension of the leather upper. While the They New York Circle Low can doubtless be paired with casual outfits, our platonic ideal sees them teamed with a slim-cut black suit with no break to show off the sneakers.
Editor’s note: unfortunately They New York looks to be on hiatus, with the Circle Low sneakers currently sold out at all retailers. However, we’ve kept the style in this article, as it’s an exemplar example of an unpredictable take on minimalist sneakers.
Established in: 2016
Founders: Jack and Angela Lin
Headquarters: New York, United States
Materials: leather upper, rubber soles
3. Adidas Stan Smith
Price: $170AUD
Although the Common Projects Achilles Low kickstarted the minimalist sneaker trend almost two decades ago, Adidas has been quietly pioneering the pared-back sneaker since day dot. Or 1963, to be precise. The Adidas Stan Smith marked the world’s first leather tennis shoe (though since 2021, it’s also been available in recycled and vegan-friendly materials), with its cultural ubiquity so high that the man who inspired it needs to remind people that he is in fact, not a shoe. While today the style is made in a variety of neutral colourways, the original variant remains a classic, with the hint of green imbuing the streamlined style with a hint of sporty prep.
Established in: 1949 (Adidas); Stan Smith model introduced in 1963
Founder: Adolf ‘Adi’ Dassler
Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany
Materials: partially recycled polyester uppers, rubber soles
4. Ration.L R-Kind Trainer
Price: £70 (approx. $139AUD)
When it comes to minimalist sneakers, a little texture can go a long way towards adding interest without compromising the sleekness of the silhouette. Crafted from vegan-friendly pebbled leather, the Ration.L R-Kind Trainer boasts a monochromatic colour scheme with tonal variation by way of a subtle contrast heel tab.
Established in: 2019
Founder: Kavita Basi
Headquarters: Chester, England
Materials: polyurethane, rubber
5. Pangaia Grape Sneakers
Price: $160AUD
Proving minimalism needn’t be devoid of colour, the Pangaia Grape Sneakers boast a sleek, streamlined low-cut silhouette and feature subtle branding. In line with the brand’s sustainability initiatives, they’re crafted from grape leather which is made from the repurposed waste from the winemaking industry. Appearing on the lateral quarter is minute block text detailing the sneakers’ composition; despite this, they retain a minimalist aesthetic and can be paired with casual and smart-casual outfits alike. While they’re available in neutral hues of black, off-white, and sand, we’d recommend expanding your sartorial horizons by opting for something a little more off-kilter. Sakura pink and pistachio green will inject a healthy dose of colour into otherwise neutral looks.
Established in: 2018
Founder: Miroslava Duma
Headquarters: London, UK
Materials: grape leather (grape waste from the winemaking industry and water-based polyurethane), rubber soles
6. Zespà ZSP4
Price: €195 (approx. $322AUD)
White sneakers often risk veering into dull territory. French brand Zespà’s take on the style is minimalist without being mundane. While the upper and quarters of the Zespà ZSP4 are left deliberately sparse, contrasting colours on the tongue and heel counter add interest while allowing them to retain their easy-to-style nature.
Established in: 2009
Founders: Jonathan Agrifoglio and Jérémy Amar
Headquarters: Aix-en-Provence, France
Materials: leather uppers, foam, rubber soles, cotton laces
7. Axel Arigato Atlas
Price: $465AUD
Fusing Scandinavian essentialism with Japanese design philosophy, Swedish brand Axel Arigato knows how to make a good minimalist sneaker. While guides by our contemporaries will often tout the brand’s Clean 90 as the go-to minimalist style, we’d recommend bypassing that in favour of the Atlas sneaker. Like its stablemate, the Atlas sneaker boasts a sleek silhouette, however, the use of suede panels and stitched leather overlaid eyestays adds textural interest and precludes the style from being boring. The quarter and back tabs both house subtle gold logos, while the colour-matched rubber sole features subtle geometric patterns.
Established in: 2014
Founder: Max Svärdh and Albin Johansson
Headquarters: Gothenburg, Sweden
Materials: leather and suede uppers, leather lining, cotton laces, rubber soles
8. Clae Bradley
Price: $295AUD
The dark gum sole of these sneakers lends them a more casual vibe. Crafted from either apple, cactus, grape, or animal leather, the Clae Bradley Cactus sneakers are a clean, versatile style that work well as a daily driver.
Established in: 2001
Founder: Sung Choi
Headquarters: Los Angeles, United States
Materials: full-grain leather upper, rubber soles OR vegan grape skin, cactus, or apple leather uppers; rubber soles
9. Solari Milano Vegan Suede Sneaker G1
Price: $203AUD
Toeing the line between dressy and casual, the dark chocolate brown upper of the Solari Milano Vegan Suede Sneaker G1 sets a refined tone, while the white rubber sole adds a relaxed touch. Made from bio-based materials, they’re an apt way to anchor cream linen suiting in the summer or elevate a simple outfit of jeans and a chore coat.
Established in: 2021
Founder: Niccolò Amati
Headquarters: Milan, Italy
Materials: microfibre uppers, bamboo lining, EVA soles
10. Crown Northampton Overstone Derby
Price: $546AUD
Hailing from the home of shoemaking, Crown Northampton marries over a century of heritage with contemporary minimalism. Constructed from quality horween or full-grain calf leather and made using the traditional shoemaking techniques Northampton is known for, the Crown Northampton Overstone Derby is befitting of its moniker. Its unique construction methods mean it can be resoled when the time comes, while its elevated aesthetic allows the Overstone Derby to be paired with smart-casual and semi-formal outfits. There’s also the option to choose the sole colour (black, white, or gum) that best suits your style.
Established in: 1908
Managing director: Chris Woodford
Headquarters: Northampton, UK
Materials: full-grain leather upper, leather lining, waxed cotton laces, rubber soles
11. North-89 Court
Price: €210 (approx. $346AUD)
Trust the Swedes to be able to make a minimalist sneaker waterproof. Ideal for rainy days when you don’t want to sacrifice the minimalist aesthetic by donning a pair of boots, the North-89 Court features a water-resistant rubberised leather upper and sits on a thick rubber sole. Monochromatic suede panels add an elevated touch to the practical style.
Established in: 2016
Founder: Gustaf Secher
Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Materials: rubberised leather upper, suede details, textile lining, memory foam insoles, nylon laces, rubber soles
12. Velasca Amis
Price: $320AUD
Suede is a good option for those desirous of a more casual minimalist sneaker. Relaxed without being too relaxed, the Velasca Amis riffs off 1980s tennis shoe styles. Cut low, it features a lightweight flat box sole that contributes to its streamlined silhouette, while a monochromatic overlay on the toe box adds visual interest.
Established in: 2013
Founder: Enrico Casati and Jacopo Sebastio
Headquarters: Milan, Italy
Materials: suede uppers, leather heel counters, leather lining, rubber soles
13. Filling Pieces Low Top Aten
Price: from $338AUD
A sportier take on a minimalist sneaker, the Filling Pieces Low Top collection—in spite of its name—boasts a slightly higher mid-top silhouette that recommends it to wear for casual and smart casual occasions. The Low Top comes in various configurations, including the Ghost Panel which features perforated leather side panels with suede overlays and the Suede Tonal which has an all suede construction.
Established in: 2009
Founder: Guillaume Philibert
Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Materials: leather and/or suede uppers, cotton laces, rubber soles
14. Morjas The Sneaker 02
Price: $230USD (approx. $362USD)
The Morjas The Sneaker 02 cuts a sharp figure, thanks to its low, clean profile. Minimally adorned uppers and colour-matched laces contribute to the sleek effect, with The Sneaker 02 acting as a comfortable alternative to loafers or Chelsea boots.
Established in: 2017
Founder: Henrik Berg
Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Materials: leather or suede uppers, leather lining, waxed cotton laces, leather midsole, rubber soles
History of minimalist sneakers
While minimalist sneakers have long existed in the form of vintage tennis shoes, the trend rose to popularity in the fashion realm with the launch of the Common Projects Achilles Low, the luxury footwear brand’s debut release. Crafted from Italian leather and devoid of superfluous details, they represented a breath of fresh air amidst bulbous kicks and vibrant colourways. Straddling the bounds between a dress shoe and a sneaker, the Common Projects Achilles low begat myriad minimalist sneakers, with almost every footwear and sneaker brand releasing its own version of the style.
What makes a good minimalist sneaker?
With their clean lines and sleek silhouettes, craftsmanship is on full display when it comes to minimalist sneakers. A lack of extraneous details like chunky overlays and overt branding means minimalist sneakers need to be well constructed and executed to stand out from the surfeit of similarly low-cut pared-back styles. That said, some of the best minimalist sneaker brands have found ways to inject a sense of personality into their kicks without sacrificing the essentialist ethos — think Common Project’s signature gold lettering or Crown Northampton’s derby-inspired aesthetic.
Enjoyed this article on the best minimalist sneakers for men? Check out our other men’s style guides here.
Words by T. Angel
