The five pairs our team can’t stop talking about
The Beams x HOKA collab ($170) channels the visual harmony of Japanese Zen gardens.
Published
August 12, 2026
Published
August 12, 2026
Photography
Courtesy
Note
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When’s the last time you bought yourself some shoes? Let this be your sign that it’s time. There are so many great styles dropping these days, we thought we would pull a few of our current favorites to showcase. From a pair of hybrid chukkas to a cool camo collaboration, these are the kicks our team can’t stop talking about.
Here’s a Blundstone with a little more polish. The Australian brand’s pull-on boots are already famous for taking a beating, but this Heritage version cleans things up with premium brown leather and a more refined (slightly shined) finish. You still get the easy elastic sides, pull tabs and all-day practicality that made Blundstones ubiquitous in the first place, only now they’re handsome enough to wear somewhere besides a muddy trail. Consider them the rare boots that look equally right with work pants, denim or even a relaxed suit.
Heritage #157 boot,
Buck Mason teamed up with Japan’s Moonstar on a canvas sneaker that looks simple until you realize how much goes into it. Made using old-school vulcanization techniques, the Decksport has a substantial rubber sole, sturdy canvas upper and the sort of hand-finished character missing from most mass-produced sneakers. In natural, it’s about as versatile as footwear gets. Wear them with fatigues, faded denim or shorts … but we suggest beating them up a little. They’ll only look better because of it.
Natural Moonstar Vintage Decksport Slip On,
Aimé Leon Dore made a running shoe? Yes. And you can actually run in it? Yes. Teddy Santis brings ALD’s downtown-prep sensibility to New Balance’s speedy Rebel v5, pairing its race-inspired mesh upper with responsive FuelCell cushioning built from a PEBA/EVA blend. So the performance credentials are real. But that cobalt blue colorway and subtle co-branding make these dangerously easy to reserve for non-running purposes. They’re fast, technical and potentially too good-looking to waste on your morning miles.
ALD x New Balance Rebel V5 running sneaker,
One of our favorite Italian footwear brands has taken the soft, unstructured appeal of a classic chukka and planted it on a beefier lug sole. Finished with moc-toe stitching, the supple leather and flexible construction keep things comfortable, while the rugged bottom gives them enough presence to anchor wider trousers and relaxed denim. They land somewhere between a desert boot and a light hiker, which turns out to be a very good place to be once the weather starts moving to autumnal terrritory.
Jibflex Lug Sole Chukka Boot,
Celebrating Beams’ 50th anniversary—and the Japanese retailer’s first HOKA collaboration—the Bondi 7 gets an exclusive camo treatment inspired by gravel gardens and weathered temple timber, right down to hōkime-like rake lines along the sides. The Chestnut and Black Bean palette keeps things surprisingly grounded, especially considering there’s still a maximalist running shoe underneath it all. It’s big, cushioned and impossible to miss, but the details are unusually quiet and considered. A very Japanese approach to going all-out. Sign-up for a pre-order now and get early access when they’re released August 14th.
Beams x HOKA Bondi 7 running sneaker,
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