The Best Casual Shoes by Nike
Buying Guide
When the dress code calls for casual, these are the shoes to wear.
Making sure you have the best sneakers for the workout or sport you're crushing is essential for performance and support, but shouldn't your casual Friday wear get just as much love?
Everyday footwear is about more than style, just like athletic shoes. For example, a study in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research suggests footwear can have a positive or negative impact on mobility and lower limb function, depending on the pair of shoes worn. Research in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that footwear worn on the job can significantly affect posture, balance, joint range of motion, and even how you walk.
Finding the best casual shoes isn't only about looks (although, let's be honest, that matters). It's also about selecting footwear that keeps you moving in all the right ways. With that in mind, check out these casual sneaker options, which check all the boxes for style and support.
When You Want: The Next Generation in Sneaker Technology
When it comes to trends, you’re more of a setter than a follower, and you always seem to know what will make the biggest possible sensation. Or maybe you embrace the appeal of whatever is the newest, latest, most innovative sneaker to pop onto the scene. Either way, here’s your new obsession: the Nike Air Max Dn.
This sneaker borrows top elements from its predecessors while showcasing a silhouette all its own. For example, the Nike Swoosh acts as a splashy, colorful accent at the mid-foot rather than showcasing front and center. Plus, the layered mesh upper is incredibly flexible while still providing toe and heel support.
But let’s talk about the Nike Air Max Dn heel unit since it’s such a stunner. Futuristic, distinctive and head-turning, the sole is a nod to the Air unit of the Nike Air Max, but thanks to separate air pockets, it has its own vibe. Beyond the design, the Air Max Dn brings a revolutionary innovation. Instead of simply having air encapsulated in an Air unit, the air flows between tubes within the dual chambered Dynamic Air unit, giving you an energizing, smooth sensation based on extreme comfort, bounce and motion.
Top example:
Air Max Dn: A perfect union of cutting-edge style and the latest in sneaker design.
Shop Air Max Dn
When You Want: Timeless Appeal
For four decades, the Air Force 1 has been an all-purpose wardrobe staple found everywhere, from dance floors to board meetings. They've been the best casual shoes for men and the best casual shoes for women thanks to Bruce Kilgore's design—think clean and classic. There's a reason legends like Moses Malone picked these casual sneakers for the court and why they're still reigning to this day.
Top example:
Nike Air Force 1: Maybe it's the stitched overlay on the uppers, the distinctive cushioning of the sneaker, or the ability to choose the classic black-and-white styles or design your own with bold colors—AF1s make the perfect casual sneakers when it comes to complementing casual wear.
When You Want: Vintage Mixed with Modern
With iconic designs, classic team colors, and a nod to '80s b-ball, Dunk shoes come in low-tops for men and women. You can opt for more sedate, laid-back styling thanks to one-tone colors, but there are also plenty of eye-popping combos. Another advantage to Dunks is that they're known for excellent comfort and durability. So throw on a T-shirt and make these your go-to casual shoes.
Top example:
Nike Dunk Low: Combining a bold look with a signature padded, low-cut collar that's super comfortable, these lace-ups boast soft leather uppers and a revamped midsole. This is a shoe built to be vibrant and unique from day one, and it lives up to that history.
When You Want: Maximum Minimalism
Sometimes called barefoot shoes, minimalist footwear comes with significantly less cushioning than standard shoes to let your feet feel a closer connection with the ground. Some research backs up the idea that minimalism is helpful for injury prevention when you run—for example, a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that barefoot runners report fewer knee injuries and heel pain—and tapping into that functionality for casual shoes can be a boon as well. Want to get that minimalist vibe without completely losing support? Try an option like Nike Free Run, with most models made from sustainable materials.
Top example:
Nike Free Run 5.0: Made from at least 20 percent recycled material, this casual shoe has such a breathable knit upper that it almost feels like you're wearing socks—but with the benefit of a sole that doesn't force you to feel every pebble and curb as you're walking. Laser-cut flex grooves at the base of the sneaker create more flexibility, and rubber at the forefront and heel is all about durability.
When You Want: To Float Above It All
On the opposite end of the spectrum from minimalist shoes is footwear that's more cushioned than most casual choices, and that's where the classic Air Max 1 comes into play. This icon was first released in '87, and it's been winning hearts (and soothing feet) ever since. Likely, its most notable feature is the exposed Air unit in the sole, but it's also known for being the kind of casual shoes you can wear all day, every day.
Top example:
Nike Air Max 1: In addition to its signature Air unit, the design features a wavy mudguard that extends from heel to toe, and a waffle outsole with flex grooves is all about traction. Although the design was meant for runners, the casual style of these leather kicks made it irresistible for anyone looking for an all-day, everyday option.
What are the best casual shoes overall? That depends on you and what kinds of footwear you enjoy wearing—the most prized sneakers are the ones you reach for first when you're heading to a laid-back outing with friends, off to walk the dog, enjoying a hard-earned date night, or showing the rest of the staff how casual Friday is done. How you define casual is up to you, but it almost always comes with combining comfort and function with plenty of style.
Words by Elizabeth Millard