It’s time for 2025’s final edition of best footwear drops of the week. Looking back on the year, it was chock full of exciting moments and releases within the sneaker space. Before we wrap things up and beginning looking at what 2026 has in store for us, with drops from Nike, New Balance, Converse, and ASICS on the way, let’s recap which headlines popped up this past week.The Nike SB team has looked to Thai food to inspire one of its upcoming SB Dunk Lows, named the “Som Tum” colorway. A special “Year of the Horse” version of the Pegasus Premium is also expected to drop in early 2026. Jordan Brand has its own Chinese New Year-themed sneakers on the way, with the Air Jordan 1 Low OG covered in Chinese-inspired detailing. Meanwhile, we took a first look at the Air Jordan 4 “Iced Carmine” and the Jumpman team announced the Jordan Luka 5.New Balance had two of its upcoming collaborations surface, with a Salehe Bembury x New Balance MADE in USA 992 on the way and Ronnie Fieg hinting at a Kith x New Balance 990v4. NIGO dropped his own teaser, highlighting a HUMAN MADE x Red Wing Heritage capsule. Two more collab projects on the way were discussed as well: an atmos x Ghost in the Shell x Reebok Instapump Fury 94 and a fragment design x Timberland 6-Inch Boot.With all of the major footwear news from last week revisited, let’s look ahead at what’s to come from the final week of the year, starting with the last Nike Book 1 drop. After working your way through the list, be sure to hit up HBX to see which styles you can cop today.Nike Book 1 “Torched”Release Date: December 30Release Price: $155 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: Before Devin Booker and Nike Basketball begin the next chapter of their partnership, one final Nike Book 1 is set to drop. A special “Torched” pair that features an all-white canvas build with “burn” details has been prepared. This is one of three shoes from Booker, and the only Book 1, that embraces the transition from his first signature shoe to his second, with it rising as a phoenix with the other two looks.New Balance “Year of the Horse” CollectionRelease Date: January 1Release Price: ¥15,950 JPY to ¥25,300 JPY (approx. $102 USD to $162 USD)Where to Buy: atmosWhy You Should Cop: New Balance is back with another of its annual celebrations of the Lunar New Year. Tapping into the “Year of the Horse” theme, it has assembled six sneakers and a complementary apparel range to embrace the festivities. An ABZORB 2000 pairs a sleek black upper with silver and red detailing while its ABZORB 2010 counterpart favors brown and gray. Meanwhile, two takes on the red-hot 204L embrace pony hair at the heel and compositions of brown and white that combine with an all-black sole unit. Lastly, the 574 sneaker similarly takes on two looks, adding red accents to off-white and black finishes.Nike Kobe 9 EM Protro “Stitches”Release Date: January 1Release Price: $190 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: Nike Basketball continues to bring back more of the late Kobe Bryant’s signature shoes each year. For 2025, it was all about the introduction of the Kobe 3 Protro. However, that didn’t stop the brand from touching on its previous focal points. The Kobe 9 EM Protro is back to kick off the new year with a “Stitches” colorway, aka the “Purple Dynasty,” that is drenched in purple.New Balance AC RunnerRelease Date: January 1Release Price: $150 USDWhere to Buy: New BalanceWhy You Should Cop: Another major moment for New Balance to kick off the new year is the introduction of the AC Runner. This sleek new running shoe is a departure from its retro-inspired DNA, instead offering a mesh upper with printed graphics for a modern flow. Meanwhile, its technology-packed sole unit is all about performance. Fresh Foam X backs the sole alongside three different levels of foam firmness.Nike A’One “Stone Mauve”Release Date: January 1Release Price: $135 USDWhere to Buy: NikeWhy You Should Cop: A’ja Wilson had an incredible 2025. Not only did she introduce her first signature shoe with the Swoosh, the Nike A’One, but she won her fourth WNBA MVP and third WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces. Now, she’s looking to carry that momentum into 2026 with a new “Stone Mauve” iteration of her debut sneaker. This pair is covered in rose gold detailing, including the shoe’s shiny Swooshes.Nike Sabrina 3 “Iron Grey”Release Date: January 1Release Price: $135 USDWhere to Buy: NikeWhy You Should Cop: Another of Nike Basketball’s signature athletes from the W to be dropping a sneaker this week is Sabrina Ionescu. The New York Liberty’s sharpshooter introduced her third signature shoe in July and has continued to offer fresh takes on the sneaker since. Look out for the Nike Sabrina 3 to embrace a new “Iron Grey” on Thursday. This new version of the shoe combines black with volt green while featuring a digi print atop the heel counter and tongue.New Balance RC56 “Ice Wine”Release Date: January 2Release Price: $165 USDWhere to Buy: New BalanceWhy You Should Cop: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. As much as I’d love to ignore that New Balance has rescheduled the launch of the RC56 “Ice Wine” for a third time, it’s the unofficial off-season of the sneaker industry and our options for drops to highlight are particularly limited. So, I’m giving the American sportswear brand a chance to fool me yet again. In case you missed the past two editions of our weekly feature, the Aimé Leon Dore co-designed sneaker is back in silver and black. And if New Balance does decide to bamboozle me for a third time, you can hit up HBX to grab a pair instead.Nike Book 2 “Rising”Release Date: January 2Release Price: $145 USDWhere to Buy: SNKRSWhy You Should Cop: At last, the Nike Book 2 is here. Nike Basketball offered Devin Booker an unprecedented amount of colorways to create for his first signature shoe, making the Book 1 era last much longer than the standard window. Now, its sequel is here and ready for action. The team decided to “trim the fat,” resulting in a slimmer shape that still draws inspiration from some of Booker’s favorite sneakers. This “Rising” colorway places an orange gradient Swoosh atop a black canvas base while the same color combo is present at the midsole, which rests atop an icy translucent outsole.Converse SHAI 001 “Clean Slate”Release Date: January 2Release Price: $130 USDWhere to Buy: ConverseWhy You Should Cop: Speaking of signature shoes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is back with another monochromatic rendition of his first sneaker, the Converse SHAI 001. Dubbed the “Clean Slate” colorway, this pair is absent of color, instead offering a white canvas that will darken with wear. As a result, the shoe’s uniquely-sculpted upper stands out more than ever.MDS (MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO) x ASICS HYPER TAPINGRelease Date: January 5Release Price: TBCWhere to Buy: Issey Miyake and ASICSWhy You Should Cop: Rounding out the week is the debut of a new partnership between Issey Miyake’s MDS (MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO) and ASICS. Referred to as “ISSEY MIYAKE FOOT,” the beloved brand’s new footwear development platform has created the ASICS HYPER TAPING sneaker. This ultra-slim model was previously highlighted during Paris Fashion Week and features unique elastic bands around the upper. Three unique colorways of all-black, all-silver, and a combination of fluorescent green, blue, and orange are set to drop first.Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Name: Nike Ja 3 “Year of the Horse”Colorway: Light Chocolate/Silt Red-Metallic GoldSKU: IB6508-200MSRP: $145 USDRelease Date: January 16, 2026Where to Buy: NikeNike is set to expand its 2026 Lunar New Year collection with the “Year of the Horse” edition of Ja Morant’s latest signature shoe, the Ja 3. This design seamlessly blends performance with symbolic storytelling, embodying the zodiac’s themes of speed and strength through a high-contrast aesthetic.The sneaker is dressed in a vibrant palette of Light Chocolate, Silt Red, and Metallic Gold. The upper is constructed with a woven knit base accented by dramatic textured overlays, while earthy brown tones are applied consistently across the laces, liner, and tongue. The shoe’s most striking feature is the shimmering Metallic Gold Swoosh on the lateral side, which is complemented by a faux pony hair tongue – a direct tribute to the equine spirit of the zodiac.Further unique details enrich the design, including the word “TWELVE” stitched onto each heel and bright red insoles printed with a Chinese idiom that translates to “One horse leading the way.” In line with the technical specifications of the Ja 3, the pair maintains superior on-court functionality with its responsive ZoomX midsole and a patterned outsole for maximum traction. Check out the official images above.Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Name: Converse All Star Kungfu Slip-On “Royal Purple,” Converse All Star Kungfu Slip-On “Black”Colorway: TBCSKU: 31317180, 31317181MSRP: ¥12,100 JPY (approximately $80 USD)Release Date: January 27, 2026Where to Buy: Converse JapanConverse has unveiled its All Star Kungfu Slip-On in two new colorways: “Royal Purple” and “Black.”Inspired by the cloth slip-on shoes used in martial arts, both iterations are crafted with reflective velvet in stunning purple or black hues. A tiger graphic is embroidered across each toe box, serving as the main design focus, while the kanji for “All Star” is embroidered across the heel strip in white. Sitting below it is the All Star rubber plate. Both colorways then rest on a black midsole and waffle outsole, delivering extra grip.Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Name: Nike Total 90 III “Mink Brown”Colorway: Mink Brown/Racer Blue/Gum Dark Brown/WhiteSKU: HQ2851-202MSRP: $120 USDRelease Date: Spring 2026Where to Buy: NikeNike is heading into 2026 with Y2K still on its mind, unveiling the Total 90 III in a “Mink Brown” colorway.The upcoming model of the football shoe-inspired silhouette arrives with synthetic leather uppers in a soft brown hue. Complementing hits of white land on the branding details, including the panel, toebox and heel swooshes, the medial circular 90 logo and the Total 90 III stamps on the tongue and ankle. A subtle contrast of racer blue is also hidden on the insoles. The shoe rests on a white midsole and gum outsole with racer blue spots, while matching brown laces tie them together for a neat finish.Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Name: BILLY’S x Vans “Year of the Horse” LoaferColorway: Brown/Mix, Black/MixSKU: TBCMSRP: ¥14,300 JPY (approx. $90 USD)Release Date: January 1, 2026Where to Buy: BILLY’SContinuing the tradition of their annual “Zodiac” project, BILLY’S and Vans have reunited for a “Year of the Horse” collection. This latest collaboration introduces a new model of the Skate Loafer with two colorways – brown and black – alongside a specialized apparel capsule.Retaining the casual aesthetic of the original Vans Skate Loafer, the collaborative pairs are finished with BILLY’S signature asymmetrical design. Three distinct materials in matching tones—pony hair, smooth leather, and suede—are arranged differently on each side of the shoe. This contrast in texture creates a subdued yet playful impression tailored for a sophisticated audience. Notably, each pair comes with a detachable tassel utilizing hook-and-loop fasteners and features a diamond-patterned insole inspired by a jockey’s racing uniform.Beyond footwear, the collection also includes two reversible MA-1 Vests that blend military styling with a racing spirit. The front is crafted from crisp matte satin, while the reverse side features a diamond pattern modeled after jockey silks, paying homage to the 2026 “Horse” zodiac.Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Name: Nike Book 2 “Phoenix”Colorway: OrangeSKU: IB6687-700MSRP: $145 USDRelease Date: January 16, 2026Where to Buy: NikeDevin Booker is officially launching a new model in his signature line, as the Nike Book 1 makes way for the highly-anticipated Book 2 in 2026. Nike’s rollout is a masterclass in storytelling; following the symbolic release of the torched Book 1, the torch is passed on to a duo of Book 2 colorways this January. Leading the charge is the vibrant, orange-hued “Phoenix” colorway, a double-entendre nodding to themes of rebirth and a sartorial tribute to the city Booker calls home.The “Phoenix” colorway is the collection’s undisputed showstopper, boasting a sculptural, molded upper reminiscent of the iconic Foamposite in sunset orange gradient. The focal point is the Swoosh, reimagined with lenticular branding and shifting flame graphics as you move. Underfoot, a sun-inspired radial outsole grounds the design with shoe’s mythological narrative with a striking finish.Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Name: Air Jordan 1 Low OG “CNY”Colorway: Football Grey/Sail-Light Chocolate-Metallic GoldSKU: IQ1108-011MSRP: $140 USDRelease Date: February 17, 2026Where to Buy: NikeJordan Brand kicks off its Lunar New Year 2026 collection with a sophisticated take on the Air Jordan 1 Low OG “CNY.” Departing from the loud symbolism often associated with the holiday, this iteration prioritizes understated elegance, offering a mature perspective on the typical “Year Of” releases.The silhouette is anchored by a gray canvas upper, elevated by tonal pony hair overlays on the Swoosh and heels—a tactile nod to the upcoming Year of the Horse. Delicate floral embroidery across the toe box introduces cultural texture without disrupting the shoe’s clean profile. Cream-colored laces and lining further soften the neutral palette, while a brown rubber outsole provides a purposeful, vintage finish.While the exterior maintains its classic DNA through Nike Air branding and the iconic Wings logo, the design’s true depth lies hidden. Tucked within the tongue is a scroll that reveals a poetic Chinese message: “With the spring breeze at my back, my horse gallops fast; in one day, I see all the flowers of Chang’an.” This literary reference serves as the thematic soul of the project, unifying the pony hair detailing and floral embroidery into a single cohesive concept.Adding a final layer of significance, the February 17, 2026, launch coincides exactly with the first day of the Lunar New Year, making this drop a true centerpiece of the cultural celebration.Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

Name: Nike Air Force 1 Red “Valentine’s Day”Colorway: University Red/BlackSKU: IQ9965-600MSRP: $125 USDRelease Date: January 14, 2026Where to Buy: NikeNike always turns the romantic holiday into a major footwear moment, and Valentine’s Day 2026 is no exception to this rule. For the sartorialist who plans ahead, the iconic Air Force 1 Low is renewed for the season, debuting with a series of detachable charms that offer a bespoke touch to a street-style staple.Arriving in a singular, striking hue, the silhouette features an all-over heart print that stretches from the toebox to the heel, creating a textural rhythm that offers both a playful and polished look for the upcoming Valentine’s Day. Tucking a “Love Is In The Air” inscription behind the shoe tongue, each pair is also accessorized with a heart-shaped locket in polished silver hardware, waiting for the special one to come and unlock it.

SummaryRonnie Fieg has taken to social media to tease an upcoming Kith x New Balance campaign featuring the 990v4 sneakerThe new colorway features a soft brown throughout its upper that combines with gray and off-white detailingLook out for it to drop in early 2026 via Kith around a price of $220 USDThe New Balance 990v4 has quietly re-emerged as a focal point of collaborations for the American sportswear brand. Featured earlier this year within The Whitaker Group’s “Willful Bias” campaign, it later received the “Mushroom” treatment from JJJJound.Now, Ronnie Fieg has teased a Kith collaboration featuring the 990v4 sneaker. Our limited preview of the pair sees it sport what looks to be a soft brown throughout its mixed material upper. This calm palette hosts gray and off-white detailing at the midfoot’s “N” logos and the laces respectively. Meanwhile, a two-tone white and gray midsole is backed by a black outsole.At the time of writing, neither Ronnie Fieg, Kith, nor New Balance have indicated when their collaborative take on the 990v4 sneaker will be dropping. Stay tuned for updates, including an official look at the pair, as we currently expect it to drop in early 2026 via Kith at an estimated starting price of $220 USD.Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast