6 Dad Shoes You’ll Actually Want Your Pops to Wear

Trending in the sneakersphere this year are kicks characterized by thick, clunky outsoles, mixed-material uppers color-blocked in a hodgepodge of hues, and uber comfy footbeds. You know the styles we’re talking about — the Nike Vaporpormax, the New Balance 550, the Champion D1 Lite… Sounds a lot like the shoes dads in the ’80s and ’90s wore. In fact, if you were to look up “what is a dad shoe” the wise ole web would tell you that dad shoes are chunky trainers-style sneakers that feature thick uppers, hefty soles and a retro aesthetic.

The dad shoe saw a revival in popularity in the mid-2010s and really gained momentum in 2017 when Balenciaga launched their Triple S sneaker, and in 2021 it seems like “ugly” trainers aren’t so ugly after all.

All this to say, there’s no reason for you to throw shade at the D.A.D. anymore for his choice in footwear. But if you think his sneaker store needs a refresh, we’ve selected our favorite dad shoes that you’ll actually want your Pops to wear.

The PUMA RS-Fast

If your dad grew up in the 1980s, he probably owned a pair of PUMA RS sneakers. The German-born brand’s Running System technology was first seen in the PUMA RS-100 running shoe released in 1986 when the running/jogging fitness trend at its peak.

The cushioning system was cutting edge at the time, and future iterations of the technology continued to push the innovation envelope. In a real “Back to the Future” move, PUMA released the RS-Computer Shoe the 1990s, which actually came with a computer chip in the heel that tracked run time, calories burned and distanced made YEARS before your sleek FitBit or Apple Watch were on the market.

We’ve come a long way since the ‘80s, but the PUMA RS-FAST continues to take dads the distance with the same Running System technology he loved in his younger days, albeit today’s RS models are a little more stylish.

The adidas OZWEEGO

1996 was the year of the Spice Girls, Michael Jordan’s three-peat, Dr. Dre, and Dolly the cloned sheep. Maybe your dad was strutting the high school halls in his letter jacket with his Motorola flip phone stashed in his pocket (for emergency calls only, obviously), confidently rocking his “butt cut” hairstyle — now called a center part — he probably had a pair of adidas OZWEEGOs stashed in his closet.

These trainers debuted in ’96 and featured the band’s adiPRENE cushioning technology in the forefoot. The silhouette’s bulky foam midsole, mesh-based upper and often wild coloring perfectly embody 90s era style trends.

The Nike Air Max 97

What did one ocean say to the other? Answer: Nothing. They just waved.

Now that our obligatory Dad joke is out of the way, let’s talk Air Max 97s. If he lived through the ’90s, your pops most definitely had a pair of these Nike shoes at some point. Leather, fabric and mesh come together to form the ripple/wave-inspired upper of these ultimate Nike dad shoes, which ride atop the Air Max line’s first full-length Air cushioning unit.

New Balance 623

Last in our lineup of footwear for fathers is the New Balance 623. 2021 has been the highlight year for this New Balance dad shoe. Seriously, just search the #dadshoes hashtag on Insta or TikTok and you’ll see everyone from your neighbors to celebrities and influencers sporting these sneaks.

We don’t know if it’s their crisp leather uppers, cloud-soft foam insoles, energy-returning EVA midsoles, durable rubber outsoles or the signature “N” branding front and center on the sneaker’s sides that make them so popular, but we DO know that the NB 623 is as dependable as dear old dad.

To be fair, not all dad shoes are sneakers, so we’ve included a couple honorable mentions that are perfect for wear this summer!

Birkenstock Arizona

Gap commercials used to be a pretty big deal a few decades back (but who’s counting?). Thanks to the positioning of Birkenstock sandals in a Gap commercial, these formerly “hippie” shoes quickly caught on in the ’90s and everyone embraced slip-on shoes and their soft leather-like straps and contoured cork footbed. These sandals are back in a big way, and if your dad’s not into the leather look, you can get him a pair of Birkenstock Arizona sandals completely made from EVA foam. Win-win.

Crocs Classic Clogs

If these shoes are good enough for Post Malone, John Cena and Justin Bieber, well … they’ve gotta be good enough for your Pops, right? Crocs started out as boat shoes when first introduced in 2000, and even though they’ve been subject to ridicule throughout the years as “those ugly shoes,” they’re comfortable, lightweight and basically indestructible. Plus, your dad can hose them right off when he’s done fishing or mowing the grass. Wrap up a pair of Classic Clogs or let him show off his personality with a trendy pair of tie-dyed Crocs.

Father’s Day is this month, and while you may not be able to purchase him his dream car, you can help dress your dad from toe to head in some pretty sweet gear when you shop big summer savings this June at Hibbett | City Gear.