These 10 Shoe Brands Will Make You Forget Nike

From its humble beginnings back in 1964, Nike has grown into a global giant with a valuation exceeding $32 billion. While Nike produces a wide range of sports equipment and clothing today, it is best known around the world for its original product: shoes. (You should avoid these shoe brands.)

However, the reality is that if you are someone who only wears Nike shoes, you’re missing out on some other exceptional brands. For many people, wearing Nike symbolizes being “cool” or having the latest pair of Air Jordans, but the flip side of this argument is that looking beyond Nike can help you find even more comfort. (These are the best running shoe brands.)

Why We’re Covering This

The seemingly endless selection of shoe brands available today can be overwhelming. While Nike is well-known for its quality athletic shoes, it doesn’t necessarily offer the best on the market. Many other brands produce shoes of comparable quality at more affordable prices, which can save you a lot of money. These brands also feature their own unique designs and innovative materials that you may not find in a Nike shoe. In addition, one of these brands might be more suitable to your needs and lifestyle. 

Here are 10 shoe brands that outrank Nike:

10. Salomon Group

• Headquartered: Epagny-Metz-Tessy, France
• Known for: Outdoor sports equipment, footwear
• Global revenue: $4.4 billion (parent company Amer Sports)
• Famous faces: Rihanna, Hailey Bieber, Emily Ratajkowski

From the French Mountains to Your Feet

Headquartered in the French mountains of Annecy, Salomon Group, or Salomon as it is better known, is rising in the ranks with its running, trail, hiking, and sports shoes. Popularized by its relationship with celebrities like Rihanna, Salmon’s top shoes include the Sense Ride, Pulsair Trail, and S Lab Genesis.

9. Champion 

• Headquartered: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Known for: footwear, casual wear clothing
• Global revenue: $22.5 billion (parent company Authentic Brands Group) 
• Famous faces: Chance the Rapper, 50 Cent, Kylie Jenner, The Game, Saweetie

Huge in the 1990s

Although it was one of the biggest sporting goods companies in the 1990s, Champion has since fallen out of favor over the last few decades. For this reason, the brand is relatively unknown to Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha. However, Champion is on the rise again, riding its one-time success as the brand that invented the hoodie with new shoes far more comfortable than those it used to sell at Walgreens and grocery stores. 

8. Speedland

• Headquartered: Portland, Oregon
• Known for: Trail shoes
• Global revenue: N/A
• Famous faces: Dylan Bowman, Liam Lonsdale, Amanda Wiggenhorn

Only Four Years Old

Founded in 2021, Speedland is an upcoming brand primarily focused on trail shoes, with plans to expand into other categories. The team’s founding members have decades of experience working at brands like Nike, Puma, and Under Armour. Speedland’s shoes continue to go viral on Reddit and TikTok, giving the brand plenty of buzz in its early years. 

7. Mizuno

• Headquartered: Osaka, Japan
• Known for: Footwear, sports equipment, sportswear for dozens of sports
• Global revenue: $1.5 billion
• Famous faces: Sergio Ramos, Carson Foster, Catie DeLoof, Jay Litherland

On the Rise

After seemingly falling out of favor with the footwear market over the past decade or two, Mizuno is on the rise again. The company’s introduction of the “Rebellion” shoe has helped revitalize the brand and provide those looking to step away from Nike with something new and exciting to try. This Japanese brand is also famous for making sports equipment for more than two dozen different sports. 

6. Asics

• Headquartered: Kobe, Japan
• Known for: Sportswear, footwear, accessories
• Global revenue: $3.8 billion
• Famous faces: Brian Cox, Valarie Allman, Novak Djokovic, Emma Bates

Still Aa Unknown 

Far and away, the biggest name endorsing Asics is Novak Djokovic, one of history’s top men’s tennis players. However, if you asked most people to identify his logo, they would be hard-pressed, even for a brand like Asics that has been around for 75 years and counting. Surprisingly, the Japanese brand initially partnered with Nike founder Phil Knight to sell its shoes in the U.S. in the 1960s. 

5. Saucony

• ​​Headquartered: Kutztown, Pennsylvania
• Known for: Athletic footwear and apparel
• Global revenue: N/A (parent company Wolverine earned $1.4 billion)
• Famous faces: Molly Huddle, Laura Thweatt, Jared Ward

126 Years and Going Strong

For a brand that is 126 years old, Saucony is surprisingly lesser known than brands like Nike or Adidas. Its shoes are wildly popular inside racing circles, and the company has long been a staple in cross-country and track-and-field groups. Its everyday shoes are said to be incredibly comfortable, with great arch support and just the right amount of bounce with every step. 

4. Alo Yoga

• Headquartered: Los Angeles, California
• Known for: Leisure-wear, athletic apparel
• Global revenue: $250 million
• Famous faces: Jin, Jamie Chung, Alessandra Ambrosio, Kaia Gerber

From Leisurewear to the Trail

Better known for its leisurewear and yoga-friendly apparel, Alo Yoga is growing rapidly in the United States and worldwide. The Alo Runner shoe is relatively new and definitely lesser known than Nike, but early reviews of the shoe and its comfort on the street and trail have been nothing short of glowing. 

3. Hoka (One One)

• Headquartered: Goleta, California
• Known for: Running shoes, apparel, trail running 
• Global revenue: $1.8 billion
• Famous faces: Katie Wasserman, Abby Nichols, Paige Wood, Nick Hauger

A Celebrity Favorite

When you see celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Jessica Alba wearing Hoka shoes, you know they are something special. Praised for their “pillow-like” walking experience, the Hoka brand has hit its stride with oversized midsoles. Founded in 2009 in France, the Hoka brand has been steadily growing as a Nike competitor since its American acquisition by Deckers in 2013. 

2. Brooks

• Headquartered: Seattle, Washington
• Known for: High-performance men’s and women’s sneakers and accessories
• Global revenue: $1.2 billion
• Famous faces: Dathan Ritzenheim, Kara Goucher, Jess McLain, Chrissie Wellington

100 Years and Counting

For a brand that has been around for far longer than Nike, Brooks Sports still hasn’t found a way to beat its rival even though in many ways, it offers a more superior shoe. For those in the running world, Brooks shoes are arguably more supportive than Nike and remain competitively priced. The brand’s popularity is starting to shine, however, as it holds approximately 25% market share in the specialty running shoe market. 

1. On Cloud

• Headquartered: Zurich, Switzerland 
• Known for: Athletic shoes and sportswear, specifically running shoes
• Global revenue: $2.04 billion (2023) 
• Famous faces: Iga Swiatek, Ben Shelton, Joao Fonseca, Roger Federer

The New Nike? 

While certainly not any less expensive than Nike, On Cloud’s shoes are quickly becoming the favorite of millions. The company is believed to have acquired as much as 6.6% of the running shoe market share in the United States and shows no sign of slowing down. There is no question that On Cloud believes it can make better products for the planet and prides itself on being created for athletes by athletes.