Nothing is more exciting than picking up a new hobby. Impossibly rewarding, a hobby is a great way to make new friends, expand your horizons, and make productive use of downtime. We’re definitely biased, but collecting sneakers as a hobby checks all of those boxes and then some. 

If you’ve only recently begun your own sneaker collecting hobby, welcome. The world of sneakers is as great as we’ve described it to be. If you’re reading this because you’re looking for suggestions on what to get the budding sneaker collector in your life this holiday season, then consider your search over. You’ve come to the right place.

Whatever category you fall under, you’ll find our Stadium Goods Gift Guide for Sneaker Beginners an informative look into the most essential releases from adidas, Nike, and Jordan. Consider each and every one of these shoes as the foundation to any great sneaker collector’s closet. 

This is the Stadium Goods Gift Guide to Sneakers for Beginners.

When it comes to casual shoes that go the extra mile in terms of versatility, stick to colorways in two-tone color blocks. The Nike Dunk is a great option, so is the Air Jordan 1 Low “Pollen,” if we’re being specific. The “Pollen” features a digestible design that looks just as sweet brand new as it does after it’s accumulated some dings and dents after a few wears. But don’t go overboard with getting the “Pollen” dirty—like the Air Force 1 “White on White” we mentioned earlier, this is one shoe you’ll want to keep as fresh as possible. Just trust us on this one.

Like the Air Jordan 1, the Nike Air Force 1 started out as a basketball shoe before evolving into its ultimate form as one of the most versatile lifestyle shoes ever offered by Nike. In terms of Air Force 1 colorways, none have the cultural cache of the “White on White” design. Beloved by New York City, hip-hop stars, style savants, minimalist disciples, and everyone in between, the “White on White” goes with everything, is surprisingly comfortable, and timeless.

Kanye West knows how to pull off an encore. In the 2000s, he chased “College Dropout” with “Late Registration,” then followed up with “Graduation” before closing out the decade with “My Dark Twisted Fantasy.” As a sneaker design, ‘Ye introduced the adidas Yeezy Boost 380 as the successor to his most successful signature shoe, the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2, in 2019. And the results were definitely positive. The Yeezy 380 features the same comfortable Primeknit upper and Boost cushioned midsole as the enduringly popular 350 V2, but in a slightly higher mid-top look that cuts a decidedly futuristic appearance.

Never underestimate the power of nostalgia. In early 2020, the Nike Dunk, considered a “dead” style by some in the sneaker community, suddenly became the scene’s “it” shoe when appreciation for ‘90s and 2000s street fashion reached a fever pitch. That year, Nike enlisted Travis Scott and Ben & Jerry’s (yes, that Ben & Jerry’s) for Dunk collaborations, and it even brought back colorways from 1985’s college basketball-inspired “Be True to Your School” pack. If you’re looking for a Dunk to rock, check out the Nike Dunk Low “University Red 2021,” which flips the color block of the “St. John’s” A.K.A. “University Red” style from the collection.

The Air Jordan 1 Mid is one of the most popular shoes on the planet. It’s the alternate, mid-top version of Michael Jordan’s first signature high-top, the same shoe considered by many to be the greatest silhouette ever made by Nike. The Jordan 1 Mid is as comfortable as it is easy to wear. If you’re looking to get the style into your collection, this “Racer Blue” edition is the perfect option.

Collecting sneakers is fun, especially when they change colors like the adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Light.” When exposed to UV light, the “Light’s” Primeknit upper goes from white to light pink, and its monofilament side stripe changes to dark yellow. The “Light” isn’t the first Yeezy Boost 350 V2 with color-changing principles, but its the shoe you want if you want to surprise your friends with something unexpected.