One trend is clear in 2024, sneaker style is here to stay. Dressed up kicks are a fit for the office. And they can be worn for a night out on the town, too. And sneaker silhouettes are becoming the footwear of choice for those in the medical and hospitality fields as well, where comfort and tech innovation are driving trends.

In 2023, team sports were back in full swing following pandemic-induced setbacks and the progress has been substantial. “[In 2023] we got through all of the challenges and the people that came back to team sports came back strong,” says Tom Cove, president and CEO of the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).

One trend is clear in 2024, sneaker style is here to stay. Dressed up kicks are a fit for the office. And they can be worn for a night out on the town, too. And sneaker silhouettes are becoming the footwear of choice for those in the medical and hospitality fields as well, where comfort and tech innovation are driving trends. Athleisure and streetwear style are keeping sneaker designers on their toes as consumers continue to look to make a fashion statement with their everyday footwear. Also of note: All white is still trending in 2024 and looks to be a versatile sneaker staple for the spring and summer seasons.

Across the industry, the influx of new consumers picking up running over the past few years has generated plenty of buzz, along with plenty of new customers. At the run specialty retail level, offering a welcoming environment to newer runners is something shops each take different approaches with. Runstyle talked to several run specialty stores across the country about how they reach beginning runners, including helping them overcome any anxieties they face not just in taking up the sport but often in just walking into a run specialty shop to begin with.