What Is Massachusetts’ Most Popular Sneaker?

The sneaker industry is expected to experience 5.31% growth worldwide this year, reaching $75.77 billion in revenue. Customers remain loyal to their favorite brands of kicks. AOI Bot,  a website that helps sneakerheads and resellers buy exclusive items online, recently published a report that details Massachusetts' most popular sneaker.

The information is broken out by state, providing the top three brand names that showed the highest public performance, numerically. "Your surroundings will always play a role in what kind of sneakers you want to wear," AOI bot explains.

Specifically, we love the New Balance 550. It is the most popular sneaker in Massachusetts, according to AOI Bot. That makes sense: New Balance Headquarters is in the greater Boston area. The brand was started as an arch support product around the Boston area in 1906. Since then, they have continuously evolved to provide some of the most consistent athletic apparel in the market.

Over time, baseball and basketball have been two sports where New Balance has thrived. In fact, one of Major League Baseball's biggest stars, Shohei Ohtani, is New Balance-sponsored athlete. So is Kawhi Leonard in the NBA. Furthermore, New Balance was a prominent footwear choice for some of the Red Sox's most popular players over the past decade. Most notable was Dustin Pedroia, who also had a signature cleat.

New Balance's current selection includes a great mix of classic styles like the 574. In addition, their "Fresh Foam" runner is an example of using innovative methods to provide lightweight support. However, in Massachusetts the 550 reigns king of the kicks.

"The original 550 debuted in 1989 and made its mark on basketball courts from coast to coast. After its initial run, the 550 was filed away in the archives, before being reintroduced in limited-edition releases in late 2020, and returned to the full-time lineup in 2021, quickly becoming a global fashion favorite," New Balance states.

To round out the top three choices in the Bay State, Asics and Vessi were also highlighted by AOI Bot. Asics has consistently been a fit of choice for runners everywhere. Their arch support and durability help limit the impact on your body while running long distances. Asics does a great job in keeping the build of their shoes the same while creating new color schemes to freshen them up.

Vessi footwear takes pride in being 100% waterproof. They offer styles for every occasion, from casual, to slip-on, to hiker. They take an environmentally friendly approach to the making of each shoe saying, "Vessis are 100% Vegan, with each pair made with 30% less water, 600% less energy consumption, and less material trim waste by 97% in comparison to conventional practices."

If you want to learn more about Massachusetts' most popular sneaker brands, or see about other states favorites, read AOI Bot's full report here.

The Boston Celtics have secured the second seed in the east. They will take on the seventh seed on Saturday afternoon. Here, we take a look at the shoes the Boston Celtics players wear as they step onto the court.

In the modern NBA, players have the flexibility to rock whatever color pattern they desire on their footwear. Do they go for comfort? Do the go for support? Or what looks best. It's a personal preference and varies with each athlete. However, one consistent thing is that there are plenty of options.

Sneakers have long been the most popular basketball "gear." There's even a movie out about it. Air tells the riveting story of Nike, Michael Jordan, and the world-famous Air Jordan sneaker empire. Larry Bird was a Converse player. Paul "The Truth" Pierce was a Nike athlete. And Kevin Garnett primarily wore Adidas.

Another major difference in the present-day NBA sneaker game is that players opt for a lower cut. High tops used to be the clear choice due to their ankle support. But now with modern design, it's all about flexibility and the shoe being lightweight.

Nike has been the official partner of NBA uniforms since the 2017-18 season. Their deal runs through the 2024-25 season. However, each player has the individual right to secure their own shoe deal. In addition to endorsement money, each player decides what look and feel works best for them. Furthermore, they must consider their body type.

The 2022-2023 Boston Celtics roster collectively has four shoe brand partners. They are Nike, Adidas, Puma, and Jordan/Jumpman. What's fascinating is that not every player has their own signature shoe with their partnered brand. In fact, most do not. So, you very well could have a player sporting a Lebron shoe or a KD. Or even the "Zoom Freak" made famous by Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, their Eastern Conference rival (and #1 seed).

Here are the brands and shoes the Boston Celtics players wear.

Nike is the most common shoe amongst Celtics players. You will see more swoosh logos upon the hardwood than any other. They players wearing Nike are: Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Mike Muscala Malcom Brogdon, Mfiondu Kabengele, Luke Kornet, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Grant Williams, Robert Williams, JD Davis and Justin Champagnie.

Jason Tatum and Blake Griffin sport the infamous Jumpman logo. Though Jordan brand is still technically under the Nike umbrella, they operate as a standalone brand. Tatum is the only athlete on the team that has a signature shoe named after him. The Jordan Tatum 1 even comes in a Pink Lemonade colorway option.

Though they've recently steered more towards lifestyle and runners, Adidas still has a presence in the NBA. Danilo Gallinari wears Adidas.

Last but not least, one of the Celtics most important players wears Puma. Marcus Smart resigned with Puma last year. Puma's main U.S.A. corporate office is in Boston. It makes sense for them to pair with a local hometown pro. It doesn't hurt that he is also the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.