Sneakers that changed the world: From most expensive to largest record-breaking shoes

Sneakers are more than just shoes – they’re a cultural phenomenon. From the first rubber-soled “sandshoes” of the 1800s to today’s crystal-studded designer trainers, sneakers have broken records in stores, gyms, on the catwalk and even in the auction house. And for the first time ever, the editors of Guinness World Records 2026 have dedicated an entire feature to our favourite footwear.  So, let’s lace up and step into the biggest, weirdest and most jaw-dropping sneaker records of all time.

Protosneakers

The sneaker story begins in the 1800s, when American chemist Charles Goodyear discovered how to make rubber more durable through a process called vulcanization. By the late 1860s, companies in the UK and USA were making rubber-soled shoes with canvas uppers.

In the UK, John Dunlop’s New Liverpool Rubber Company launched “sandshoes,” later called plimsolls because the rubber join looked like the Plimsoll line painted on ships. In the USA, Peck & Snyder Sporting Goods sold “croquet sandals” – lace-up shoes with rubber soles. These early sneakers looked odd by modern standards: both shoes were identical! Left and right feet didn’t yet exist!

Why “sneakers”?

Although they were often known as “gum shoes”, the word “sneaker” soon caught the public’s imagination. The first time the word “sneaker” appeared in print was in 1887, in the Boston Journal of Education. Teachers complained that boys could sneak around silently in their new tennis shoes – hence the name we still use today.

One of the earliest and most influential sportswear pioneers – whose name continues to be synonymous with sneakers – is Chuck Taylor. Converse All Stars launched in 1917 as “Non-Skids” but in 1921, basketball player Chuck Taylor joined Converse as a salesman. He suggested design improvements, boosted sales and eventually had his name added to the ankle patch. That made “Chuck Taylor” the world’s oldest athletic-shoe endorsement – and one of the all-time most iconic pieces of fashion was born.

A Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star. Credit: Chones / Shutterstock

More than 1 billion pairs of Chucks have been sold worldwide – making them one of the best-selling shoes of all time.

Sneakers weren’t always just about sports. In 1986, hip-hop trio Run-DMC signed a $1.6 million deal with adidas after performing their hit “My Adidas”. They wore laceless shell-toe Superstars with tongues pulled out, creating a whole new look and changing sneaker marketing forever. Suddenly, sneakers weren’t just for athletes – they were for everyone.

At concerts, Run-DMC fans used to wave their sneakers in the air like lighters at a rock gig!

An Adidas Superstar. Credit: seeshooteatrepeat / Shutterstock

No sneaker story is complete without Michael Jordan. In 1984, the young basketball star signed a $2.5 million deal with Nike to launch Air Jordans. The sneakers became a global craze. By 2020, money magazine Forbes estimated that Jordan had earned over $1.3 billion from the partnership – making it the most lucrative sneaker endorsement ever.

The NBA originally banned Air Jordans because they didn’t match team uniforms. Nike happily paid the fines – and the sneakers became even more popular!