The 13 Best Leather Sneakers for Dressing Up, Down, and Everywhere in Between

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So, you're on the hunt for a pair of leather sneakers. Good call! While canvas has its charms—we're all in on knock-around shoes around these parts—and bio-leathers and vegan alternatives have their place, it's hard to beat good old-fashioned leather when you want sneakers that are comfortable right out of the box and get even better as you wear them in.

Plus, leather sneakers just plain look great. Not that any one style defines the term "leather sneakers." It could apply to classic tennis sneakers, old-school basketball shoes, or modern minimalist kicks. In fact, we have all three of those on this list, as well as a host of others. If you're in the market for something vintage inspired, we've got that, too—plus designer options, revamped runners, and more.

But as you scroll down, you'll notice a bit more of the low-key, low-top variety. Why? Well, because you can get great ones at every point on the price spectrum, and we wanted to be sure there's an option for everyone. But before you get to wearing your new leather sneakers, you'll need to find the pair that deserves a spot in your rotation. To do that, just keep reading.

Grand Crosscourt II Sneakers

Cole Haan built its business on office-friendly footwear. And unless you work somewhere with a pretty stodgy dress code, these Grand Crosscourt IIs will fit in just fine on the job. If they don't? That's what the weekend (or WFH) is for.

Royale Sneakers

Not quite as minimalist as some of its counterparts in the ever-expanding ecosystem of (largely direct-to-consumer) companies making (mostly) low-key kicks, the Royale has carved out legions of fans. With its made-in-Italy construction and premium leather upper, that's no surprise.

Club C 85 Sneakers

People tend to think way back to the middle of the last century when they talk about old-school tennis shoes and the timelessness of their aesthetics, and that's not entirely unreasonable. But the Club C—a little bulkier, with abundant paneling and a little attitude—makes a strong case for keeping the '80s in mind, too.

Tuscan Low Profile Sneakers

If you've ever owned a leather product from Todd Snyder, you know what we mean when we say that these guys have leather down to a science. This classy style has suede trim for added opulence.

Original Achilles Leather Sneakers

Want to credit just one brand with kicking off the minimalist leather sneaker movement? It's Common Projects, without a doubt. The Achilles is the OG, a modern classic that's still to many the go-to option.

Classic Legend London Sneakers

Made from Italian Nappa leather (sitting on top of an Italian Margom sole), Good Man Brand's Legend sneakers live up to the name. Legendary comfort, refinement, versatility...you get the gist.

Nike Air Force 1 '07 Sneakers

The Uptown has been at the core of sneaker culture since it first hit the streets in 1982 (despite a brief hiatus between '84 and '86), and it's going strong to this very day. When it comes to colorways—and there have been a lot of 'em over the years—it's hard to top triple white.

The Rapido Low Sneakers

This luxury low sneaker by TAFT takes inspiration from the 80s, with a unique silhouette that sets it apart from the rest. It's the perfect fusion of timeless style with a modern edge and will definitely add an instant cool factor to any look.

Connor Sneakers

It's remarkably easy for footwear brands and fashion designers to screw up high-end riffs on the classic runner shape. Something about the everyday vibe doesn't mesh well with an elevated execution. So when a brand does get it right—as Moral Code did with its Connor leather sneakers—you've got to give 'em credit.

Capri Gum Sneakers

A gum sole with a bright white leather upper is a combo so good (and so classic) that it's a little surprising you don't see it more often. Credit to Koio, then, for this Italian-made pair, crafted from—you guessed it!—Italian leather, and finished with hand-painted edges.

Superstar Shoes

Okay, fine: the toe is made of rubber. But 1) that's the defining characteristic of the shoe also called the "Shell Toe," and it looks cool, and 2) the rest of the upper is made from full-grain leather. It might not be the height of basketball technology anymore, but the Superstar still slaps.

Fulton Leather Sneakers

For Vince, leather is second nature. This low-top style is crafted with smooth leather for a classic, minimal silhouette. It's a look that can be dressed up or down, so basically, you can get away with wearing these just about everywhere.

Morgen Trainers

With Beckett Simonon, details don't only matter—they're everything. The Morgen Trainers are comfortable, versatile, and an incredible value for their price. Although they're sneakers, they have a dress shoe aesthetic, so you can wear them truly anywhere.

Why You Should Trust Us

We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great.

Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams. When it comes to leather sneakers, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse for their own wear.

We’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these leather sneakers are the ones that are simply the best. Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

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