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10 Fresh German Army Trainers for Summer
The minimalist, low-profile sneaker is an excellent warm-weather shoe.
By As far as we're concerned, a low-profile, down-to-earth sneaker is the ideal summer shoe. It's cool, but understated. It's easy to wear with lots of stuff and won't make your ankles sweat. Hell, if you work in a casual office, you can wear 'em there, too.
If you're big on the simple sneaker game—say, a classic white low-top or an Adidas Samba—the German Army Trainer should be the next shoe you're going after. The sneaker (GAT for short) was designed for the actual German army in a standoff competition between rival brothers at Adidas and Puma. (Adidas won.) After the war, Martin Margiela picked up vintage GATs in the '90s, fell in love, and then continued to design his own.
The GAT has sneaker lure and long-lasting appeal with it's minimal profile, simple overlays, and universal wearability. It's the smartest shoe you could buy for the upcoming warm months. Lord knows we're indulging.
There's not a ton of public-facing history about Adidas's original GAT designs, but the brand is still quietly making an updated version of the classic: white (or black) leather with some suede overlays and a gum sole.
Internet Rumor has it that Puma designed the GAT first, but didn't end up producing the actual army sneaker. The Palermo has a similar construction but with some extra overlays and a hit of black contrast, it's just different enough.
Maison Margiela Replica Sneakers
Maison Margiela's Replica sneakers are, in fact, replicas. Although the brand is known for its takes on the shoe—wild colors and paint splatters are some favorites—we love the black on gum sole for a smart, stylish investment shoe.
The traditional army trainers were supposed to fly under the radar, but we don't necessarily need them to do that now. For a fun version, we like Mr P.'s gray and olive green overlays.
Reproduction of Found German Military Trainers
Also in the realm of color: Reproduction of Found makes these dusty rose versions, which are excellent for the right type of style. The color is bold but the shape is simple.
If you work in a place where you can comfortably and appropriately wear sneakers, Beckett Simonon's army trainer take is an excellent choice. It's not too loud or flashy, and the sleek profile means you can dress it up a bit, too.
If you like the idea of the GAT but it's feeling a bit too heavy on the old part of old-school, we like Greats' version. The tonal overlays are more subtle and the gum sole is just a little thicker than the super-thin original GATs.
Navy is a neutral that gets overlooked in sneakers, and this Oliver Cabell navy GAT makes a strong case for incorporating some low-lift color into a shoe collection.
Hender Scheme's sneakers are, yes, expensive, but they are also cool as hell. Like everything the brand does, the materials and construction are as high-quality as it gets. That quality on a timeless shoe is a smart investment.
Novesta's shoe is more expensive than your regular army trainer but not quite as much as some truly luxury versions. This one is great if you want a solid shoe, good materials, and are willing to spend a little more for a longer-lasting shoe.
