Since their inception in 1972, Nike has been producing — for lack of a better term — game-changing footwear in every category, even inventing some of their own along the way. Like every company they've had their ups and downs, it's just that their ups have been, shall we say, Jordanesque. So with no further ado, we present The 100 Best Nikes of All Time. RELATED: Sneaker Report - The 10 BestNike Lunar Running Shoes Thank you to Gary Warnett (@gwarizm) for his input and guidance, and apologies for leaving off the Omega Flame.Even if you haven’t forked over $2,000 for a hand-delivered, Kanye West-designed pair of Adidas Yeezy Boosts, you’ve probably had some dealings with America’s booming sneaker business. The U.S. is the world’s largest sneaker market, and shoewear sales from the top sneaker triad — Adidas, Nike and Under Armour — climbed in 2013 to a total of more than $25 billion, a 47 percent jump since 2009. [Sneaker wars: How basketball shoes became a billion-dollar business]

So who’s winning the sneaker game? You guessed it: Nike. In the U.S., the big Swoosh accounts for a staggering 90 percent of all basketball-sneaker sales. top ten best soccer shoes 2014But what Americans buy, and why, might surprise you.best nike shoes of 2011 Below are 10 of the top-selling sneakers in August, listed with their average sale price, according to sports industry analyst Matt Powell.soccer shoes shop in london 1. Nike Air Jordan 3 ($165.29)The top-selling Air Jordan 3, seen here in the Retro “Infrared 23” colorway, was first released in 1988, when Michael Jordan received his first NBA Most Valuable Player award. The sneaker has remained one of the Jordan brand’s perennial best-sellers, and has been re-released, “retro”-ed (and even re-“retroed”) several times over.

Even with the high price tag, it nailed the No. 1 spot (to the point that some sneakerheads feel it’s been played out). 2. Nike AIR FORCE 1 LOW ($88.70)Named for the plane that carries the president (and later celebrated by Nelly), the Air Force 1 has remained an icon. Its low-top version is a popular seller for men and women, and heavily customizable: The pictured version features a rainbow gradient in the sole. 3. Nike FREE 5.0+ 2014 ($92.33)Nike’s top running shoe on the list is lightweight and comes in a number of colorways, including this, “Blue Lagoon / Clearwater/Bright Crimson.” 4. Nike Air Jordan 6 ($157.46)Another pair of high-priced Jordan kicks (note all the Jumpman logos). Jordan sneakers alone pulled in more than $2 billion in American sales in 2013. 5. Nike AIR MAX 2014 ($151.84)These cushy runners trade on Nike’s Air branding with an offer of “cloud-like cushioning to soften your step and keep you focused on your fitness.”

6. Under Armour HIGHLIGHT MC ($127.80) (Courtesy of Under Armour) Under Armour is only on the best-seller list once, but it’s still a big deal for a shoe company that only last year overtook Adidas to become the No. 2 sportswear brand in America. These sneakers are the only football cleats on the list, underlining how well the Baltimore-based shoemaker has done with the pigskin crowd. 7. Nike AIR MONARCH IV ($50.04)Nike’s cheap, chunky, dad-centric cross-trainers won’t win any sneakerhead love anytime soon. But they still make the Swoosh a ton of cash. 8. Nike Air Jordan 14 ($168.65)Getting sick of Nike yet? Imagine how their competitors must feel. 9. Nike FREE 5.0 2014 (womens’) ($91.90)The first (and only) womens’ pair of sneaks on the list. Light and low-profile, designed for the run. 10. Nike ROSHE RUN ($73.15)These “lifestyle” sneaks, maybe Nike’s most fashion-centric on the list, debuted on the market in 2012 and have edged close to the top of the Swoosh’s sales rankings ever since.

[Sneaker wars: How basketball shoes became a billion-dollar business]Whether you know them by another name (trainers, kicks, runners, daps, or in my case, 'my babies'), there's no denying that sneakers' appeal goes way beyond functional footwear. The logo design, colourway, style and even packaging design all play a part, but there is still an indefinable quality that marks out your favourites. Historically, sneakers have been a mark of our tribe, a product of our time, an outward reflection of context and culture. Countless sneakers have become indisputable design icons, up there with the design classics of any age. Whether you're an indie gal married to your lo-fi canvas Chuckie Ts; a lanky hoop-scoring 'boss' who wouldn't be seen dead in anything but hi-tech fat Air Jordans; or a modern-day casual for whom vintage Adidas Trimm Trabs are everything, you've got to admit that there are some sneaker designs that are so classic, so iconic, so damn influential that they deserve a place on any classic design list, whatever your tastes.

So with all that said, agonisingly wrestled down from a long, long list of favourites, here's my take on the 20 best sneaker designs ever – and note, these are not in order! The Air Max 1 wasn't the first shoe to use Nike's technologically advanced air cushioning system. That honour falls to trailblazers like the Tailwind, the almighty Air Force 1 and 1982's Air Ace. However, 1987's Air Max 1 was the first to bare its innards to all with its 'visible air' window. Despite the technology, they still manage to look ultra-cool even to this day. A legendary shoe and an undeniable design classic, whatever your personal taste. Virtually unchanged since first release in 1916, Converse All Stars (or 'Chuck Ts', so named after early endorsement by basketball star Charles Taylor) are ubiquitous amongst students, skaters, indie kids, punks and primary school children. Now there's a demographic to die for! The Trimm Trab has been a hugely popular design classic since its release in Adidas' native Germany in the mid-70s.

Adopted with enthusiasm by hordes of 80s UK football 'casuals' as regulation de rigeur Saturday afternoon terrace footwear, the solid chunked-up rubber polyurethane sole remains instantly recognisable. Sadly, finding a mint vintage pair is practically impossible, as the soles on the original models famously deteriorated over time, even when unworn. It's difficult to overstate the impact that Nike's first Air Jordan release had on sneaker design and fashion in general, back in 1985. In its original (now-iconic) red/black colourway, the shoe was originally banned by the NBA in the US for breaking its colour rules. History shows that banning rarely harms the banned, and these beefy Michael Jordan-endorsed hi-top bad-boys soon became enormous sellers, leading to an seemingly never-ending line of follow-ups. Interestingly, the Air Jordan 1 is the only shoe in the Jordan series to feature Nike's trademark Swoosh logo. Following its inception in the late 1940s, Japan's Onitsuka Tiger quickly made huge strides in the development of sneaker technology and design.

Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman (later to form Nike) helped Onitsuka design the Corsair, which would be re-designed further to become the Cortez, an early Nike classic. The Corsair's striking design features the iconic curvaceous tiger 'stripes' weaving along the sides. These were actually first introduced with the also-classic Tiger 'Mexico', the stripes as much a metaphor for speed, movement and power, as a means of providing additional foot support for the wearer. Puma States (or Suedes as they're known in the US) are a timeless piece of classic design with a long and illustrious history. Tommy Smith made his famous Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics sporting a pair, and they've been much-loved by basketball players (Knicks legend Clyde Frazier was a famous endorsee), hip-hop stars, skate crews and street casuals ever since. The old-school classic 'Superstar' is an off-the-scale design sneaker icon. Not just because the instantly recognisable low-top shell-toe design is simply 'cool-as', but because of its massive impact across so many musical trends, cultures and tribes.

Enjoying instant popularity on courts when released in 1969 as a basketball shoe, its subsequent adoption by hip-hop crews in early '80s New York (helped along just a smidge by Run DMC's My Adidas homage) led to a massive explosion in popularity for the Superstar. Released in 1965 and endorsed by US tennis legend Stan Smith, these eponymous adidas sneakers are quite simply legendary. So much so that they were treated to a re-release in 2014. The epitome of classic, understated design, these beautifully simple all-leather works of art are a striking triumph in 'less is more', particularly notable for the three rows of perforations where the usual adidas three stripes would appear. Not a shoe typically found in top 'all time' lists, and certainly not deemed 'cool' by those in the know, but nevertheless... this is my list, right? So, I have a confession: I'm a sucker for Etnies Faders. A classic, appealing aesthetic, understated contrasting colourways and solid sturdy construction add up to a modern design classic that I absolutely love to wear.