Ranking the Top Kicks of Summer 2015

It's not fair. The summer of 2015 is coming to an end, and there's nothing we can do about it.

But before we say goodbye to a summer packed with sneakers galore, we have to look back and get our memory game on. Heavy-hitting brands like Jordan, Nike, Adidas and Under Armour all reached into their stockpile and unleashed footwear carnage to the masses.

Reviewing all of the sneakers that dropped since the start of summer, we've decided to rank the top releases based on wearability, comfort, style and of course, hype.

Now that we're all charged up, let's get right into the madness and peep the top 10 kicks of summer 2015.

10. Under Armour Curry One Low 'SC30'

Image via Under Armour

Under Armour and Stephen Curry's partnership has created some of the most playable basketball shoes on the market today.

Originally built as a high-top mold, the Curry One went on to be released in low-top form over the summer, which was dubbed the "SC30." What you got was a basketball sneaker that doubled-down as a quality gym shoe.

From the perspective of comfort, the Curry One Low nears the top of the scale. It fits like a glove, and thanks to extreme components of breathability, it feels great in all situations.

The only argument you could make for this not breaking into the top five is the lack of hype that encompassed it. It was a relatively easy cop for fans. And as refreshing as that is, it shows that consumers weren't over the moon yet about this particular version.

However, it's an excellent shoe that deserves a ton of credit.

9. Nike iD Air Force One

Image via Nike

Nike iD has helped revolutionize the sneaker industry by giving people the chance to handcraft their own pair of kicks.

When Nike unveiled the ability to add a country's flag into the mix, the game changed. Who knew that something so simple would turn into one of the best sneaker drops of the summer.

Tagged onto the back panel of the Air Force One model—one of the best designs ever generated—the flag on the Nike iD version of the AF1 is a must-cop.

Like a lot of the features on Nike iD, this flag option probably won't be around for too long. Nike notoriously swaps out popular items in order to keep things fresh and on the cutting edge of fashion.

With Nike iD, you can create your own sneaker Rembrandt. Incorporate a flag, and enjoy an elite summer release.

8. KD8 'V-8'

Image via Nike

Kevin Durant's latest signature model—the KD8—debuted with the "V-8" colorway on July 11. An extension of Durant's deal with Nike, the KD8 came at a time when basketball was traditionally in its offseason.

Durant's kicks have always been considered performance shoes. They elevate your ability to play with protection. Even as a low-top cut, the KD8 offers plenty of ankle support.

Unlike a lot of the Jordan kicks that came to market, the KD8 is a more traditional athletic-looking shoe. It toes the line between running and basketball without sacrificing any aesthetic elements.

Overall, the KD8 is a great sneaker and well worth the price of footwear admission.

7. Nike Sock Dart 'Independence Day Pack'

Nike came correct with a handful of cool releases over the summer. Per usual, we saw an exciting variety emerge from the swoosh conglomerate. Running shoes, basketball and hybrids all came to the forefront.

The Nike Sock Dart was one of the best drops from the administration. The shoe is a sweet hybrid performance sneaker that maximizes levels of support and serenity.

Of all the Sock Dart releases, the "Independence Day Pack" was the best. It took that sharp design and support system and pushed the American dream on top of it. Red, white and blue versions gave consumers a choice.

As far as the hype portion of this scale goes, the Sock Dart wasn't an easy get. People love the mechanics and design of these kicks. That's been apparent with every Sock Dart release.

6. Adidas Ultra Boost 'Black'

Image via Adidas

There's been universal praise for the Adidas Ultra Boost ever since it hit shelves in early '15. Thanks to a multitude of colorways, the German brand has created an awesome market for an elite performance shoe.

Earlier this summer, Adidas unleashed the jet black version of the sneaker. It took everything we fell in love with on the original version and gave it an extra sense of importance.

This Boost technology really is exquisite. And no shoe utilizes it better than the Ultra Boost model.

5. Air Jordan 11LAB4 'Red'

Image via Nike

Jordan Brand had a tremendous summer, giving fans a variety of releases to choose from. They tinkered with classic designs like the Air Jordan 11 low and even took on more aggressive endeavors like the Air Jordan 11LAB4.

Continuing on from the Air Jordan 11LAB4 "Black," the design team over at Jordan Brand revealed an all-red version of the shoe.

In terms of style, these bad boys are tough to match. They look spectacular on. The Air Jordan IV design fused with that patent leather material is a wonderful way to reinvent a classic sneaker.

The biggest issues arise in the comfort department. With materials similar to a dress shoe, the 11LAB4 presents a challenge with stiffness and one's ability to actually put the sneaker on. They crease super easily, too, and that doesn't bode well for the health of collectors.

Despite a few flaws, the Air Jordan 11LAB4 "Red" was a great limited release.

4. Air Jordan VII 'Bordeaux'

Image via Nike

In the land of Air Jordan VII's, the "Bordeaux" colorway is king. As the unquestioned leader of that particular model, Jordan fans were sent reeling when Nike announced that the "Bordeaux" would make a return this summer.

This Jordan model has it all. Truly, it does. Thanks to the rich color pattern carefully placed over the silhouette, you can rock it casually or play ball in it and not worry about dramatic creasing or damages.

The "Bordeaux" VII is not only a summertime release for the ages, it also happens to be one of the best drops from the Jordan camp in all of 2015.

3. Air Jordan I 'Chicago'

Image via NIke

The Air Jordan I "Chicago" is a defining part of sneaker culture. These kicks helped jumpstart the entire wave of footwear fashion.

So when the "Chicago" editions resurfaced earlier this summer, you knew the world was going to be focused on getting their hands on a pair.

Most Air Jordan drops have become very challenging to pick up at the retail level. The market is wide-ranging with consumers, which creates a whole bunch of chaos on release days.

The "Chicago" kicks kept that trend alive in the sweltering summer months. Behind Nike delaying the release and other retailers being swarmed with traffic, these I's vanished from shelves.

You already knew what you were getting with these grails. High-grade materials, a superb on-foot experience and crazy hype place them at No. 3 on the top kicks of summer '15.

2. John Geiger's Misplaced Checks 'Red'

Image via John Geiger

John Geiger has become a household name in terms of sneaker life. He's shattered barriers with innovative design and hasn't apologized for it.

This summer, Geiger released two versions of his coveted "Misplaced Checks" concept: a collaboration with Los Angeles-based boutique 424 Fairfax and of course, the all-red checks.

Limited to only 60 pairs, the red "Misplaced Checks" were gone in a flash. Sneakerheads who wanted to get a pair were forced to roll the dice.

Designs like this have made Geiger a prominent player in the sneaker community. The "Misplaced Checks" coated in red were arguably the hottest release this summer.

1. Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 'Pirate Black'

Image via Adidas

We could have gone in a few different directions here, but let's not play with the people any longer. Kanye West's collaboration with Adidas has produced three of the best shoes in recent memory.

The Yeezy Boost 350 is the cream of the crop. We love all versions of this sneaker, but the "Pirate Black" release belongs at No. 1 on this list.

Equally as comfortable, sought-after and stylish as the initial 350, the "Pirate Black" was an instant sellout. It seems like every time a Kanye West release comes to fruition, the Internet explodes. This was the case once again with the "Pirate Black" drop.

Nothing can top the Yeezy Boost 350 "Pirate Black" as far as the summer of 2015 goes.