Kicks War: Which Brands Are Winning the 2016 Sneaker Battles?

The ongoing fight for supremacy in the world of sneakers has reached a boiling point. Between the functionality of Adidas, the historic dominance of Nike and an uprising caused by Under Armour, sneaker culture is in an amazing, hyper-progressive place.

We wanted to hit every aspect of the sneaker wars and provide you with a detailed briefing of what's been going on. Filling out a report card of sorts, we pulled the curtain back on technology, sales, pop culture, design and more to find out who's really winning the sneaker wars.

Technology: Adidas

Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images

It started with one shoe: the Adidas Ultra Boost. In 2015, this sneaker changed the perception of the company and helped usher in a new wave of aesthetics into the marketplace.

The Ultra Boost was constructed with a Primeknit upper, a solid plastic heel box and a Three-Stripe cage. It was a beautiful sneaker.

Adding Boost technology was the icing on the cake. This foam core material installed in the sole allowed runners to feel like they were gliding on air.

Bumps and bruises now could be absorbed effortlessly. A magnetic jolt of energy was shifted from the sole to the ankle, providing relief for ailments like shin splints, weak ankles and arch problems.

Having firsthand experience with the technology, I can tell you it really works.

Boost technology as a platform turned everything around and gave Adidas the edge. It became an irreplaceable piece of technology that was used in Kanye West's signature offerings, as well as other Adidas basketball and running endeavors.

Today, it remains the cornerstone of the brand and a pivotal reason why the company has been able to push forward in a constructive manner.

Basketball: Under Armour and Nike

Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images

Nike basketball remains a pivotal, functioning part of the company's overwhelming sneaker platform. No other brand in the world boasts as many superstars as Nike does.

From LeBron James to Kevin Durant to Kyrie Irving, the current Nike roster is littered with success story after success story. Nike's designs are sharp, giving consumers a wide range of kicks they can use while hooping it up.

If you look at the hard numbers and raw data, you'll see we remain purely in a Nike world. Taking 2015 as an example, Nike crushed its competition. Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes reported between Irving, Bryant, Durant and James, the company sold more than $647 million worth of shoes—James led the way with $340 million in sales.

For all of the growth and continued sales dominance Nike showcases, Under Armour's deal with Stephen Curry has become a serious contender. In the current calendar year of 2016, Curry's sneakers have attempted to close the wealth gap. A report by Marc Bain of Quartz has Curry pushing $160 million in sales—James was slightly behind him with $150 million.

Whether that holds up for the year remains to be seen. All we know is the narrative is starting to change, and Nike will have to remain forward-thinking if it wants to continue crushing the rest of the basketball world.

Retros: Nike

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Will anyone ever dethrone Nike for the retro title? Maybe in 25 years when Adidas starts churning out Yeezy throwbacks.

For now, Nike remains untouched in the retro game. The company's portfolio is brimming with Air Jordans and Nike basketball sneaks from the 1990s.

Retro sneakers have reached an interesting crossroads. The outlier look reveals all is well—the Air Jordan 1 "Banned" sold out in September as expected. But a deeper, nautical-diving approach shows signs of the retro market beginning to tremble. "In 2015, for the first time in a very, very long time, we saw some Retro Jordans sit, with a few even landing on clearance," Josh Luber of StockX detailed.

This hasn't been the case for all Air Jordans, and the retro market remains a pivotal part of sneaker culture. Despite a run of Stan Smith's by Adidas, Nike continues to be the defining brand for all things retro, mainly thanks to Michael Jordan's legacy.

Culture: Adidas

Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images

Kanye West's partnership with Adidas is the defining factor of the company's footwear resurgence in terms of culture.

West's departure from Nike in 2013 created layers of turmoil. Each chapter of this saga unfolded during various tour stops and interviews West gave.

It led to Kanye and Adidas coming together, revving up the hype machine and churning out the most sought after kicks of the last two years. Between the Yeezy Boost 750 and the low-cut Boost 350, West's initial foray into footwear with Adidas by his side was groundbreaking.

Resell prices have soared an upward of $1,899 for the 750 cut, per StockX. It's a market fueled by hype, quality and West's namesake.

As his work with Adidas forges on, the pair has birthed Kanye's fashion line, a series of additional kicks and even hints of Calabasas-themed merchandise, as Brandon Richard of Sole Collector made note of.

The end result is Adidas seeing a boost in sales and cultural significance, according to Josh Luber of StockX. Barring some unforeseen meltdown in perception, West holds the keys to Adidas' future.

Sales: Nike

Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

We've gotten used to Nike controlling the football in terms of product sold. Even in a year where sales were considered on the decline, Nike earned $3.74 billion versus Adidas' $877.6 million, per Fortune's John Kell.

A shift could be coming down the pipeline as Adidas continues to make in-roads. However, for now, Nike's throne remains littered with cash, thanks to a strong showing in hardwood kicks and the lingering effect of Jordan Brand.

There's also a reason Nike sits atop the mountain. Innovation combined with tech specs and an overall, beautiful product has given Team Swoosh its own loyal following.

Having world-famous athletes like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Michael Jordan on the roster is tough to compete with.

Design: Adidas

Retro sneakers have been a staple of the sneaker industry—as we discussed. Jordan Brand makes a living off going back into the vault. Even Adidas itself leans on retros like the Stan Smith line and the coveted Superstar, shell-toes, all with the hopes of shining a light on its heritage.

The retro wave is consistent, if nothing else.

What about new designs? What about innovation? What about looking forward, rather than glancing over your shoulder toward the past?

Adidas deserves credit for testing out new silhouettes over the last few years. The Ultra Boost, Pure Boost, Alpha Bounce, NMD, D Lillard basketball line and Yeezy kicks have all changed the scope of modern-day sneakers.

There's something to be said for going out and breaking the glass ceiling with fresh concepts. The kicks put forth by the design team over at Adidas are proof of this working with the general public—Adidas sales have taken flight in 2016.

Social Media: Adidas

The days of sticking a pair of sneakers on an NBA star and sitting back aren't over—just ask LeBron James or Stephen Curry. But social media has developed a unique channel of influencers. These are people who stay outside of the athletic realm but carry a ton of clout—see Pharrell Williams.

Sneaker reviewers, bloggers, musicians and other professionals have all gotten in on the fun, turning Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter into vortexes of fashion coverage. Adidas noticed this trend and has done a great job of getting influencers involved with its products.

Seeing these people show the brand off on their own social media avenues, instead of Adidas' various platforms, has given the company equity in pop culture. It's more organic.

In terms of controlling the narrative, Adidas has also dominated the social realm, racking up like after like. Discussing this very concept, Riley Jones of Complex touched on a key point: "In the top spot with 78.8 million likes in 2015 is adidas Originals, which managed to amass nearly twice as many likes as its closest competition, Vans."

To put this into even clearer waters—we're talking "see directly to the bottom of the ocean, tropical" clear—Nike registered just under 30 million likes in '15. That's a 48.8 million advantage for Adidas.

When you are able to dictate the conversation, success should follow. It's a major reason why Adidas has taken over. Its continued assault on the social world, through smart posts and clever concepts, has been a tremendous driving force behind the rest of its retail approach.

All production information and release dates via Nike News and Adidas News, unless noted otherwise.