Balenciaga’s Speed Trainer Is the Most-Wanted Sneaker in the World

Balenciaga’s new, extra-chunky Triple S sneakers might be coveted by collectors and street-style regulars—and sold out everywhere—but the brand’s futuristic Speed Trainer, our coolest kicks of 2016, is the real must-cop sneaker right now, according to users of e-commerce platform Lyst. This group searched for the Speed Trainer more than any other product in Q3 of 2017, according to a new survey by Lyst in partnership with Business of Fashion. While Lyst users don’t represent the entire consumer population, they amount to 65 million people per year—so a sizable chunk of style-minded folks. The Balenciaga Speed Trainer’s popularity on Lyst also tracks with what you’ve probably already seen with your own two eyes by now; sock sneaker hybrids are everywhere right now.

Other highlights from the survey include the fact that four of Lyst’s top ranking brands of the quarter—Off-White, Stone Island, Moncler and Raf Simons—fall into the men’s streetwear realm, pushing brands like Prada and Fendi out of the top ten. Off-White jumped 31 spots this quarter to number 3 on the list thanks to designer Virgil Abloh’s well-received collaboration with Nike, among other buzz-worthy moves. Stone Island’s relationship with Drake and Skepta’s with Moncler, meanwhile, helped them earn top spots.

Business of Fashion prompted Lyst to do a deep-dive into which rappers seem to be influencing consumers the most, as their increasing cache in the fashion world through ad campaigns, collaborations, and endorsements is undeniable. Kanye West, naturally, topped the list (though his brand, Yeezy, fell off of the top-ten brands index), with Pharrell, Drake, and A$AP Rocky also earning top-ten spots. Cardi B ranked fourth thanks to the fact that her hit “Bodak Yellow” inspired a 217% spike in searches for Christian Louboutin shoes (she call them “red bottoms, bloody shoes” in the track). The takeaway here: Power shoes come in all shapes and sizes.