Festival-ready sneakersDance all day in these picks
We sat down with Berlin sneaker aficionado Niklas Woyt for his take on what shoes to rock this festival season.
By Cameron Cook
22 May 2025 · 4 min read
Wristband? Check. Tent? Check. Sneakers…? With festival season fast upon us, we’re tasked yet again to answer the age-old question: How can I turn an amazing look while standing under the sun in a massive field surrounded by thousands of people? Footwear is arguably the most important component of any festival wardrobe, so we’re not leaving anything to chance.
For this new edition of SNEAKER ROTATION, Berlin-based sneakerhead Niklas Woyt gives us the lowdown on what sneakers to wear while running between stages to catch your favorite acts. Keeping them spotless might be another story but hey — we’ll leave that up to you.
ADIDAS ORIGINALS SAMBA
Burgundy snakeskin in that classic Samba silhouette will keep heads turning.
ADIDAS ORIGINALS SAMBA
Burgundy snakeskin in that classic Samba silhouette will keep heads turning.
You’re packing for a festival — what are the top 3 essential features you need on your sneakers?
Of course, my rotation has to look great, but with festivals I’m all about comfort and durability. Days can get long, terrains change and people might step on your shoes, so it’s essential for me to not worry about that.
How many pairs of shoes do you need for a festival?
Three sounds like the perfect number to me. A casual everyday shoe, one to party in front of the main stage and a classy one for the more chill nights.
Is there a particular pair you’ve gravitated towards in the past?
I’ve always loved to carry a pair of Sambas since they look sleek, withstand a lot of dirt and dust and still look incredible, but this year I might go for something more flashy like the Asics Gel-Kinetic Fluent in a chromey colourway.
ASICS GEL-KINETIC FLUENT
Dadcore no more — this is the comfiest sneaker to wear in front of the main stage.
ASICS GEL-KINETIC FLUENT
Dadcore no more — this is the comfiest sneaker to wear in front of the main stage.
And which pair are you tipping to be the festival sneaker of this year?
That’s a tough one to answer. I love what Asics did the past few years so I’m going with the pair above haha.
How do you make sure your festival sneaker can deal with absolutely every weather situation? And what about mud?!
It’s a gamechanger to bring a box of sneakers wipes, for sure. In the past I’ve opted for pairs with a sealed upper or glossy finish so that stains can be easily removed. I might have to consider shoes with Gore-Tex features in the future to be a 100% dirt repellent.
Who would be your dream act to see at a festival? And what shoe would you want to wear to watch it?
I’ve actually seen both of my favourite artists, Tyler, The Creator and A$AP Rocky, back in 2022 while wearing some classic white AF-1’s (they are not white anymore). Knowing that Skepta’s live performances are amazing I’d say him while rocking some of his blue Nike Tailwind 5’s.
Let’s talk festival styling — how do you choose the fit to go with the shoe?
I always start with the shoe as a foundation and go from there. They are the most essential piece that also dictates the look a bit — for example, if we’re talking Salomon, then I’ll be exploring more gorpcore-themed fits. Classy shoes like dark Sambas can be styled with more elegant pieces.
SALOMON XT-PATHWAY 2
Chromey vibes and the perfect gorpcore grip for that crazy festival terrain.
SALOMON XT-PATHWAY 2
Chromey vibes and the perfect gorpcore grip for that crazy festival terrain.
What’s your biggest festival style ick?
I always had trouble understanding people wearing Nike shoes and adidas socks or vice-versa. But I’m also all about proportions and believe everything can look great if you know what suits you.
Designer collabs at a festival, yay or nay?
Depending on the attitude you wear it with — sure. I’m just not a fan of flexing your stuff and trying to get some looks, that’s a bit silly to me.
On a personal level, what got you into sneakers?
I’ve been into fashion and sneakers since I was a kid. My mum just recently told me that back in kindergarten I saw the shoes my pre-school teacher wore and let her know that they don’t match her outfit — I was around five at the time! But in all seriousness, sneakers are a lot more than just a piece of clothing. Growing up watching the “Yeezus Tour”, athletes with their signature shoes, pop cultural icons and camping in front of stores, sneakers have always had a significant impact on my life.
You’re also super into design. How do those two interests overlap?
Loving everything that is somehow aesthetic, I think it just makes sense that design in every shape or form became interesting to me. Some might say the Eames lounge chair becomes the new Jordan 1 when you grow older, but for me it‘s honestly both.
What’s your dream sneaker collab?
Probably something unprecedented like Dieter Rams (design legend, Apple took his design language and applied it on their products) x adidas.
If you were a sneaker, which would you be and why?
Probably a Kiko Kostadinov x Asics Novalis. Kind of an iykyk shoe — still clean, functional and all about design.
Finally, which festival would you recommend everyone go to, and why?
I’ve been to Fusion, Southside and Splash but would love to go to Rock am Ring soon. I’m a huge fan of mixing genres, it‘s on a speedway which I think is a super cool location and the vibes seem immaculate.
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