Power Sneakers

Power Sneakers (sometimes called Speed Shoes for the power-ups) are the distinctive footwear of Sonic the Hedgehog. They are mainly red, with a gold buckle and white strap and cuffs. They have pointed toes. The term may sometimes refer to certain item boxes available in early games of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, depicting the Power Sneakers on the screen, that temporarily increase Sonic's speed and jumping height.

Although Sonic is naturally fast, several continuities (such as Sonic the Comic and Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog) established that the Power Sneakers were designed to reduce friction on his feet, thus allowing him to run at his full potential. This was expanded upon in the Game Gear game Sonic Labyrinth, where Dr. Robotnik replaced Sonic's Power Sneakers with "Slow-Down Boots" that drastically hindered Sonic's walking speed and drained him of some of his energy.

Naoto Ōshima admitted that the design of the shoes was inspired by the cover of Michael Jackson's hit album Bad, and he liked the contrast between the colors white and red which made him think of Santa Claus.

Promotional comic
In the Sonic the Hedgehog promotional comic, the Power Sneakers (referred to simply as "frictionless shoes") were created and given to Sonic by Doctor Ovi Kintobor. This was after Sonic's previous trainers were shredded by the accident that turned him blue. In this comic, there is no indication that the Power Sneakers help Sonic to run faster or that they help to protect his feet.

Sonic the Comic
In Sonic the Comic, the Power Sneakers were again created and given to Sonic by Doctor Ovi Kintobor. (Sonic had, until this time, worn a tatty pair of trainers.) During Sonic's first use of the Power Sneakers, on the Kinetic Gyratoscope, he managed to break the sound barrier for the first time. The resulting shockwaves fused his spines and turned him from his original brown into his more familiar streamlined, blue shape. Sonic has many identical pairs of Power Sneakers.

Sonic once replaced his regular Power Sneakers for a new pair with extra grip, but his intense speed (as well as a battle against Robotnik and Robofox) melted them after their first use. Shortly afterwards, a squirrel named Tufftee found some of Sonic's old Power Sneakers and ran off. The shoes contained a bit of Sonic's "high-speed energy" and allowed Tufftee to run all the way to the Marble Zone, where he was captured by badniks and had to be rescued by Sonic. Sonic later took the Sneakers back, claiming that they only worked for him.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic's need to wear Power Sneakers to protect his feet was dealt with in an episode of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, "The Mystery of the Missing Hi-tops".

Archie Comics
In the Archie Comics continuity, Sonic's shoes were once stolen by a SWATbot and replaced with special energy-draining shoes. This resulted in Sonic losing his great speed and a bit of his life force, although it is not clear whether it was the lack of his own shoes or wearing the new shoes that was responsible. When Tails returned Sonic's original shoes, his speed instantly returned. The incident is a clear reference to Sonic Labyrinth.