Power Sneakers


 * For Item Box power-up with same name, see Power Sneakers (power-up).

Power Sneakers 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 power-ups on item boxes with Power Sneaker on the screen, that temporarily increase the player'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&apos;s Power Sneakers with Slow-Down Boots that drastically hindered Sonic&apos;s walking speed and drained him of some of his energy.

Concept and creation
According Naoto Ōshima, the design of the Power Sneakers was inspired by the cover of Michael Jackson&apos;s hit album Bad, and that the contrast between the colors white and red made him think of Santa Claus.

Alternate Footwears

 * Slow-Down Boots are heavy boots designed to look like Sonic's normal shoes that drain his speed and jumping abilities in Sonic Labyrinth.
 * Light Speed Shoes are shoes that let Sonic use the Light Speed Dash to travel across trails of rings.
 * Soap shoes are shoes that Sonic wore in Sonic Adventure 2 and its remake Sonic Adventure 2: Battle.
 * In the Sonic Riders series, Sonic wears a different version of his Power Sneakers, which more closely resemble high-top tennis shoes, whether or not he is riding Extreme Gear.
 * Custom Shoes are shoes that Sonic obtains in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) that let him use the powers of the Light Chip, Antigravity and Gems in the game. Whenever he uses them, Sonic's Power Sneakers take on the appearance of the Custom Shoes.

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 the Sonic the Comic comic series published by Fleetway Editions, the Power Sneakers created and given to Sonic by Doctor Ovi Kintobor to reduce the friction on his feet. With them, Sonic managed to break the sound barrier for the first time, changing him from a brown and spiky hedgehog to his current blue and streamlined form.

Archie Comics
In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics, Sonic's Sneakers were invented by Sonic's uncle, Sir Charles Hedgehog. They were made from Power Ring energy so they could never wear down from Sonic's speed. Originally, the sneakers resembled the Power Sneakers during the Genesis era, but were later changed to their modern design when Sonic diverted a time-beam and got a bust of Super Emerald energy.

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
In Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, the Power Sneakers are referred to as hi-tops. In this media, Sonic needs them to protect his feet from friction or else he cannot run for long.

Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)
The first half of the episode "The Odd Couple/Ro-Becca" in the television series Sonic the Hedgehog, established that Sonic is fiercely protective of his sneakers, as Antoine threw them out the door of his home when he saw that Sonic was tracking mud on his floor and putting snow on his sofa. Sonic angrily told him to never mess with "his sneaks" again.

In addition, Sonic's sneakers are fitted with anti-gravity jets on the soles that allow Sonic to slow his descent when falling in order to land safely. These "anti-gravs" are activated by pushing a button on the side of the shoe. Sonic's sneakers also have magnetic soles, also activated by buttons on the shoes, that allow him to stick to metal surfaces, such as the underside of a Hover Unit. This same feature was brought back later in Sonic Underground.

Trivia

 * The only games where Sonic wears different shoes are Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Riders, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, Sonic Unleashed (while in Werehog form), Sonic Free Riders, and Sonic Lost World (in The Legend of Zelda Zone).
 * He was supposed to use them in Sonic Adventure 2, but they were replaced by the Soap shoes. This can be seen in the early images of the Neutral Garden.
 * Blaze wears shoes that look similar to the Power Sneakers. However, Blaze's are high-heeled with fur cuffs and a shinier red substance split in two parts down the center.
 * In Sonic Lost World, Zeena makes a remark that Sonic shoes are "atrocious".
 * Sonic's Power Sneakers made a cameo in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, appearing next to the trash can that reads "No Hopers" in the "Cranky's Video Game Heroes" screen.