1. British Knights
   Nike
2. Avia
   Keen

When it comes to general retail goods and services, Nike still ranks first on the list of the top sports shoe brand in the athletic footwear industry. That's in the U.S., and the ranking was for 2018.

1. The North Face
   Mountain Hardwear
2. Stio
   Evolv

Mountaineers of all kinds swear by their gear made by The North Face brand since it has been in existence since 1968. Mountain climbers of all kinds, especially those who go on Mt. Everest expeditions, have used the brand's outerwear, tents, sleeping bags, coats, and other kinds of climbing equipment during their momentous journeys.

1. New Era
   Starter
2. L.L. Bean
   Under Armour

A sort of "newbie" in the footwear market industry is Under Armour, even though it has been in existence since 1996. According to marketing experts, it's a leading sporting products supplier, but it still lags behind the more recognizable brands like Nike and Adidas when it comes to athletic footwear.

1. Molten
   Mikasa
2. Beta
   Wilson

Remember that famous volleyball in the 2000 film, "Cast Away," starring Tom Hanks? Rumor has it that sales of that volleyball brand "spiked" (pun intended!) due to the extra popularity it gained from that movie. Yes, the brand was Wilson.

1. Skechers
   Newton Running
2. Adidas
   Grosby

The German-originated shoe brand, Adidas, can count on its old-fashioned design with the iconic three stripes since this is becoming "retro chic" these days. But, of course, the global brand also manufactures their newest top-of-the-line shoes, and they rank among the top three best-selling brands in the global athletic footwear market.

1. Reebok
   Goral
2. Walsh
   Hotter

Lancashire, England, is where the Reebok brand of sports shoes originated, but they now count Boston, Massachusetts, as their headquarters. Since 2005, the brand has been under Adidas as a subsidiary. Nowadays, Reebok is very active in sponsoring the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as well as Les Mills and CrossFit.

1. Golden Boy
   Everlast
2. Fighting
   Pro Mex

If you’ve ever watched a boxing match on the professional or amateur level, chances are you’ve already seen this Everlast logo. It’s the brand emblazoned on the boxers’ gloves, the garter bands of their shorts, and even the boxing ring sometimes has this logo printed there.

1. Heelys
   Thrasher
2. Converse
   Route One

Converse is more of a lifestyle brand than an athletic brand. That's why it's a favorite pick among skateboarders who mesh the fun skateboarding sport within their lifestyle. But did you know that they also made military footwear during World War II? Now, that's great service to the country!

1. Maru
   Speedo
2. Aquafeel
   Arena

The Speedo company was actually established in Sydney, Australia, in 1914, but it's now based in Nottingham, England. Globally, though, swimmers swear by the brand's reliability when it comes to manufacturing high-quality swimwear and related accessories for the sport, such as goggles and swimming caps. And as a nod to its Aussie roots, that logo is actually a boomerang, mate!

1. Smith
   Bollé
2. Oakley
   Bliz

If you need to wear some form of eyeglasses or eyewear for sports, chances are, you've come upon Oakley, since they hold many patents and have been developing specialized eyewear for all types of sports. Their eyewear products are heavily used skiing, snowboarding, tennis, cycling, golfing, and many more sports.

1. Spalding
   Jordan
2. And1
   Starbury

Spalding is a very versatile manufacturer of sporting goods based in the U.S., but they are perhaps most associated with basketball. That's because their basketballs are used widely in several leagues. But they also produce many kinds of balls and equipment related to other sports, such as American football, soccer, baseball, softball, and volleyball.

1. Aer
   Topo Designs
2. GORUCK
   JanSport

JanSport is one of the most recognizable global brands for backpacks, and they have an entire line of backpacks for sporting enthusiasts of all types.

1. Fastime
   Champion
2. RIPNDIP
   Boom! Boom!

Champion manufactures a lot of sports jerseys, and they claim to be the pioneer in putting numbers and athlete’s names on sports jerseys. They are indeed a champion brand in leading that kind of innovation!

1. Puma
   Lacoste
2. Abercrombie & Fitch
   Baby Phat

That unmistakable wild cat jumping over the letters of the brand is rather easy to guess -- it's a puma, therefore the brand is Puma. The sportswear company was founded in Germany, and its current headquarters are in Bavaria.

1. Sanjo
   Dinamo
2. New Balance
   Hummel Hive

Did you know that New Balance has been around since 1906? This is a multinational company today, and it has its roots in Massachusetts, particularly Boston.

1. Manduka
   Lululemon
2. Body Angel
   Onzie

Lululemon Athletica is a Canadian brand of athletic wear that specializes in yoga apparel. However, the company and its former CEO have been embroiled in several controversies in recent years, as its pricing was also criticized for being too costly. Nonetheless, the brand has a huge following of loyal customers.

1. Saucony
   SOM
2. Hersey
   Munro

This brand got its name from the Saucony Creek in Pennsylvania, since it was established there in the late 1890s. Since people were confused about its pronunciation, the company put out an ad campaign that featured how it's supposed to be said: “Sock a knee!”

1. O’Neill
   Hurley
2. Billabong
   Vol Com

If you’re a true-blue surfer, snowboarder or skateboarder, then chances are, you’ve come across Billabong at certain points in your board sport life. But if you’re also the beach bum kind, they also manufacture apparel suited for that purpose.

1. Rip Curl
   Reef
2. Quiksilver
   Vans

Quiksilver is a very friendly brand that caters to laid-back surfers and snowboarders alike. If you’re new to surfing, they also have a wetsuit guide to help you shop for the right one for you.

1. Helly Hansen
   Atomic
2. High Sierra
   SmartWool

Atomic is one of the brands under the Amer Sports company which is based in Helsinki, Finland. That's why it's no wonder that this specific brand manufactures winter sports equipment and gear, and they cater to the needs of all types of skiers.

1. Nivia
   Performax
2. Umbro
   Xero Shoes

Umbro is a company based in Greater Manchester, England, but it was established in Wilmslow in 1924. Today, it's known to produce sportswear for soccer players, ranging from apparel to footwear.

1. Callaway
   Titleist
2. Mizuno
   TaylorMade

The Japanese brand, Mizuno, was the first to manufacture golf clubs in their country. Today, their brand is widely used worldwide by many golfers, including Tiger Woods when he was just starting out.

1. Rykä
   Roxy
2. Russell Athletic
   Hanes

Roxy was initially perceived as a swimwear line dedicated to women, but it was actually built as a spinoff brand to cater to women surfers. Its parent company is Quiksilver which primarily catered to boys and men, so they decided to create a parallel female counterpart.

1. Filling Pieces
   Valentino
2. Skechers
   F-Gali

​Skechers is one of the leading brands that belong to the "athleisure" category, meaning they are manufactured as athletic footwear, but the people who buy them don't necessarily use them for athletic activities. And for manufacturers, that's totally fine, because it gives more leeway for their shoes to be flexible in many types of activities. Thus, they fall in between the lifestyle brands and the athletic brands.

1. Shock Doctor
   Black Mamba Elite
2. Rival
   Title

From the logo alone, you'd know that Black Mamba Elite is a brand that specializes in being swift and powerful, just like the snake emblazoned on their logo. But their philosophy also has an acronym for MAMBA, which they say stands for "mind above matter beats anything," like a motto for all MMA players using this brand.

1. Onitsuka Tiger
   British Knights
2. Avia
   Asics

Did you know that Asics is actually an acronym which stands for “anima sana in corpore sano,” a Latin phrase that means "healthy soul in a healthy body.” And it’s also a Japanese brand that got its humble start in Kobe, where its founder is from.

1. Tommy Hilfiger
   Ralph Lauren
2. Prada
   Guess

That unmistakable polo player mounted on a horse logo defined what polo shirts ought to be like, thanks to designer Ralph Lauren. The logo used to be small, emblazoned usually on the upper left chest area of a collared polo shirt, but this logo has since grown larger, which is what the brand prefers now.

1. Merrell
   Etnies
2. Steve Madden
   J. Crew

Merrell started out as a company that specialized in hiking boots in the early '80s. Today, they're very popular for other kinds of footwear used in trail running. They also manufacture outerwear apparel for men, women, and even kids.

1. Diadora
   Hoka One One
2. Le Coq Sportif
   K-Swiss

Yes, that is indeed a rooster in its logo, and Le Coq Sportif is indeed French. It was established in 1882, and today the company acts as the official supplier of sports uniforms of certain teams in basketball, football/soccer, rugby, boxing, cycling, and tennis.

1. Imperial Motion
   Timberland
2. Ahnu
   Ewing Athletics

The American company, Timberland, sells outdoor apparel, but they are more famous for selling outdoor footwear. For people who love spending time outdoors for leisurely activities or sports activities, Timberland carries many items to address specific outdoor needs of men, women, and children.

1. Sergio Tacchini
   Joma
2. Dunlop
   Allen Edmonds

When It comes to tennis equipment and golf gear, Dunlop is one of the most recognizable brands around. Tennis fans might be familiar with that D logo inside an arrow since that’s emblazoned in tennis balls played in major competitions, as well as in the bags, accessories, and rackets used by athletes.

1. Belong Designs
   Altra Running
2. Columbia Sportswear
   Starter

Since Columbia Sportswear specializes in what they call outerwear, it’s no surprise that they sell hiking gear, fishing, and hunting clothes. They also have great trail running gear as well as casual wear for daily use.

1. Prana
   Nfinity
2. Hurley
   Athleta

Nfinity focuses on women’s sporting apparel, especially those involved in volleyball, basketball, and cheerleading. They design shoes and apparel for these sports, as well as great bags to carry stuff from the fields to the lockers. Go, Nfinity, go go Nfinity!

1. Burton
   Point6
2. Arc’Teryx
   ThermaCELL

Arc’Teryx is a Canadian brand that specializes in winter-themed apparel. People can choose which types based on the activities they prefer, such as Alpinism and climbing, skiing and snowboarding, or hiking and trekking.

1. Crocs
   Lacoste
2. Field & Stream
   Oiselle

That unmistakable Crocs clogs also stepped over the line to address sporty needs. That’s why they also created a line of sports sandals and sports clogs for those who don’t really need a full-on sneaker for their sporting needs.

1. DC Shoes
   New Era
2. Coach
   Fila

Fila began as an Italian brand since it was created in 1911 in Biella, Italy, and named after its founder, Giansevero Fila. But it’s now owned by Koreans, and their base is in Seoul.

1. Speed Zone
   Simpson
2. Kappa
   Mechanix Wear

Kappa manufactures sportswear for those who are into car racing, sailing, fencing, and martial arts. But this is also a recognizable brand for those who are into team sports, such as football or soccer, volleyball, and basketball.

1. Quoddy
   Nautica
2. Sperry Top-Sider
   Old Navy

The logo of Sperry Top-Sider looks like a boat’s sail because their primary product is boat shoes. Its inventor was inspired to design a non-slip boat shoe after he slipped and fell overboard! But for branding purposes, the company is now known mainly as Sperry.

1. Pony
   Krimsom Klover
2. Spira
   Brooks Sports

Brooks is a brand with which runners are familiar since that’s the crowd to which it caters. Brooks also focuses on developing great sports bras for women, and even have different types for low impact, medium impact, and high impact use.

1. Louis Vuitton
   Coleman
2. Eddie Bauer
   Prada

If you think Coleman is solely about making kerosene lamps and camping gear, think again. They have a line called Coleman Powersports that has ATVs, scooters, go-karts, dirt bikes, and even boat motors. Have fun riding in the wild!