For all the convenience of online shopping, you can’t beat going into a real brick-and-mortar trainer shop. Buying sneakers online can be like trawling the Raiders Of The Lost Ark warehouse, shapes and colourways blurring into forever. In the face of that endless choice, many shops feel like capsule collections, where a small selection of sneakers is brought together with care, respect and – well – love. Because that’s the other thing the internet can’t offer: interaction with staff who know their trainers. Who are obsessed with suede uppers and gum soles. Who’ll debate the best ever reissues as you decide between Samba or Munich. You never have to wonder whether your pick goes with those trousers, or whether to believe those true-to-size claims. And, most importantly, you don’t have wait overnight to get your new kicks on your feet.

The Hip Store, Leeds

The Hip Store is not the spot to cop grail Jordans. You won’t find any of Rick Owens’ sculptural trainers. But this Vicar Lane space is a haven for the more discerning sneakerhead: 1,600 sq ft of the kind of shoes you want to own when you’re a grown-up. New Balance fans are particularly well-served, as are those whose tastes tend classic; alongside a glut of Converse (that’s OG silhouettes, not the Nike era’s more progressive pieces) there’s a load of more characterful takes on the classic canvas low-top, from Slovakia’s Novesta and the 1970s basketball-slash-hip-hop staple Pro Keds. Swish. thehipstore.co.uk

Pick Of The Kicks

Saucony Shadow Original White/Grey, (£85). A low key, Sunday-best sneaker.

5 Pointz, Bristol

Most people overlook Bristol’s importance to modern British streetwear. But it’s always been a critical barometer of cool – it was one of the first places to latch onto skate culture and hip-hop – and boasts some of the best independent menswear shops in the country. One of the most revered is 5 Pointz, founded by Dave Perry in 2004. A sprawling haven dedicated to modern streetwear, with a focus on the kind of well-priced, hardwearing clothes you could beat up on a skatepark. The trainer selection is equally sporty, big on Nikes of every denomination: a rainbow of Air Max 1 nestles alongside AF1s and new-old shapes like the Mayfly and Sock Dart. This being Bristol, the staff are more than happy to help you sort through it all. 5pointz.co.uk