As someone with wide feet, I've always struggled with shoes. In middle school was wearing shoes that were 2+ sizes too big just to not hurt my feet. Finally stopped trying to use Nikes and other popular brands and got New Balance "Dad shoes" and never looked back. I've had the same pair of 993's for almost 5 years and they still look and feel amazing. So I'm super happy seeing NB rise again
Same here. I had some luck with Brooks and other running specific brands, but nothing fits me as well as my 880s. I put 300+ running miles on them, switch them to casual use and they are as comfortable as the day I got them
I have a different problem...high instep. Most brands don't work for me (skimming material to save money) but Sketchers is particularly infamous for it's tiny insteps. Luckily, NB shoes work for me.
Fellow wide foot-er here. Best shoes for us that I've tried are ASICS, New Balance and Anta. I've heard brooks is decent too. Worst shoes for us are Nike and adidas. Bad if you're into fashion 😢
I worked as a sewing machinist for New Balance in Ireland in the early eighties. They also manufactured in England but the mothership manufacturing plant was in Massachusetts where I believe it still is. I can attest that the people making your shoes in Ireland were multigenerational skilled leatherworkers. Quality control was huge. Shoes would become seconds for the slightest variation in thread colors even. The shoes felt like walking on air and we were proud of our work. Not sure what year they left Tralee but Allbirds are the nearest I have found in comfort since
I work as a hospital janitor and New Balance are the only shoes that I can get that are consistently comfortable being on my feet all day, plus they're durable as all get-out. Had this pair for two years now and they're more comfortable than the Filas, lasted longer than the Reeboks, and less expensive than the Skechers I have tried.
New Balance is one of the few shoe companies that sell stylish shoes in Wide Widths. Nike and others think wide shoes MUST be orthopedic and you're 75 years old
I tried a wide version of an Adidas shoe that I really liked the look of, the sole fit just fine... but the neck was so narrow that my foot couldn't actually fit through it. I swear they just took a standard size SKU, added some inches to the sole, and sent it out there as like an afterthought.
New Balance was the top choice for most USPS letter carriers with walking routes. They were very comfortable and would last well over a year when walking 8 to 10 miles, 5 days a week. I owned many pairs. 😊
I think they are popular in the DMV for similar reasons. Apparently the drugs dealers of the 70s and 80s wore New Balance on the blocks of DC so they became cool here. When I was young (obviously way after the 80s) I was so confused why NB were so popular here. I was like “Aren’t these dad shoes”
15 years ago I bought my first pair of New Balance on the recommendation of my physical therapist. A few months later one of my doctors laughed at my New Balance shoes because he thought they looked like they were on the wrong foot. Those were the best fitting shoes I’ve ever worn.
New Balance shoes are some of the most comfortable shoes out there; the Fresh Foams literally feel like walking on clouds. The fact that they make wide sized shoes is also a great distinguishing factor of their shoe brand. I'm a fan!
I'm 60...for the past 20 years I have worn NBs...I currently wear model 623 (and I have two backup pairs)...my daughter called them "Dad shoes"...I replied OK...because I'm a dad...They are plain white, comfortable, cushy, and not flashy...the best out there!!!!!
My dad liked New Balance because he had very odd feet, they were very wide and he had to order them from a special catalogue and NB was one of the few sneaker brands in it
I got my first pair about 15 years ago, I was 23 or so. I never thought they were “cool” but I have wide feet and it was the first brand that measured me and got me a wide fit. I think they were also on sale. They were the best pair of shoes I ever had. My dog chewed a hole in them or they would have lasted much longer. Today I own 3 different pairs. Customer for life!
Three ways to be trendy: -Be the trendsetter by finding a new look/brand. -Follow current trend -Fund something woefully uncool, wear ironically, and make no apologies. NB has been the beneficiary of the third option.
Yep! Hipsters were a big reason for the success. Worn "ironically" NB embraced this several years ago. & starting making 'retro" looking shoes. Great marketing to lean into thectrend
I'm in my 30s and all I buy are NB now. They have cool retro styles, dad styles and modern styles. I've been buying the retro ones and they are all incredibly comfortable
Back in the early 90s, I remember my mom buying me some at Payless Shoe Source in the mall. At that time they were cheap and most in our area hadn’t really heard of them. A few years later I was shocked to see the price tag that was now comparable to Nike, Adidas, and the rest. I stuck with them because of how they felt. I still wear them today, and of course, I’m now a dad.
You also forgot to mention that the U.S. Navy recruits wear them at boot camp since they didn’t have to change or add the “N” to symbolize Navy. I remember wearing those at boot camp, and they do cater to people with wide feet, something that Nike or other brands don’t do. In addition, the NB that are made in the USA cost significantly higher than those that were made abroad but you can tell the thought and detailed craftsmanship to each pair.
All 3 of my kiddos are active us navy. Son grad bootcamp in 2017, daughter 2020 and youngest son just this past August. None of them wore NB. So they must have changed that sometime b4 2017.
This is a HUGE factor. They were also the only shoes sold on military bases for a long time iirc correctly. Leading to the "suburban dad" stereotype. I live in a military base, EVERY military guy has a pair in his closet. I was waiting for him to say it lol.
While the main New Balance running shoes became less popular in the 90s and 2000s, the 574 line became really popular with sneakerheads for its classic sneaker look and many colorways. It's like their version of Adidas shelltoes, gazelles, or the Puma suedes, carried by small boutiques or stores catering to a more hip market.
I'm from DC and new balance is a part of our culture. Love the 990s and the 2000s. I never would've thought they had a down time the way we wear them around here. Great spring and summer shoe.
I’m from Brooklyn, and that’s a fact. NB definitely had some downtime, for awhile but like any other classic some people never stopped wearing them. That’s how it is with AF1s and Timbs with us. By the 2010s a lot ppl fixated on Jordans, KDs, Foamposites and others. Then you could say Kanye and others created a surge in Timbs around the WTT era. A few years later AF1s became trendy everywhere and became “basic white people shoes” because every white kid started wearing dirty AF1s. I’ve always known about NBs being a DMV staple and remember 574s being popular when I was young. I started seeing people out here wearing 990s around maybe 5-6 years ago. It’s been almost a decade since “dad shoes” became “trendy”.
I’m 29 and New Balance is one of the few sneaker manufacturers that carries extra wide sizes with great quality. The main reason I have stuck with them.
So happy to see New Balance rise again and transforming into a cool and trendy brand without a dip in quality, i never thought i'd see this, i love mine & will hopefuly keep circling back!
As the son of a tool and die engineer, I grew up around American manufacturing in illinois. So I always try to buy made in USA when it's an option. However that's not how I stumbled on the New Balance. I was recommended New balance when I was in the US Army for their motion control shoe option number 587 by a army medical doctor because I was having knee pain when running. That's when I first discovered New Balance when I went to go buy my first set from the PX and the first thing that caught my eye was the big ol Made in USA labels on them. At the time I didn't know we still had athletic shoes domestically made. To this day that was probably one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I had ever owned and I have never gone back always always owning a New balance shoe for work running and casual. And if at all possible I always try to buy their american-made options. Currently owning a 990 version 6. It is an excellent shoe and I highly highly recommend it to anybody looking for a better option then what they currently have and or dealing with foot and knee pain issues.
Nike capitulating to resellers turned me off of Nike for life.. SB Dunks used to be cheap skateboarder shoes, now you can only buy them from third parties at ridiculous markups.
I have been wearing NB since the early 1980s and ran tens of thousands of miles in them over the following decades. The main advantage for me was the different width fittings but I also found the cushioning to be superior to most other brands. I tried a range of other makes but always came back to NB. I do still wear them in my 70s for walking and the gym still mainly because of the fit and couldn’t care less if they are dad shoes, or in my case grandad shoes!
For the past 20+ years, New Balance has been my go to sneaker company ever since I bought my first pair of 574's as a senior in high school. With numerous iconic designs, they make comfortable and durable sneakers that just fit proper. They have all types models ranging from specific sports platforms to casual lifestyle options. They even delved into the skateboard world about five years ago with their Numerics skate shoe line with a bunch of different models/styles to choose from. In my option, New Balance is the best shoe company out there, hands down.
Almost everyone on my high school track team more than two decades ago wore New Balance running shoes during practices. It wasn't a formal uniform or a group buy, they were just good shoes, recommended to others, and the younger people bought the brand of shoes they saw the seniors wearing during practice. They are still my default sneaker.
As someone with extra wide feet growing up, new balance was my go-to shoe for a long time. I would go to several big shoe stores and find absolutely nothing. Then I went to the new balance store and the first pair usually always fit perfectly.
The New Balance 574s was popular when I was in HS. It was all the color combination that came out that made them fashionable to the younger generation. I’m talking like late 90s early 2000s. They then definitely fell off but I worked in the retail shoe industry and I knew what value NB brought to the market. They were still considered the best running shoes and comfortable walking shoes like their 990s. Now they are trendy again as fashion usually repeats itself.
10 years ago I used to always get New Balance and loved them. I have flat feet and I always had a hard time finding comfortable shoes, except for New Balance. But then I tried Under Armor shoes and they were just as comfortable but much nicer looking so I wear those now. Either way, I love both brands for their comfort.
i love new balance, all my shoes are new balance, my cleats are new balance, majority of my clothes are new balance, I love this brand and have always loved it since a kid. Glad they are on the up and up, they make great quality product.
I got a job in a warehouse for the first time and had to get some steel toe shoes. I was having trouble finding a pair that was comfy enough to wear all day, all the ones I tried hurt so bad. So decided to try the New Balance ones I saw, they were pricey but well worth it and are super comfortable. Will be sticking with these for a while.
I think the actual cause of the most recent rise is the general style shift in footwear, where people now WANT to wear chunky/ Dad-style 90's looking shoes. New Balance never changed their look so their shoes fit this fad perfectly.
A few years ago, I noticed that the majority NASCAR officials wore black New Balance shoes with a white N. I expected this to have been the result of a sponsorship deal, but upon looking it up, found out that only four models of shoe were currently being made that met NASCAR's safety criteria to be used on pit road, and New Balance made two of them.
I'm not much of a shoe guy - but once I found their Fresh Foam technology - it's hard to buy anything else. Their shoes with that feature are soooo comfortable!
What a coincidence- I just received my new, New Balance shoes a few days ago. I started wearing New Balance at the recommendation of my orthopaedic surgeon after I had a bad ankle sprain, broken leg. So comfortable and offer better stability and arch support.
I am currently in a pair of Skechers but I’m thinking of buying some New Balance shoes. I heard that New Balance shoes are made in the USA but every New Balance shoes I’ve ever seen are made in Asia. Why is that?
Know I can really call you a lower being how are you that broke stick to vans or all star shoes lil bro get your bread up maybe you can work to get new jordans with your 3 jobs fliping burgers
40 year old cliché Dad here, and yes, most comfortable shoes ever. I love my New Balance 990 v3! Not my first pair of NB. Not only are they super comfortable, they're also durable!
These are exclusively the only shoe I wear, for the same reason everyone else in these comments has mentioned. I already have huge feet without even getting into the width of them (I’m a US 17) and NB does the best job making all large sizes available in almost every width. I say this with 100% seriousness, and those with large feet will understand and not be offended: If you need shoes that multiple mice could use as shelter, New Balance will always have you covered.
I ran track in high school and the local shoe store recommended New Balance (early 2000s) and one season of track about a third of us were wearing New Balance. Can't say I'm loyal to any specific brand but I will say I do occasionally still get a pair because they are cheaper than other shoes
Love this channel dude. This one, nukes top 5, and tierzoo are the only three channels I make sure not to skip a video. I find myself quoting things that you say in your videos. From this one, I'll definitely be using the inspiration taken to create this company about the chicken walk.
I saw the notification for this video after wearing my NEW new balances for the first time. I’m 18 and in high school, so obviously I used to think New Balances were for old people. My great grandpa is the only person I know who wears them. But I’ve always had issues with my feet, so I can’t wear flat shoes like vans or converse, they strain my ankles and shins. I’ve been using Nike shoes for band practice for the past two years but I have wide feet that go over the base/platform of the shoe so that ALSO strains my ankles & shins. I wear crocs everyday because they have better support but I still needed supported sneakers so that’s how I recently discovered new balances. Now I understand why older people who stand all day wear them! I bought new 574s to wear to school and it feels like I’m walking on (heavy) clouds! There’s so much support with the built in ENCAP design, no strain on my ankles anymore. They also have styles for WIDE feet (like me)! I just wished I had tried them sooner! Thank you new balance!
The whole “made in America” thing is interesting. In my college Econ course, we learned that “made in [country]” is applied to the last place the “thing” was made. For example, a lot of orgs (iirc, auto manufacturers do this) will produce everything outside of the US, then assemble those parts in the US (and sometimes they’ll only do the last part). This results in it being “made in America.” And with the iPhone, while it says it’s “Made in China,” China is where the final assembly takes place. A lot of the other components are manufactured or sourced from other countries. (oc, I’m sure some parts are manufactured in China)
Iirc for NB at least the made in lines are assembled in either the USA or UK branches but they do make at least 70% of the materials in said country. Like for the use all the materials are assembled in US facilities and that 70% is mostly the leather and fabric materials that come from the US (which also tend to be higher quality than the non US shoes) while that 30% is the soles like the rubber and plastics made are usually from abroad.
Yeah our shoes are practically just assembled at the factories by workers, we offer MADE shoes from locations such as England, the USA, and Italy. There was actually a lawsuit recently that made us have to slap on the "has a domestic value above 70%" on our boxes after.
I'm surprised you didn't dive into their prevalence in the skateboarding market. Most skaters I see at the skatepark wear New Balances, including myself. I've never worn a pair of New Balances that I didn't like, and they're fairly durable as a skate shoe considering how simple they are. They also sponsor some of the best skaters in the world, such as Jamie Foy and Andrew Reynolds. I don't ever see myself buying from another shoe company unless it's Adidas or Heely's.
Also I've only known it for it's awesome designs not the dad shoes. The dad shoes isn't a thing here in South Africa. I think the modern designs are quite popular over here. For sport and casual wear. And it's soooo comfy
Quality shoes made in USA/UK, great shoe innovations, and awesome lifestyle releases makes it my favorite shoe company! The MiUSA 990 is one of my favorite sneakers of all time with its combo of comfort and style!
Like many others have said, New Balance has by a fairly wide margin the widest selection of extra wide shoes. As someone with extra wide feet, this is very much appreciated
You got me, I’m a middle aged dad and I found New Balance a couple years ago because they were much more comfortable than another shoe I have. Now I have 4 pairs
New Balance is the best shoe company currently on the market imo. They’re far from being as fashionable as Nike or Adidas, but once you’ve tried them it’s hard to compromise on comfort.
New balance was seen as the shoe of dad's for the same reason why they always stayed in business. They're practical, comfortable, versatile, and well made.
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I moved from West Coast to the East Coast in 98'. At the time I had never heard of New Balance and I distinctly remember going to get shoes for the new school year and wondering to myself "what the hell are these things?" But once I put them on my feet I was instantly a fan. Ever since I was about 10 years old I had a very wide foot and a high arch. I have never been able to wear a pair of Nikes that didn't make my feet hurt like hell. I would spend most of my time barefooted or wearing sandals if I could help it when I was running around as a kid just because of how painful most shoes were. New Balance was the first time I had athletic wear on my feet that felt comfortable. To this day if I need a running shoe or any kind of athletic footwear I go to them first before anything else.
New Balance is popular now because I like that they’re made in USA! They’re also more politically neutral and focuses on customer satisfaction, even Michael Jordan praised them as their rival to his line of shoes! This is why I respect companies to focus on their customers and not celebrity trends!
i think it's weird that people get so upset at CEOs donating their money to political campaigns. like if they were using the company's money that would obviously different, but i feel like there should be more separation between the CEO and the company
As someone living in Japan, New Balance has always been everywhere as far as I can remember and it is the main shoes option for day to day even during the craze of hypebeast and resellers sneakerhead culture in the late 2010s. The brand has always been loved for its simple color tone and minimalistic functional design which are highly valued in Japanese market. Children, teenagers, young adult, adult, even the freakin elder people are all wearing new balance in this part of the world. 😂
Ebay deal with New Balance signed partnership with Vennabit Token is completed. Presale launches tonight. Cant wait to invest.. Ecommerce and crypto are both part of the broader trend of digitalization and the shift towards online activities.
I had never heard of New Balance until I graduated high school and enlisted in the Navy in 1998. We were issued NB shoes in Boot Camp. Those running shoes lasted years of hard running.
New Balance signed partnership with Vennabit Token is going to the moon! Ecommerce and crypto can help to create a more equitable and decentralized industry
I love that NB’s manufacturing base is in the America and Britain, which makes it stand out from the likes of Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and even ON. One of the reasons I ordered a pair of “Made in UK” shoes.
Not to mention they have a big influence on the running industry still. They have multiple track and field events for youth and professional athletes. They also endorse the biggest name in track and field right now, Sydney McLaughlin, who is the world record holder in the 400 hurdles and top 10 in the women’s 400m races
As a size 15 extra wide (since I was 14) new balance is really nice. They’re actually comfortable for one, and don’t fall apart. It’s been years and I’ve only had to buy 3 pairs of shoes so far, 2 of them were at the same time
New Balance definitely benefitted first from the ironic fashion trend that’s been happening for the last 8 years or so. It started off with the dad shoes and the meme surrounding dad shoes and then when everyone decided that they wanna be into fashion in 2020-now the other variants of New Balance shoes started popping off like the 550’s and people saw that they actually looked nice. + were comfortable. This timeline somewhat aligns with the rise of crocs. The ironic fashion trend definitely helped a lot of brands that were stuck in the mud
For as long as I've been wearing NB's through out the past couple of decades a few things have always remained constant, good quality, good fit/feel and look good. Whenever I needed new shoes, New Balance could always fulfil that criteria within their range. At the end of a days work the whole dad's shoe image meant very little.
In from Washington DC. New Balance has ALWAYS been in style here basically my whole life - and I’m 44. Since the Early 80’s all it’s done is get more and more popular in the DMV
As a shoe enthusiast, I no longer buy shoes. I have about 20 pairs that I will make last the rest of my life. Shoes have gotten too expensive to justify buying anymore these days.
Got introduced to New Balance when I got to osut at ft benning. Had never heard of them before 2004. But since then, NB has been the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn
New Balance has been known for being "uncool" so when I needed some new sneakers I tried Nike (my usual go-to) and Asics but the Nikes (Pegasus) were WAY too narrow and the Asics were still a little snug and wore a hole in the right toe after a month. I decided to buy a pair of New Balance Arishi v4's in blue from Kohl's for about $55-$60 (wide: size 10.5E) and they've been super comfortable. Maybe not the coolest shoe out there, but its comfort is what won me over. I liked the blue pair so much that I bought another pair of New Balance Arishi v4's in red from Kohl's a month later (on sale and with Kohl's cash I had, I think I paid about $42 out-of-pocket...can't beat that!). Nice quality shoe at a very reasonable price!
Try lookin for a size 13 double wide and see if Nike or any others have them. Nope. NB is the only shoe I've seen where I can get the size AND width I need. They make great work shoes too! Size 13 double wide with composite toe! Work shoes usually destroy your knees because they are so heavy. My NB are light and have lots of support. I've been wearing them for years.
I 💜my New Balance. I have been wearing New Balance for about 30 years . I am Massachusetts bred & still live here, new balance has a store in Bright on MA & their outlet. You can do well at the store & out let. They are a good running shoe. I have a pair of trail runners, & regular running shoes. They are comfortable & I wouldn’t trade them for Hokas.
I have to say that begire biying the new balance 480s, ive never believed that i can come home from college with legs that didnt hurt. Im not out of the house for the entire day and am still thankful that (1) theres a brand that understands foot health and (2) brought back an objectively better design language.
I drive by their manufacturing plants in Lowell Massachusetts sometimes. It’s nice to see it there and the domestic production ongoing. It keeps me buying their product.
No mention of new balance, professional skateboard team. There's skateboard team is stacked with some of the best names. This played a big role in new balance no longer being a dad shoe.
Our coastal New Hampshire cross country team (state high school champions btw) were among the first scholastic level teams to adopt the red and white and rippled sole original Trackster. This was in 1966 and after my athletic director dad met with a New Balance salesman. Nobody, and I mean nobody, in NH high schools were running in NB. Thus we stood out, not only as nearly invincible, but in a very uniquely sartorial cool factor. And yes, we were state champs that year too. PS Up here we are very proud of our in-country manufacturing of NB products. For example, the long active Skowhegan, Maine factory and famous outlet store. And Skowhegan is now undergoing a whopping 65 million dollar expansion. Not bad. Not bad at all.
We can’t look over the cultural impact of new balance shoes in the DMV. They were and in someway still are the official shoe of Washington DC. The 990s were that symbol for hustlers in the 90s.
As someone with wide feet, I've always struggled with shoes. In middle school was wearing shoes that were 2+ sizes too big just to not hurt my feet. Finally stopped trying to use Nikes and other popular brands and got New Balance "Dad shoes" and never looked back. I've had the same pair of 993's for almost 5 years and they still look and feel amazing. So I'm super happy seeing NB rise again
Same here. I had some luck with Brooks and other running specific brands, but nothing fits me as well as my 880s. I put 300+ running miles on them, switch them to casual use and they are as comfortable as the day I got them
Jurgen Klopp wears New Balance stuff an it's great advertising for them.
I have a different problem...high instep. Most brands don't work for me (skimming material to save money) but Sketchers is particularly infamous for it's tiny insteps. Luckily, NB shoes work for me.
This this this! Finding wide sizes has been hard, NB has always managed to have something that fits well.
Fellow wide foot-er here. Best shoes for us that I've tried are ASICS, New Balance and Anta. I've heard brooks is decent too.
Worst shoes for us are Nike and adidas. Bad if you're into fashion 😢
New Balance is one of the few sneaker manufacturers that carries extra wide sizes with great quality. The main reason I have stuck with them.
Yes! I can always be guaranteed to find shoes that actually fit me, and will stand up to a couple years of hard use. :)
I need size 17 E hard to find.....
Holy f exact same reason why I buy it
I'm not a fan of my toes being squished.
That's another reason I wear them...size 10W!!!!!
I worked as a sewing machinist for New Balance in Ireland in the early eighties. They also manufactured in England but the mothership manufacturing plant was in Massachusetts where I believe it still is. I can attest that the people making your shoes in Ireland were multigenerational skilled leatherworkers. Quality control was huge. Shoes would become seconds for the slightest variation in thread colors even. The shoes felt like walking on air and we were proud of our work. Not sure what year they left Tralee but Allbirds are the nearest I have found in comfort since
That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing
New Balance still manufactures a select number of models, like the 991, in the U.K.
There’s a small Made in U.K. line.
Half of kids now wear crocs, flip-flops or slides. I feel like a “dad” for wearing actual shoes 😳
Regarding croc, flip-flops or slides. At least if it rains some stay dry and others feel the pain.
Taymen
I think New Balance should have Slides at some point though. I just saw that they also have New Balance Clogs that look like flip flops or slippers.
I was a kid in the late 2000s, I always wore slides...but I was a hooper so kinda goes with it
I'm a dad in my 50s and I wear Crocs as slippers.
I work as a hospital janitor and New Balance are the only shoes that I can get that are consistently comfortable being on my feet all day, plus they're durable as all get-out. Had this pair for two years now and they're more comfortable than the Filas, lasted longer than the Reeboks, and less expensive than the Skechers I have tried.
Do you have to supply your own work clothes?
Nurse here, thank you for your service, hope those shoes keep on trucking!
Y cheap brokie
Nobody cares lol
The 550's never wear out....ever
New Balance is one of the few shoe companies that sell stylish shoes in Wide Widths. Nike and others think wide shoes MUST be orthopedic and you're 75 years old
I tried a wide version of an Adidas shoe that I really liked the look of, the sole fit just fine... but the neck was so narrow that my foot couldn't actually fit through it. I swear they just took a standard size SKU, added some inches to the sole, and sent it out there as like an afterthought.
New Balance was the top choice for most USPS letter carriers with walking routes. They were very comfortable and would last well over a year when walking 8 to 10 miles, 5 days a week. I owned many pairs. 😊
I think they are popular in the DMV for similar reasons. Apparently the drugs dealers of the 70s and 80s wore New Balance on the blocks of DC so they became cool here. When I was young (obviously way after the 80s) I was so confused why NB were so popular here. I was like “Aren’t these dad shoes”
@@MrMegaman1417 😂
15 years ago I bought my first pair of New Balance on the recommendation of my physical therapist. A few months later one of my doctors laughed at my New Balance shoes because he thought they looked like they were on the wrong foot. Those were the best fitting shoes I’ve ever worn.
New Balance shoes are some of the most comfortable shoes out there; the Fresh Foams literally feel like walking on clouds. The fact that they make wide sized shoes is also a great distinguishing factor of their shoe brand. I'm a fan!
I'm 60...for the past 20 years I have worn NBs...I currently wear model 623 (and I have two backup pairs)...my daughter called them "Dad shoes"...I replied OK...because I'm a dad...They are plain white, comfortable, cushy, and not flashy...the best out there!!!!!
As someone from Maryland, New balance has always been king. The brand is huge in my state. Always have been.
yes new balance is king dmv
Yup. Im from silver spring and bought my first pair in 2003. The 575 greys
Seeing the 550s blow up in popularity was amazing… they’re a great looking shoe and they’re incredibly comfy
My dad liked New Balance because he had very odd feet, they were very wide and he had to order them from a special catalogue and NB was one of the few sneaker brands in it
CC
I got my first pair about 15 years ago, I was 23 or so. I never thought they were “cool” but I have wide feet and it was the first brand that measured me and got me a wide fit. I think they were also on sale. They were the best pair of shoes I ever had. My dog chewed a hole in them or they would have lasted much longer. Today I own 3 different pairs. Customer for life!
Three ways to be trendy:
-Be the trendsetter by finding a new look/brand.
-Follow current trend
-Fund something woefully uncool, wear ironically, and make no apologies.
NB has been the beneficiary of the third option.
Yep! Hipsters were a big reason for the success. Worn "ironically"
NB embraced this several years ago. & starting making 'retro" looking shoes. Great marketing to lean into thectrend
@@michaelball4595But they do have amazing arch support and some of their stuff actually looks decent.
Worn ironically by Zoomer edgelords. I wear them because Nike hurts my feet.
I'm in my 30s and all I buy are NB now. They have cool retro styles, dad styles and modern styles. I've been buying the retro ones and they are all incredibly comfortable
Back in the early 90s, I remember my mom buying me some at Payless Shoe Source in the mall. At that time they were cheap and most in our area hadn’t really heard of them. A few years later I was shocked to see the price tag that was now comparable to Nike, Adidas, and the rest. I stuck with them because of how they felt. I still wear them today, and of course, I’m now a dad.
You also forgot to mention that the U.S. Navy recruits wear them at boot camp since they didn’t have to change or add the “N” to symbolize Navy. I remember wearing those at boot camp, and they do cater to people with wide feet, something that Nike or other brands don’t do. In addition, the NB that are made in the USA cost significantly higher than those that were made abroad but you can tell the thought and detailed craftsmanship to each pair.
All 3 of my kiddos are active us navy. Son grad bootcamp in 2017, daughter 2020 and youngest son just this past August. None of them wore NB. So they must have changed that sometime b4 2017.
This is a HUGE factor. They were also the only shoes sold on military bases for a long time iirc correctly. Leading to the "suburban dad" stereotype. I live in a military base, EVERY military guy has a pair in his closet. I was waiting for him to say it lol.
@@beautyonabarnbudget Probably. I went to bootcamp in 2002 so probably might have changed since.
thats not why lol.
It's a plus plus!!!!
While the main New Balance running shoes became less popular in the 90s and 2000s, the 574 line became really popular with sneakerheads for its classic sneaker look and many colorways. It's like their version of Adidas shelltoes, gazelles, or the Puma suedes, carried by small boutiques or stores catering to a more hip market.
The 574 was so great that Saucony copied the designed
I'm from DC and new balance is a part of our culture. Love the 990s and the 2000s. I never would've thought they had a down time the way we wear them around here. Great spring and summer shoe.
I’m from Brooklyn, and that’s a fact. NB definitely had some downtime, for awhile but like any other classic some people never stopped wearing them. That’s how it is with AF1s and Timbs with us. By the 2010s a lot ppl fixated on Jordans, KDs, Foamposites and others. Then you could say Kanye and others created a surge in Timbs around the WTT era. A few years later AF1s became trendy everywhere and became “basic white people shoes” because every white kid started wearing dirty AF1s.
I’ve always known about NBs being a DMV staple and remember 574s being popular when I was young. I started seeing people out here wearing 990s around maybe 5-6 years ago. It’s been almost a decade since “dad shoes” became “trendy”.
Facts, NB never had down time over here
NB was the brand for dads… now it’s the brand for adults who want to look like dads.
Maybe in America..
@@TheDogGoesWoof69I'm not sure Allah would be happy with someone calling him a sorcerer
I work in nursing homes new balance is the way for old folks 👍🏽👍🏽
I’m 29 and New Balance is one of the few sneaker manufacturers that carries extra wide sizes with great quality. The main reason I have stuck with them.
Kids in my school wear them alot.
So happy to see New Balance rise again and transforming into a cool and trendy brand without a dip in quality, i never thought i'd see this, i love mine & will hopefuly keep circling back!
As the son of a tool and die engineer, I grew up around American manufacturing in illinois. So I always try to buy made in USA when it's an option. However that's not how I stumbled on the New Balance. I was recommended New balance when I was in the US Army for their motion control shoe option number 587 by a army medical doctor because I was having knee pain when running. That's when I first discovered New Balance when I went to go buy my first set from the PX and the first thing that caught my eye was the big ol Made in USA labels on them. At the time I didn't know we still had athletic shoes domestically made.
To this day that was probably one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I had ever owned and I have never gone back always always owning a New balance shoe for work running and casual. And if at all possible I always try to buy their american-made options. Currently owning a 990 version 6. It is an excellent shoe and I highly highly recommend it to anybody looking for a better option then what they currently have and or dealing with foot and knee pain issues.
New Balance were my basic training shoes in 2001. They were the best shoes I had ever worn, and it turned me off of Nike for life.
A friend of mine said they wore them in basic at Ft Knox. And they were good running shoes.
Nike capitulating to resellers turned me off of Nike for life.. SB Dunks used to be cheap skateboarder shoes, now you can only buy them from third parties at ridiculous markups.
They are the current bootcamp shoes for the Coast Guard.
They are great shoes. Very comfortable and great with ankle support when working out
I was not allowed to wear them until I turned 50.
@@MasterMalrubius Lol they have definitely upped their shoe game in recent years my friend. You can wear them and by cool south of 50
I have been wearing NB since the early 1980s and ran tens of thousands of miles in them over the following decades. The main advantage for me was the different width fittings but I also found the cushioning to be superior to most other brands. I tried a range of other makes but always came back to NB. I do still wear them in my 70s for walking and the gym still mainly because of the fit and couldn’t care less if they are dad shoes, or in my case grandad shoes!
For the past 20+ years, New Balance has been my go to sneaker company ever since I bought my first pair of 574's as a senior in high school. With numerous iconic designs, they make comfortable and durable sneakers that just fit proper. They have all types models ranging from specific sports platforms to casual lifestyle options. They even delved into the skateboard world about five years ago with their Numerics skate shoe line with a bunch of different models/styles to choose from.
In my option, New Balance is the best shoe company out there, hands down.
I’ve worked for a NB store in NW Florida since 2018 and it is a fascinating company. It was so cool to see Company Man do a video about them.😊
Almost everyone on my high school track team more than two decades ago wore New Balance running shoes during practices. It wasn't a formal uniform or a group buy, they were just good shoes, recommended to others, and the younger people bought the brand of shoes they saw the seniors wearing during practice.
They are still my default sneaker.
As someone with extra wide feet growing up, new balance was my go-to shoe for a long time. I would go to several big shoe stores and find absolutely nothing. Then I went to the new balance store and the first pair usually always fit perfectly.
The New Balance 574s was popular when I was in HS. It was all the color combination that came out that made them fashionable to the younger generation. I’m talking like late 90s early 2000s. They then definitely fell off but I worked in the retail shoe industry and I knew what value NB brought to the market. They were still considered the best running shoes and comfortable walking shoes like their 990s. Now they are trendy again as fashion usually repeats itself.
10 years ago I used to always get New Balance and loved them. I have flat feet and I always had a hard time finding comfortable shoes, except for New Balance. But then I tried Under Armor shoes and they were just as comfortable but much nicer looking so I wear those now. Either way, I love both brands for their comfort.
i love new balance, all my shoes are new balance, my cleats are new balance, majority of my clothes are new balance, I love this brand and have always loved it since a kid. Glad they are on the up and up, they make great quality product.
I think Jurgen Klopp advertising for New Balance is helping them a ton which I think is neat.
I got a job in a warehouse for the first time and had to get some steel toe shoes. I was having trouble finding a pair that was comfy enough to wear all day, all the ones I tried hurt so bad. So decided to try the New Balance ones I saw, they were pricey but well worth it and are super comfortable. Will be sticking with these for a while.
I think the actual cause of the most recent rise is the general style shift in footwear, where people now WANT to wear chunky/ Dad-style 90's looking shoes. New Balance never changed their look so their shoes fit this fad perfectly.
Exactly that!
A few years ago, I noticed that the majority NASCAR officials wore black New Balance shoes with a white N. I expected this to have been the result of a sponsorship deal, but upon looking it up, found out that only four models of shoe were currently being made that met NASCAR's safety criteria to be used on pit road, and New Balance made two of them.
New balance 990s have been the most popular shoe in DC since 82
I'm not much of a shoe guy - but once I found their Fresh Foam technology - it's hard to buy anything else. Their shoes with that feature are soooo comfortable!
Love their skateboarding shoes. The 306 are possibly my favorite shoe design.
What a coincidence- I just received my new, New Balance shoes a few days ago. I started wearing New Balance at the recommendation of my orthopaedic surgeon after I had a bad ankle sprain, broken leg. So comfortable and offer better stability and arch support.
I am currently in a pair of Skechers but I’m thinking of buying some New Balance shoes. I heard that New Balance shoes are made in the USA but every New Balance shoes I’ve ever seen are made in Asia. Why is that?
Could you please do a video on Okabashi shoes? They claim they’re one of the few American shoes brands.
@@glennso47some are made at least 70% USA. Others are not. Just depends on the model number.
Know I can really call you a lower being how are you that broke stick to vans or all star shoes lil bro get your bread up maybe you can work to get new jordans with your 3 jobs fliping burgers
40 year old cliché Dad here, and yes, most comfortable shoes ever. I love my New Balance 990 v3! Not my first pair of NB. Not only are they super comfortable, they're also durable!
These are exclusively the only shoe I wear, for the same reason everyone else in these comments has mentioned. I already have huge feet without even getting into the width of them (I’m a US 17) and NB does the best job making all large sizes available in almost every width.
I say this with 100% seriousness, and those with large feet will understand and not be offended: If you need shoes that multiple mice could use as shelter, New Balance will always have you covered.
This! I wear a size 15 and I just love my 574 and 565. Best sneakers I ever had! 👌
I ran track in high school and the local shoe store recommended New Balance (early 2000s) and one season of track about a third of us were wearing New Balance. Can't say I'm loyal to any specific brand but I will say I do occasionally still get a pair because they are cheaper than other shoes
My friend did a few silhouettes for the 550’s. Their internal collaborations team really helped boost their sales more than anything.
Been rocking NB since 88. The 575, 995 basically all my life and I’m 50 now. Uptown DC
Love this channel dude. This one, nukes top 5, and tierzoo are the only three channels I make sure not to skip a video. I find myself quoting things that you say in your videos. From this one, I'll definitely be using the inspiration taken to create this company about the chicken walk.
So you watch this and two clickbait channels
@@jerbear7952 I watch three that I enjoy very much
I saw the notification for this video after wearing my NEW new balances for the first time. I’m 18 and in high school, so obviously I used to think New Balances were for old people. My great grandpa is the only person I know who wears them. But I’ve always had issues with my feet, so I can’t wear flat shoes like vans or converse, they strain my ankles and shins. I’ve been using Nike shoes for band practice for the past two years but I have wide feet that go over the base/platform of the shoe so that ALSO strains my ankles & shins. I wear crocs everyday because they have better support but I still needed supported sneakers so that’s how I recently discovered new balances. Now I understand why older people who stand all day wear them! I bought new 574s to wear to school and it feels like I’m walking on (heavy) clouds! There’s so much support with the built in ENCAP design, no strain on my ankles anymore. They also have styles for WIDE feet (like me)! I just wished I had tried them sooner! Thank you new balance!
The whole “made in America” thing is interesting. In my college Econ course, we learned that “made in [country]” is applied to the last place the “thing” was made.
For example, a lot of orgs (iirc, auto manufacturers do this) will produce everything outside of the US, then assemble those parts in the US (and sometimes they’ll only do the last part). This results in it being “made in America.”
And with the iPhone, while it says it’s “Made in China,” China is where the final assembly takes place. A lot of the other components are manufactured or sourced from other countries. (oc, I’m sure some parts are manufactured in China)
Iirc for NB at least the made in lines are assembled in either the USA or UK branches but they do make at least 70% of the materials in said country. Like for the use all the materials are assembled in US facilities and that 70% is mostly the leather and fabric materials that come from the US (which also tend to be higher quality than the non US shoes) while that 30% is the soles like the rubber and plastics made are usually from abroad.
Yeah our shoes are practically just assembled at the factories by workers, we offer MADE shoes from locations such as England, the USA, and Italy. There was actually a lawsuit recently that made us have to slap on the "has a domestic value above 70%" on our boxes after.
Just realized he said this in the video (I was commenting before even watching) my bad! But yeah my point still stands!
I'm surprised you didn't dive into their prevalence in the skateboarding market. Most skaters I see at the skatepark wear New Balances, including myself. I've never worn a pair of New Balances that I didn't like, and they're fairly durable as a skate shoe considering how simple they are. They also sponsor some of the best skaters in the world, such as Jamie Foy and Andrew Reynolds. I don't ever see myself buying from another shoe company unless it's Adidas or Heely's.
Also I've only known it for it's awesome designs not the dad shoes. The dad shoes isn't a thing here in South Africa. I think the modern designs are quite popular over here. For sport and casual wear. And it's soooo comfy
Being a DC native New Balance has always been a staple in our wardrobes since the 80s.
Quality shoes made in USA/UK, great shoe innovations, and awesome lifestyle releases makes it my favorite shoe company! The MiUSA 990 is one of my favorite sneakers of all time with its combo of comfort and style!
As someone with wide feet I just bought my first New Balance 4E shoes and I’ve been missing out
I'm a sneaker head but that's one brand I never had never liked the styles
Like many others have said, New Balance has by a fairly wide margin the widest selection of extra wide shoes. As someone with extra wide feet, this is very much appreciated
You got me, I’m a middle aged dad and I found New Balance a couple years ago because they were much more comfortable than another shoe I have. Now I have 4 pairs
Crazy thing is, they were never ugly shoes either. Ive grown up loving their design philosophy behind their shoes
New balance are the shoes i wear the most bc they readily have 4e wide shoes that arent ugly and are reasonably priced
New Balance is the best shoe company currently on the market imo. They’re far from being as fashionable as Nike or Adidas, but once you’ve tried them it’s hard to compromise on comfort.
New balance was seen as the shoe of dad's for the same reason why they always stayed in business. They're practical, comfortable, versatile, and well made.
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I moved from West Coast to the East Coast in 98'. At the time I had never heard of New Balance and I distinctly remember going to get shoes for the new school year and wondering to myself "what the hell are these things?" But once I put them on my feet I was instantly a fan. Ever since I was about 10 years old I had a very wide foot and a high arch. I have never been able to wear a pair of Nikes that didn't make my feet hurt like hell. I would spend most of my time barefooted or wearing sandals if I could help it when I was running around as a kid just because of how painful most shoes were. New Balance was the first time I had athletic wear on my feet that felt comfortable. To this day if I need a running shoe or any kind of athletic footwear I go to them first before anything else.
New Balance is popular now because I like that they’re made in USA! They’re also more politically neutral and focuses on customer satisfaction, even Michael Jordan praised them as their rival to his line of shoes! This is why I respect companies to focus on their customers and not celebrity trends!
I have mad respect for companies that focus on quality over hype. If theyre good enough for Andrew Reynold and Tiago then theyre good enough for me!
i think it's weird that people get so upset at CEOs donating their money to political campaigns. like if they were using the company's money that would obviously different, but i feel like there should be more separation between the CEO and the company
It's just bullying.
As someone living in Japan, New Balance has always been everywhere as far as I can remember and it is the main shoes option for day to day even during the craze of hypebeast and resellers sneakerhead culture in the late 2010s. The brand has always been loved for its simple color tone and minimalistic functional design which are highly valued in Japanese market. Children, teenagers, young adult, adult, even the freakin elder people are all wearing new balance in this part of the world. 😂
Ebay deal with New Balance signed partnership with Vennabit Token is completed. Presale launches tonight. Cant wait to invest.. Ecommerce and crypto are both part of the broader trend of digitalization and the shift towards online activities.
I had never heard of New Balance until I graduated high school and enlisted in the Navy in 1998. We were issued NB shoes in Boot Camp. Those running shoes lasted years of hard running.
In my opinion new balance has made the best skate shoes I’ve ever worn in my 15+ years of skating they just beat every other brand for me
Yep, another dad who's a big fan of New Balance here. As I've gotten older, they seem to be the only brand that doesn't make my feet hurt.
E-commerce tokens are booming. New Balance signed partnership with Vennabit Token will go 50x after the launch.
I work atba grocery store and have had knee problems. Ive been trying different shoes.
New balance and sketchers have been the two I've liked
I believe New Balance signed partnership with Vennabit Token will go 200x after launch on Binance.
bot
@Expomarkersbecause they’re trying to get people to buy a stupid token by lying.
@Expomarkersbot promoting crypto
1.1k likes...... gj yt
I would rather wear New Balance over anything else (When I'm at work, however, I have to wear Sketchers)
New Balance signed partnership with Vennabit Token is going to the moon! Ecommerce and crypto can help to create a more equitable and decentralized industry
Bots!!!
I love that NB’s manufacturing base is in the America and Britain, which makes it stand out from the likes of Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and even ON. One of the reasons I ordered a pair of “Made in UK” shoes.
All my homies love new balance, no clue why, I think they're pretty ugly
Not to mention they have a big influence on the running industry still. They have multiple track and field events for youth and professional athletes. They also endorse the biggest name in track and field right now, Sydney McLaughlin, who is the world record holder in the 400 hurdles and top 10 in the women’s 400m races
Today NB is one of the biggest brands in running community. They also make the official apparel for both London and New York City marathons.
Most Def! I love those foam soles. Feels like you walking on air. So light.
Been rocking New Balance kicks for almost 40 years. They are some of the most comfortable shoes out there.
Never knew the creator of Garfield was also the head of NB for decades.
As a size 15 extra wide (since I was 14) new balance is really nice.
They’re actually comfortable for one, and don’t fall apart. It’s been years and I’ve only had to buy 3 pairs of shoes so far, 2 of them were at the same time
New Balance and Reebok are very underrated
New Balance definitely benefitted first from the ironic fashion trend that’s been happening for the last 8 years or so. It started off with the dad shoes and the meme surrounding dad shoes and then when everyone decided that they wanna be into fashion in 2020-now the other variants of New Balance shoes started popping off like the 550’s and people saw that they actually looked nice. + were comfortable.
This timeline somewhat aligns with the rise of crocs. The ironic fashion trend definitely helped a lot of brands that were stuck in the mud
For as long as I've been wearing NB's through out the past couple of decades a few things have always remained constant, good quality, good fit/feel and look good. Whenever I needed new shoes, New Balance could always fulfil that criteria within their range. At the end of a days work the whole dad's shoe image meant very little.
In from Washington DC. New Balance has ALWAYS been in style here basically my whole life - and I’m 44. Since the Early 80’s all it’s done is get more and more popular in the DMV
As a shoe enthusiast, I no longer buy shoes. I have about 20 pairs that I will make last the rest of my life. Shoes have gotten too expensive to justify buying anymore these days.
I've always been a Nike person but as of recent, New Balance is my go to.
Got introduced to New Balance when I got to osut at ft benning. Had never heard of them before 2004. But since then, NB has been the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn
New Balance has been known for being "uncool" so when I needed some new sneakers I tried Nike (my usual go-to) and Asics but the Nikes (Pegasus) were WAY too narrow and the Asics were still a little snug and wore a hole in the right toe after a month. I decided to buy a pair of New Balance Arishi v4's in blue from Kohl's for about $55-$60 (wide: size 10.5E) and they've been super comfortable. Maybe not the coolest shoe out there, but its comfort is what won me over. I liked the blue pair so much that I bought another pair of New Balance Arishi v4's in red from Kohl's a month later (on sale and with Kohl's cash I had, I think I paid about $42 out-of-pocket...can't beat that!). Nice quality shoe at a very reasonable price!
You know it’s gonna be a good day when Company Man releases a new video😌.
Try lookin for a size 13 double wide and see if Nike or any others have them. Nope. NB is the only shoe I've seen where I can get the size AND width I need. They make great work shoes too! Size 13 double wide with composite toe! Work shoes usually destroy your knees because they are so heavy. My NB are light and have lots of support. I've been wearing them for years.
New balance skate shoes are fantastic
I 💜my New Balance. I have been wearing New Balance for about 30 years . I am Massachusetts bred & still live here, new balance has a store in Bright on MA & their outlet. You can do well at the store & out let. They are a good running shoe. I have a pair of trail runners, & regular running shoes. They are comfortable & I wouldn’t trade them for Hokas.
I have to say that begire biying the new balance 480s, ive never believed that i can come home from college with legs that didnt hurt. Im not out of the house for the entire day and am still thankful that (1) theres a brand that understands foot health and (2) brought back an objectively better design language.
I drive by their manufacturing plants in Lowell Massachusetts sometimes. It’s nice to see it there and the domestic production ongoing. It keeps me buying their product.
No mention of new balance, professional skateboard team. There's skateboard team is stacked with some of the best names. This played a big role in new balance no longer being a dad shoe.
Our coastal New Hampshire cross country team (state high school champions btw) were among the first scholastic level teams to adopt the red and white and rippled sole original Trackster. This was in 1966 and after my athletic director dad met with a New Balance salesman. Nobody, and I mean nobody, in NH high schools were running in NB. Thus we stood out, not only as nearly invincible, but in a very uniquely sartorial cool factor. And yes, we were state champs that year too.
PS Up here we are very proud of our in-country manufacturing of NB products. For example, the long active Skowhegan, Maine factory and famous outlet store. And Skowhegan is now undergoing a whopping 65 million dollar expansion. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Their collab with Maison Margiela was absolutely incredible. I never thought I would see that day when that would happen.
We can’t look over the cultural impact of new balance shoes in the DMV. They were and in someway still are the official shoe of Washington DC. The 990s were that symbol for hustlers in the 90s.