New Balance Sneakers for Men

Riley's daughter Eleanor and her husband, Paul Kidd, bought the company in 1956. By 1961, the couple made the first run of sneakers available to the public, a Trackster model with a unique ripple sole. In what would later become a key calling card for the brand, New Balance dipped into its foot-support history and created the shoes in multiple widths to better match the needs of customers. The outsole on the 1961 Trackster was popular with cross-country runners. It remained a relatively small, local operation until the 1972 purchase of the brand by Jim Davis. That new ownership, timed with the soaring growth in popularity of running as a hobby in the United States, launched a renewed brand focus on footwear.

In 1976, the New Balance N logo appeared on a sneaker for the first time — on the New Balance 320 — and in the 1980s, New Balance continued a steady onslaught of new products in both the footwear and apparel arenas.

New Balance has never wavered from its original running heritage — but over time, the brand has explored new territory, launching a skateboarding shoe line to tap into a lifestyle culture the running silhouettes couldn't reach. New Balance also became a crucial player in cleated footwear, particularly in baseball. And the company's move into tennis continues to grow today.

Technological advancements continue for the brand, with its Fresh Foam technology from 2014 still one of the most popular it offers. New Balance made further waves in 2018 by signing NBA star Kawhi Leonard, signifying a move into performance basketball and embracing Leonard's subdued personality that matched the ethos of the brand.

Along the way, New Balance has remained a staple of culture by embracing the "dad shoe" label of the brand while creating fresh perspectives on classic designs. New Balance embraced its popularity across multiple demographics with the marketing line: "Worn by supermodels in London and Dads in Ohio."

New Balance's strong emphasis on running doesn't mean ignoring the need for high-quality footwear in other sports. New Balance produced one of the most-worn cleats in Major League Baseball and offered a popular on-court tennis model to go along with its growing soccer and performance basketball lines. But across collectors and collaborators, the running heritage still speaks the loudest.

• The launch of the New Balance 320 in 1976 offered a couple of firsts. It started the company's numeric naming system and debuted the N logo on its footwear. Modern-day versions of the 320 series — such as 2020's 327 model — continue to give this sneaker relevant cultural moments.


• The 990 series made waves in 1982 when it became the first athletic sneaker priced at $100. The high-end running model with ENCAP cushioning soon became a lifestyle status symbol. The addition of the 991 in 2001, worn by Steve Jobs, brought grey suede into the limelight, and the 990 series remains the most remade silhouette of the brand.

• The 574 brought New Balance out of its storied grey history in 1988. The running shoe still offered technical advances of the day but did so in a colorful new aesthetic.


• When Bill Clinton was seen running in 1993's New Balance 1500, it helped spark further popularity in the runner (Barack Obama was known for the New Balance 990). Other presidents have enjoyed New Balance for its robust Made in the USA program, which includes many shoes made in New England factories.