I love sneakers, and I wear them almost every day off. I have been wearing New Balance sneakers for about 20 years now.
New Balance sneakers are very popular, and you can often see people wearing them on the streets. I usually buy three pairs of shoes that I like, so I always have three pairs of New Balance sneakers. Because they are sneakers, the heels, soles and uppers will deteriorate and eventually become unusable, but because I rotate my three pairs, they last quite a while.
At the moment, I'm wearing a rotation of three pairs of shoes: the 1700 series that I'm introducing here, and the 991 series in beige and grey.
Before this lineup, I liked the 998 series and used to wear them, but the soles and heels wore out and I had to throw them away. When I tried to buy a replacement 998 series, they had been discontinued and I couldn't buy them, so I bought the 1700 series, which has a similar design, and I'm wearing those now.
One of my rules for buying New Balance shoes is to buy UK models with a small N mark.
I didn't set this rule out on purpose, but I think it's because I used to shop a lot at Barneys New York, and I think that the fact that many of the New Balance shoes stocked by select shops like Barneys New York were UK models had an influence on me. I like the design with the small N mark, and I've continued to use UK series shoes ever since.
The New Balance is comfortable to walk in, the mesh upper provides good breathability, and the material and thickness of the sole are just right, so you don't get tired even after walking for a long time. I wear them without thinking about it, but I've become so used to the benefits of them that I find it hard to use other sneakers for a long time.
The 1700 series uses several designs and technologies that are adopted in New Balance's basic design, and the excellent cushioning that is also a feature of New Balance leads to ease of wear. While it is a conservative model, it can be enjoyed with a variety of clothes, from jeans and chinos to shorts.
The chunky, classic design is a feature of the 1000 series.
- Pigskin suede/mesh combination upper material
- Rubber sole
- Good breathability thanks to the mesh upper
- Comfortable to walk in thanks to the sole material and shape developed through research
- Sneaker-like design based on functionality
- Classic design that has remained unchanged for many years
- Due to the design of the sole, which is cushioned for easy walking, when driving a car with a manual transmission, the soles are not as good for operating the accelerator, brake and clutch as flat sneakers with thin, hard soles, but this is not a problem once you get used to it.
- When riding a road bike with clipless pedals in sneakers, you get the same feeling as in a car, as if the soft sole is letting some of the force of your foot down. If you get used to it, there's no problem.
The New Balance 1000 series was originally designed for running, but its functional beauty has been sublimated into fashion, and many people enjoy them as fashion items. One point of concern is that it is said that the good cushioning of the sole makes it difficult to operate a manual car or ride a road bike, but for most people this is not a problem at all, so it is a very good sneaker with no weaknesses.
NEW BALANCE Official Website
I buy my New Balance shoes at New Balance Roppongi 19:06, which is located in Tokyo Midtown. New Balance stores tend to get crowded, but if you go to New Balance Roppongi 19:06 on a weekday, you can shop relatively slowly and have a professional fitter help you choose a pair that really fits your feet.
New Balance also has a well-developed official website, and if you know your size, you can buy online.
