Mar 26, 2025
The New Balance brand may just be the “comeback kid” of the sneakersphere, dropping iconic sneakers that strike a balance between ultra-comfortable and sensible yet eternally stylish. The New Balance 1000 is the latest revival from the brand. And more than 25 years after its original release, the sneaker is again trending.
Here’s a bit more about the rebirth of these classic lifestyle sneaker:
The year 1999 was a big year in the cultural zeitgeist. Right on the edge of Y2K, 1999 was the height of the dot-com boom, boy bands were taking over the radio waves and “Friends” was in its prime. The 1999 New Balance 1000 release date capitalized on the styles of the era and positioned the silhouette as the best trainer on the market. Interestingly, more than a decade prior, when New Balance released its 990s, its ad copy read: “On a scale of 1,000, this shoe is a 990.” The launch of the New Balance 1000 fulfilled the prophecy that the brand’s designers may or may not have had up their proverbial sleeves.
While the New Balance 1000 didn’t hold as much of an appeal to consumers of the time as the 990s had in the ’80s, they were yet another masterpiece in the brand’s portfolio. They somehow managed to create a dad shoe with the edgier appeal of Nike’s Air Max 97 and 95. A blend of mesh and wavy synthetic or leather paneling creates the shoe’s upper, with nylon ribbon eyelets and a thick foam midsole. The signature rubberized “N” logo rests on the shoe’s sides, along with 1000 branding toward the toebox. Other features of these sneakers include sculpted midsole details created from a combo of polyurethane and ABZORB, with ABZORB cushioning at heel and a Stability Web midfoot shank.
They’ve been out of the sneakersphere for a minute, but that’s recently changed, thanks in part to New Balance’s MADE in USA creative director Teddy Santis, who hyped them on his Instagram in early 2024. A few months later, the brand collabed with Chicago streetwear designer Joe Freshgoods, who released them in a “Black Ice” and a “Pink Mink” colorway. And with that, the U.S.-made New Balance 1000s are back, this time positioned as a casual, lifestyle shoe. However, running shoe testers report that these sneakers are extremely comfortable, breathable and lightweight with excellent lockdown and nice stability.
The trendy retro vibe of these New Balance sneakers makes them exceptionally easy to style with literally any look. Here are a few ways to fire up your fits with the New Balance 1000s:
Get the kids to try a twist on a “Bred” sneaker by adding a red and black shoe to their athletic shorts, T-shirt and crew socks.
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The 1000s are New Balance’s latest revival, combining unmatched comfort with a timeless, effortlessly stylish appeal. Learn everything you need to know with Hibbett.
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