9 Best New Balance Sneakers to Shop in 2025, According to Esquire

The T500 is a certifiable classic. The court sneaker originally dropped in 1982, and it has literally been serving up looks (and real tennis serves) for decades. In the latest iteration, the T500 now has all the upgrades we’d expect from a heritage brand like New Balance: pigskin-suede and nubuck-leather panels that offer an elevated look on the upper, with a perforated toe box designed for performance and breathability too. It’s cool and casual, so even if you aren’t headed to the courts, this sneaker will make your jeans and tee look that much better.

Okay, this shoe hasn’t necessarily gotten the long-haul testing some of the others have (given that it only just dropped this June), but we love what it’s promising. It’s inspired by heritage Y2K designs and merged with newer tech—namely Abzorb sole pods along the length of the foot. This is huge for anyone who likes that cushion feeling many sneakers have on the heel but would rather the whole shoe feel like that. They’re only available in this bold blue right now, but there will more colors soon enough, we are sure.

The 1906 Utility is one of the coolest sneakers out there right now, from NB and beyond. It’s funky with a mesh upper but a ton of neutral overlays, giving it texture and depth but still keeping it low-key with its color palette. They are designed as more of a performance-inspired sneaker—there’s not necessarily the same performance-specific designs you might look for in a workout sneaker—but off the record, these do damn well in the gym too.

Let’s talk about the New Balance 1000—a minty-fresh design that feels like the perfect update to anyone tired of a too-chunky design. The first 1000 was released in 1999, and the latest model still carries the drippy, detailed design. With suede overlays on a breathable synthetic upper, embroidered details, reflective accents, and a segmented sole with cushioning and stability throughout, this is a sneaker that really has it all.

The 9060 is so good. It has a pretty minimal upper but a wild-looking sole, making for an edgy design that’s not too hard to pull off. Its futuristic yet minimalist design makes even jeans and a classic white tee look that much better, with oversize sway bars taking from the 990 sneakers and bigger, wavier lines throughout. The sculpted pod midsole adds some modern flair too, while emphasizing the shock-absorbent midsole. And it should be highlighted that these sneakers are extraordinarily comfortable, molding to your foot and getting even better with time.

The Made in USA 990v6 is an icon, as beloved as it is scoffed at by those who, um, have obviously never worn a pair before. These are crafted, with precision and effort put into every single pair of these shoes, from the pigskin-and-mesh upper to the midfoot saddle to the FuelCell cushioning in the midsole. This one is as performance driven as it is timelessly stylish, and it’s made right here in the US of A, baby. It also has a wide range of sizes and six (!) widths.

If you like techy, silvery sneakers that bring it back to the early aughts, you’ll love the 530. This running shoe is designed to feel good and look even better. Considering it’s crafted with performance tech throughout, that really means something. This style has a shock-absorbent midsole, a breathable mesh-and-synthetic upper, and, of course, metallic accents that are too good to pass up. There are always fresh colorways that make it a really fun shape to play with.

With over a century of production under its belt, it comes as no surprise that New Balance has a handful of iconic shoes in the archives—like the original 740, designed for long-distance, heavy-duty running. Back from the past (but still with its 2000s look), the 740 has a breathable, open knit mesh upper with two-tone overlays, a shock-absorbing midsole, and reflective accents for your nighttime jogs.

The 550 is such a good everyday sneaker. It has a wider fit, with a roomy toe box and room for your feet to actually breathe. We like this especially for longer (and hotter) days, when your feet might swell up a bit. They have a great, solid midsole and come in fun colorways. Wear them with high white socks and light-wash jeans to lean into the ’80s feel.