The Painfully Sleek New Balance Sneaker Reheating Retro Runner Nachos
Following a runway debut earlier this year, New Balance's 471 sneaker takes its first steps into the sneaker world. The Boston brand's latest sporty lifestyle model is a low-cut running shoe that does throwback one better.
New Balance has already prepared a few solid colorways of the retro-style 471 sneaker, which shares the likeness of Nike's timeless Daybreak (but in old-school New Balance clothes).
"Arid Stone" is the latest 471 colorway, which not only looks good but truly captures the essence of the classic-looking lace-up sneaker (it's a new shoe that looks like New Balance's old running models).
First debuting as part of the brand's Grey Day collection, the New Balance 471 "Arid Stone" sees the model wrapped in satisfying vintage-style grey shades. The scheme tops the shoe's signature crisp nylon and hairy suede uppers, resulting in this worn-in look as if New Balance plucked the all-new sneaker straight from its activewear archives.
But it didn't.
Junya Watanabe's MAN line currently has its own muted spin on New Balance's 471 shoe on the way, which debuted at the brand's Fall/Winter 2025 presentation in January of this very year.
The COMME des GARÇONS sub-label has also taken other New Balance hits, such as its Minimus shoes and 1906 sneaker-loafer, for collaborative outings in the past. Mostly, the Junya New Balance shoes are only mildly changed, but that only outlines the core qualities of the sporty sneakers.
Everything that Junya touches turns to gold, basically.
Who knows? The New Balance 471 may be the next golden NB sneaker. It's certainly stylish enough. It doesn't even need a Miu Miu twist — though that certainly wouldn't hurt.
As we speak, the New Balance 471 "Arid Stone" sneakers are currently available at retailers like KITH and CNCPTS for just 100 bucks.
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