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New Balance's recently-released 610v1 ticks a lot of boxes.

Not only is it a New Balance (which in itself a plus), it’s equipped with a tonne of terrain-tackling characteristics like C-CAP cushioning in place of NB’s archetypal ABZORB concoction, and, most importantly, it looks like a stereotypical 2000s trail shoe.

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I’ll be honest, the initial release of the 610v1 went completely under the Highsnobiety radar, which is usually an intentional move for NB, who seldom shy away from a song and dance when it comes to a release.

The funny thing is, the 610v1, in all its glory, only popped onto my radar following a misspelling on Google. But everything happens for a reason, right?

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After some digging and discovering the myriad of colorways the 610v1 looks to be arriving in, it had me thinking: could this be the brand’s next big silhouette?

Think about it: it's the full package. Like the acclaimed 990 — a generational sneaker series awash with subtle, everyday function — the 610 is what you'd describe as an all-rounder: a sneaker minimal enough to go with almost any outfit, but techy-looking enough to show you still know your onions.

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In fact, thanks to the C-CAP cushioning underfoot, a decent design, and being a banging looking sneaker, the 610 is probably better equipped for day-to-day than the 990, not least thanks to the addition of trail-ready rope laces and a pull tab at the heel.

Sure the 610v1 is just starting out and the 990 (which is now in its sixth evolution) has more than a 40 year head start, but if there’s one thing we can learn from NB, it’s to expect the unexpected. Step aside 990? We’ll see.

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