When most people think of New Balance, images of retro runners and Y2K-era trainers probably come to mind first.
And why not? The brand continues to double down on both fronts — and not just with reissues. Even new sneaker designs, like the 471 and Abzorb 2000, follow the visual and technical templates laid down by their forerunners.
The New Balance Allerdale, meanwhile, is equally inspired by the past. But it charts its own course as a refined walking shoe inspired by the Flimby factory behind New Balance’s Made in UK sub-brand.
And, thanks to the input of a goated menswear label, the overlooked silhouette may yet became New Balance’s viral hit of the year.
Walk the walk
Drawing on 1980s walking shoes that evoke the leisurely lifestyle of Cumbria, England, the Allerdale debuted in early 2025 as an orthopedic-adjacent model made with high-quality leathers and a semi-technical outsole.
