New Balance puts its best foot forward

Though smaller than Nike and Adidas, New Balance is older than its primary competitors, and with sales of $6.5 billion in 2023 (an increase of 23% over the previous year), the Massachusetts-based company best known for running shoes is growing fast. "Sunday Morning" contributor Kelefa Sanneh checks out how New Balance is finding a balance between both fashion and performance.
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[@kjjohnson24]

Been wearing Made In USA New Balances for over a decade and I will never wear anything else as long as quality doesn’t decrease with their increase in popularity.

[@lof7845]

Same here. My favorite.

[@tccragun]

ME TOO!! um…. Until recently (please don’t judge me) I needed some safety shoes for construction/demolition sites and found the off-shore made New Balance ACTEVA. Instead of steel, they use a composite that protects the toe from crushing and the sole from puncture. Meets all the OSHA requirements !

[@jool7793]

Once a company starts using the word premium you should be ready for a price hike

[@kristianj1977]

This has spun me out cause I have a couple of pairs of made in the UK new balances and I thought they were a UK brand lol

[@picanha694]

the suede is so hard to keep clean though

[@pikiwiki]

New Balance all the way. The best width, the best overall performance. Nike is too narrow

[@heetseeker8017]

Do u get the wide versions or are u saying regular new balance is wide enough for a wide foot?

[@pikiwiki]

@@heetseeker8017 fits. a wide foot. The Nike's I've bought have felt narrow

[@jeretso]

Nike toes are super narrow

[@thefpvlife7785]

Try the foot diet and just maybe the Nike sneaker would fit a little better.

[@ValentineHood]

I have no interest in spending $40k on a bag (a piece of leather + labor = $1000 max) imagine paying $39k on this brand. Totally unnecessary. If you are also looking for niche yet fashionable products, *condup* is definitely your best choice. There are many treasures hidden here that have not been discovered by the public

[@joesantamaria5874]

I was introduced to the brand when I took my wife to see a foot and ankle surgeon at University of Pennsylvania, when I noticed that every one of the doctors wore NB. Quite an endorsement.

[@ricodelavega4511]

now they're all wearing Hokas

[@FoundSounds51]

My orthopedic surgeon recommended 990's to me in 1986 to help stabilize a recovering ankle injury. I've been wearing them ever since and never looked back. Excellent shoes.

[@joncharlotteschoen]

Do they make an equivalent to the 990 now? I haven't been able to find anything with as good of quality as they used to decades ago.

[@scmrjim]

New Balance wearer for decades.

[@bellevue260]

I wish they had addressed the Made in USA aspect. It would be nice to see them bring all the manufacturing back here.

[@Oberkommando]

Haha and massacre their revenue by 80%??? The amount of people who are able/willing to spend $300 on a shoe is significantly smaller than the number of people who can spend $100. If NB artificially makes themselves inaccessible to most of the world, then their brand will become lesser known and then even their $300 Sneakers won’t sell as well

[@UmmYeahOk]

@@OberkommandoI’ve never bought a pair of NB for more than $50. My last pair was $38, and I have been wearing them every day since Labor Day Weekend 2023. Now then, my husband bought an insane pair because he was lied to by his podiatrist. Apparently he had to go to a specific store, for a “fitting.” Now then, I have bought several expensive pairs of Nikes that will fit fine in the stores, but would later give me blisters, and even neuropathic pain! I would buy pair after pair of Sketchers until I learned that different foot pain (not the same as what the Nikes did) was caused by them and not my own health. But I mostly went back to NB because I was so sick and tired of the stitching on the big toe coming undone! My last pair, lasting ONE WEEK!! But I remembered the goofy NB design, and the store clerk who sold me a pair in 2001 explaining to me why they had that goofy design… …so that DOESNT happen! 8 months, and no blisters, no neuropathy, and no undone stitching!

[@Oberkommando]

@@UmmYeahOk yeah but if those NB only cost $50, then those were not made in USA. The made in USA cost like $180 pre tax in the USA. In the rest of the world NB is a lot more than expensive. I saw some “made in USA” NB retail for the equivalent of $250 in my country. The cheapest NB cost $80 here but those are made overseas.

[@manatees9823]

@@Oberkommando Not true. Whatever NB you buy in the US cannot compare to what you can get for 100 euros (made in the Netherlands..) in Europe. I've both and the US ones are the BEST!

[@DJ-iv2xo]

Should everybody in China be unemployed?

[@Jiggy609]

I have 550s and they’re so damn comfy and are still in great shape after over a year. Glad they’re resurging

[@kokonana4086]

Don't underestimate Dad shoes. They are super comfy!

[@JRock-vf4fw]

My teen daughter was constantly making fun of my 990 dad shoes. Until I made her try a pair. 😂😂

[@NerdChaser]

As someone who used to wear Nike only.. I switched to New Balance and haven’t looked back. My feet never hurt. As a nurse they have been a game changer.

[@TDD95]

No joke. New balance and Hoka all the way.

[@ryanvincenec3511]

Love me some NB's

[@RobLewis3]

I don't want them to become a brand bigger than Nike or Adidas. I like that they're the smaller underdog. I hope they stay in their niche and keep producing the shoes they've been doing for decades.

[@Dana_inc]

New balance makes the best shoes! Very comfortable!

[@r.claymccullough890]

I have diabetes. My doctor prescribed for me New Balance “813” walking shoes. I get a new pair annually. It’s a great program and a great shoe.

[@9sheri9]

NB 1300 steel blue, 1300 grey/blue/red, 574 Staud, and 996 D Ski retro are my absolute favorites in my current collection 💕

[@Tysonnguyen808]

I had no idea New Balance had a Made in USA line. I’ll try a pair next.

[@Badernismo]

The 992 is the most comfortable shoe that I've used in my life.

[@patricblack1]

They're known for that.

[@applejacks8160]

Grew up just north of Boston listening to hardcore most of my life, these shoes have gotten a lot of love for many years.

[@ThecrazyJH96]

You’re 20+ years to late for all of us in the DC area that’s been wearing them😂

[@lozada1971]

I still have my 993 that I bought over 10 years ago. Best sneakers for people with wide feet.

[@GDavis49]

Yep 👍

[@BLUELEADER78]

I have had at least a dozen pair of New Balance and only one pair started to "fall apart". A piece of the tread has come undone and a part on the toe. Of all the pairs, years and miles this has been the only pair. The others barely showed signs of wear and tear before the soles were completely shot. Great. It's official. I'm a New Balance "fan boy" now. You know what? It's not a bad thing.

[@richard1113]

When I was a kid I wore Converse and then Reebok but sometime in my 20s I switched to New Balance and I've never looked back!

[@hipking23]

That's amazing. We need more of this. Shout out to New Balance

[@jonathanlewis1352]

When New Balance went to China, I left New Balance. They explained to me that they needed to go overseas to be competitive. I didn’t believe it then and I don’t believe it now. They should have stuck with a strictly USA mantra and they would have customer loyalty for generations.

[@johnnytran800]

Are the shoes youre wearing now Made in USA?

[@DomSchiavoni]

What old companies stuck with a strictly USA mantra and are still successful / competitive ?

[@ryanashby2459]

Curious what do you wear?

[@jonathanlewis1352]

Over the decades it has become increasingly more difficult to avoid products from PRC. I do purchase goods manufactured in other countries but I attempt to stay away from Chinese items for various reasons including treatment of workers, forced labor, child labor, patent infringement, etc. I currently wear Grisport, an Italian product. All I’m suggesting is that we need to sustain some American manufacturing that supplies good jobs and good products that can give their workforce a sense of pride and accomplishment. Companies can compete but it may influence their bottom line, executive pay and share prices. Consumers also have to be willing to pay higher prices. I’m not saying there isn’t a trade off, but a company like New Balance had the ability to take a stand and while it initially might have suffered financially, I think we’d all be better off in the long run…

[@jonathanlewis1352]

@@ryanashby2459 I replied in comments. Thanks.

[@nevincaulfield]

I modeled their look book for 2016! 🤙

[@natewill91]

My introduction to New Balance was the 990v5 and never looked back

[@Knitone1]

My Dad owned a small, orthopedic shoe store that was in business for 60+ years. He carried New Balance when they weren't "cool" because he thought they were made well and the came in widths. As soon as they became popular, they wouldn't sell to him anymore so don't give me this BS about we are for the little people.

[@oneanddonetzone3673]

I made the mistake of switching out of new balance running shoes to Nikes and I was plagued with running injuries I switched back and I haven’t had a problem since God bless your new balance! Keep it in the USA!

[@ShadeTV247]

New Balance has been doing a fantastic job. I've enjoyed bringing heightened awareness to the brand as they ascended in 2020!

[@flixgirl1]

My husband and I are retired and walk MILES every day. I've always worn New Balance but have a hard time finding an extra wide. I've started wearing the men's and have never looked back. They are soooooo comfortable and serve me well. Also with the men's shoes I don't have to settle for something pink or sparkly--ugh!

[@josesolano1300]

I only wear USA or UK made NB sneakers, awesome craftsmanship. Worth every penny.

[@jemai15]

I bought my first pair of New Balance 4 years an I really like it. Its the most comfortable sneakers I had. With good stylish designs and at a lower price.

[@SGALAXIA]

Do they come in wide?

[@rambo68]

How are nb 574s.....any good?

[@TheBella2u]

We were given NB in USMC boot camp. 1980 Parris Island, SC.

[@zorak1704]

For work, I’ve been using New Balance 626 non slip for about ten years. Outside of work I wear the standard dad shoes, white New Balance 608.

[@ervicito77]

Bought the New Balance 1080 v12's last year and it was money well-spent. My feet are absolutely grateful that I chose correctly. 😂

[@Micksowagger]

I worked at a New Balance franchise store in LA back in 2010/11/12. Good shoes. Really cool to see the company expanding and reaching newer generations.

[@cristiansanchez3787]

Una de mis marcas favoritas enhorabuena felicidades 👏🏼👏🏼💪🏼🔥

[@TriJV]

So what are the percentages of NB shoes made in the USA and what are the percentages of shoes made in Asia? For the performance running shoes, what is the percentage made in the USA and what is the percentage made in Asia? Finally, how many (both percentage and numbers) are actually cut and stitched in the USA, and how many (both percentage and numbers) are made with bottom units (midsile and outsoles glued together) and stitched uppers coming from Asia?

[@Starburstguy]

New Balance has been my running shoe since 2015. Their wide toe box and wide shoe selection has opened up my comfort for long distances. They offer such a wide selection, in varieties of colors. They are not cheap shoes by any means, but when you put a pair through hundreds of miles and they still hold up and not fall apart, the costs is worth it and then some.

[@wsguntoro3985]

I am a proud, loyal, New Balance fanboy. They're the best at what they did (dad shoes, anti trend)

[@fkutube933]

If i could find the black mesh crosstraining shoes at a store i would buy them everytime. Can not find them anywhere. Maybe a store across town and forget the internet.

[@fonzierello3424]

NB are my daliy… they’re the best!

[@MelissaThompson432]

NB is my go-to shoe because I used to work in food service and NB heavy impact shoes were the only ones that didn't leave me aching. In fact, because I have a broad arch, I wear mens/boys, and they're even more heavy duty than womens.

[@nowthatsactivityllc3906]

I’ve been wearing New Balance for over 30 years

[@pamelabretschneider3780]

I recently purchased a pair. Expecting my 2nd pair to arrive today. Had to exchange the 5.5 because they do run small. For the short time I did have them on my feet, I felt ENGERGIZED!!! I didn't know that Steve Jobs loved his "New Balance" shoes. What an epiphany! I ♥ Apple.... EVERYTHING!!!

[@cylurian]

The biggest problem is that the prices are going up! The quality has not been the same since the 90's.

[@RonaldWilliams-lp3bg]

You know I really like the new style New balance has been putting out lately even though I've always worn those but the new style is really really nice specially the color ways that I've seen 👍

[@markdelao3346]

San Antonio Shoes - SAS in Texas are US made. Yes some NB do come in a wide size up to 6E.

[@elizabethb5210]

I started wearing New Balance in the mid 2000s and something changed with the sizing so I moved to Brooks for my hard to fit feet. I need to give them another try.

[@kahlillmyers9155]

UK New Balance is my favorite, but you can’t go wrong with made in USA products. 1/3 of my sneaker collection is New Balance 👍🏾

[@user-nj1rn3qq2p]

Got my pair

[@pugsrppl]

Just bought my first NBs, 990v6!

[@mofer35]

Willie Nelson wore NB 50 years ago!! So did I!!!✌🏽

[@thefpvlife7785]

Such great sneakers. I wear many different companies sneakers, but I always end up wearing new balance when I run.

[@Reticulosis]

The best shoe I’ve had was the NB minimus (trail running shoe) I would literally buy multiple pairs. I’m down to my last pair. They need to relaunch it again (it was relaunched before)

[@joshuapolite3054]

never wore a NB, might give them a try

[@Drkrod96]

18 pairs new balance love ❤️ it 😂

[@USD_Bug]

Thanks for this recommendation youtube. It's appreciated..

[@Challenge-oo1tb]

the 2 pairs I bought over $200 and over $125 wore out within 6 months of just normal wear at work. Im in a desk roughly 6 hours a day 2 hours walking and nothing traveling more than 500 yards from one building to the next. They are definitely not premium, sadly they are the only ones that offer xx wide.

[@1Tomrider]

I wear NB 1080 v12 w/the Fresh Foam technology for jogging, and they are the best - comfortable, cushiony, durable, and with unparalleled sizing!

[@soniatriana9091]

My favorite fit is New Balance!

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

0:37 What kind of dumb question is that? Why would someone working at New Balance wear anything but New Balance? Yeah, when I go to the crocs store, shockingly all the employees are wearing crocs.

[@sunnyskye213]

exspensive & a Company 'discount' incentive; ALL IT TAKES.....😂

[@sunnyskye213]

OUTSOURCING; NOTHING NEW ABOUT THAT; CHEAP.....😮

[@user-wr6rx3iw1u]

I read something that Adidas does the same. No one says the name "Nike" they just say "that other brand" or something indirect.

[@DOHCtorJ]

You say something is dumb, and then go to the crocs store. And isn't it ironic....

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

@@DOHCtorJ what?

[@SaveTheEarth8202]

Big Up to New Balance❤

[@ericvillarreal1618]

New balance let's good!!!

[@petercharron3268]

Wow, Lawrence Mass where my dad was born in 1906 and Methuen Mass where my great uncle was mayor 100 years ago. Where do we get US made NB

[@319vegeta5]

Does anyone know what model shoe the NB rep is wearing in this video?

[@armandomorgado1625]

I found a used pair of NB USA 990 and I love them more than my Nike and Jordan’s sneakers 😂😂😂so comfy

[@ed52369]

I prefer Brooks. Best shoe for me. But I wish the best for NB. Great history.

[@JR-ji5sx]

I like their shoes but does that N have to always be so big. Maybe just put it on the back so the shoe can look more clean without being a banner

[@jnyfumare]

I went with Danner after I could no longer find New Balance 993 made in USA.

[@nomad1517]

Best bang for your buck shoes in my opinion. I have never had any issues with them. Been my go to since I was a kid.

[@Vagabond824]

New balance makes the best feeling and best-looking shoes. And they make many pairs in the USA and the UK.

[@taiwansivispacemparabellum9546]

4:44 “Low-end Premium” 😂

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

Why would workers wearing their own product be a shock to this reporter?

[@Shane1944.]

Because sadly it is common these days for garment workers in America to wear competitor products because they don’t care. Look to small businesses in the US and particularly other western countries for greater rates of brand loyalty and passion for the goods they make.

[@southrichmondtofl]

The FIGS New balance are Sick!!! And the 440 V2 as well.

[@rcisneros8567]

NB has three sales models. Made abroad with foreign products, Assembled in the USA with foreign products and Made in the USA. It's also the ONLY one that is still made in the USA.

[@johnnytran800]

The company wouldnt survive if ALL their shoes were made in USA

[@Gearup424]

We need a composite toe 550 😊

[@paulkoller8104]

I wonder how much New Balance paid CBS to do this commercial.

[@JParkSD]

Love NB; especially the Made in USA

[@JostenDooley]

I sport new balances to avoid a narrow path

[@user-vv6fv3uk8n]

Great sneakers, the hold up, even the ones made overseas they don't cut quality or corners. They last so long that you will give up on the sneakers before they give up on you.

[@evanandersen64]

In terms of running, Asics is still my favorite.

[@maltlickey]

The absolute best. Visit an NBL and get a proper fitting. Most people don’t know that New Balances running and performance line is very specialized for different foot types and foot conditions. Even their lifestyle and streetwear sneakers blow the other big brands away as far as quality and support.

[@tingokuman]

I wish they would bring back AVIA tennis shoes.

[@seadweller386]

NB 998❗️Made in USA🔥🔥🔥

[@gabrielleparis3532]

The New Balance shoes have a no roll to the sides technology and has saved me from many falls I had with other sneakers.

[@kevinhoward9593]

I hate when people call them "Tennis Shoes" like its 1930 or something. The Navy used to uses them. they were nice.

[@ivanjrn]

I’m still waiting for an Ohtani sneaker to buy my first pair of New Balance sneakers. I wonder what’s taking them so long.

[@mattski1979]

My Dad always called em tennis shoes.

[@gtc1554]

New balance is quality

[@dbrandon4528]

I’ll buy a NB before most any other brand

[@___beyondhorizon4664]

Collaborate with designer is always a money maker, it drives sneakerhead crazy. My ex collected running shoes, has more shoes than me and the catalogs keeps coming! I don't have a serious shoes addiction, i do like sandal 👡,.i spent my money on world travel!

[@jamiemckelvie342]

If Jamie Foy can jump down massive sets of stairs in them skating, that’s good enough for me

[@peterdaniel66]

They should look at HOKA and copy them. Best shoe out there by far

[@steveconn]

Rubber Sole!

[@obey2dmax]

New Balance Tiers are as follows: Made in China or Vietnam has around $100 price point Made in US has around $225 price point Made in UK has $300 price point. The quality of the latter two is second to none. I'd pick NB over Nike and Adidas any day for comfort.

[@abeperdomo1401]

New balance is taking over

[@erose1544]

I love NB but would like them to make more shoes for wide feet. A lot of their shoes run narrow and I can’t buy them to run in. #yourmoveNB

[@FreshlySnipes]

Didn’t know they were made in America. I will now only wear NB 🇺🇸

[@jeretso]

Most of my Nike Air shoes that I use daily leak eventually. My old NB last forever and I use them to mow the lawn.

[@guslevy3506]

I have run 6 days per week for decades. I’ve worn NB shoes because they are comfortable, have nice support and an American brand. But mostly, I wear NB because Nike and Adidas shoes are not made for wide feet…