New Balance 9060 sneakers with a sculpted sole

About this model

New Balance released the 9060 in 2022. It debuted in May in two colourways made with the Chicago designer Joe Freshgoods, an all-new model for his third collaboration with the brand. New Balance's own first colourway, Sea Salt, followed in July. The company presents it as a new take on the 99X series, the line of running shoes that began with the 990 in 1982. The plan was to take familiar 99X parts, scale them up and warp them on purpose, borrowing the look of Y2K-era running shoes, which put their cushioning tech on display.

Almost every detail comes from an older model. The sway bars from the 990 now run across the whole upper, so the shoe seems to be moving even when it stands still. The midsole is a sculpted pod with wavy lines, made in two densities, with the ABZORB and SBS cushioning in plain view. New Balance says ABZORB absorbs impact through a mix of cushioning and resistance to compression. The logo badge on the tongue is based on the 991's lace jewel, and the diamond pattern on the outsole comes from the 860, one of the brand's early-2000s runners.

The upper is mesh with suede overlays, and New Balance specifies pigskin suede. It lists the weight at about 432 grams and files the 9060 with its lifestyle shoes rather than its running range. The parts come from running, but the shoe is meant for everyday wear.

Sources: newbalance.com · newbalance.co.il · Hypebeast, July 2022 · Hypebeast, May 2022