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New Balance’s Next Dad Shoe Looks So Technical, They Added “Utility” to the Name

The brand’s latest shoe model bridges the gap between heritage and performance, with an extra dose of utility for good measure.

New Balance 1906 UtilityNew Balance

By Jack Seemer

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New Balance dad shoes can take many shapes and forms, from the clean lines of the 2002R to the futuristic sensibilities of the 860v2.

The brand’s latest model, the 1906 Utility, sits somewhere in the middle, bridging the gap between heritage and performance with an extra dose of utility for good measure.

New Balance 1906 Utility
The 1906 Utility combines a bevy of technical features from the ’90s and early 2000s.
New Balance

Tech suite

Like its aforementioned relatives, the brand-new 1906 Utility builds off New Balance’s Abzorb cushioning technology from the early ’90s, with a tailored blend of bouncy Abzorb SBS in the heel.

That theme continues with another innovation, this time from the mid-2000s. New Balance calls it N-ergy, and it resembles a web or lattice structure, while providing superior shock absorption, according to the brand.

New Balance 1906 Utility
N-ergy gives the midsole a web or lattice structure for extra shock absorption.
New Balance

True to the era, the midsole features subtle yellowing by design, giving the 1906 Utility a vintage feel straight out of the box.

New Balance 1906 Utility
Faux yellowing gives the 1906 Utility a retro feel from day one.
New Balance

As for the upper, New Balance wrapped the shoe in so many synthetic overlays — a chief trait of technical Y2K-era lifestyle sneakers — that the brand felt compelled to add “utility” to the name.

Underneath them is a bed of breathable mesh, which comes together behind a TPU heel cage that brings structure and stability.

New Balance 1906 Utility
Synthetic overlays galore.
New Balance

Pricing and availability

The New Balance 1906 Utility is available now in two colorways, black and gray. It costs $160.

New Balance 1906 Utility
The 1906 Utility comes in two colorways, gray and black (pictured).
New Balance

In other New Balance news, the brand is readying to release the Made in USA 1300JP, a that only drops twice every decade.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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