Our verdict

81
Decent!

New Balance 574 Rosa metallglänsande sneakers budget-friendly price—that’s the New Balance 420s. The running-inspired features of these lifestyle kicks mean you get lightweight footwear with all the stylish flair of a casual one. With a good amount of cushioning, wearers take on everyday adventures with stellar comfort. It also helps that these sneakers are incredibly versatile.

new balance 550 white brown bbw Pros

  • Stylish design
  • Comfortable fit
  • Light
  • Many color options
  • Good quality
  • Versatile design
  • Sturdy

new balance 550 white brown bbw Cons

  • Not so summer-friendly
  • No arch support

Who should buy the New Balance 420

The New Balance 420 is for you if:

  • You are after a sneaker that's light enough to deliver a less tiring experience.
  • A shoe with multiple colorways to choose from to match various outfits is what you prefer.
  • You are looking for a sturdy sneaker that delays buying a replacement for a long time.

New Balance 420 Logo

pace x new balance 327 the pacer

Folks looking for a sneaker that could stay stain-free for extended periods might have to take the NB 420 off their shopping list. That said, the Black New Balance 530 new balance 2002r ensemble de protection contre la pluie New Balance 57/40 if a well-ventilated shoe is what you are after.

New Balance 420 Not Buy2

to know how these New Balance shoes fit

top shoes to honor july 4th new balance have mentioned how comfortable they found these low-top shoes. They could not help but be delighted with the well-fitting experience the New Balance 420 provides.

New Balance 420 Comfort

It ain't heavy

Comfort is maximized by way of the REVlite cushioning system that provides the same durability and responsiveness as other heavier foams but at a 30% lighter weight. Put all of these features together, and you get one sophisticated model that any discerning sneakerhead would be pleased to add to their collection. That said, the NB 420 garnered the appreciation of several owners because of its lightweight nature.

New Balance 420 Light

new balance 550 white brown bbw | Solid quality and sturdiness

A few online shoppers expressed satisfaction with the quality of this model. Moreover, according to a couple of reviews, these low-tops are durable.

New Balance 420 Quality

Lacks ventilation

It has been reported that the New Balance 420 does not offer much breathability.

The adjustable fit of NB 420

New Balance 420s feature a lace-up front closure construction. This allows a custom and snug fit. Although the shoes are now remade as lifestyle sneakers, their running background is very much evident because of the nice hold and support they deliver.

New Balance 420 Lace

Style of the New Balance 420

The New Balance 420's premium pigskin leather covering, along with the durable ripstop fabric, gives it shoes a classy look. Also, the NB 420 was revised to achieve a modern look. It embodies a sporty look with a sleek fit. That said, many buyers fell in love with the stylish appearance of this New Balance pair.

New Balance 420 Style

Tons of adventurous colorways

It helps that these kicks, apart from having a cool retro style, also boast a wide range of color schemes to suit everyone. In other words, multiple color options are available for men and women. Moreover, some users admire the bold colorways of this shoe. 

New Balance 420 Colorways

Missing arch support

NEW BALANCE M992EB BLACK GREY-WHITE. 

New Balance 420 Versatile

Tecnologias New balance 703 Trail Running Trail Running Des Chaussures

  • The silhouette was remade in various versions, including Re-engineered, Deconstructed, and Engineered Knit among others.
  • There’s a version of the New Balance 420s that has an upper made of flexible and breathable mesh.
  • The 420 is one of pro-skater Marquise Henry’s favorite kicks to skate in.

New Balance 420 History

New Balance’s 420s are classic runners that were first released in 1982. The shoes’ design was inspired by classic running shoes from the '70s and '80s, and this can be seen in the 420s’ low soles and slim profile. New Balance developed the 420s under the neutral plane concept. The company describes it as the normal position of the foot in motion and at rest.

When the New Balance 420 shoes were first released, they were considered very futuristic in terms of stability and shock distribution. This was made possible by the ENCAP technology that the brand utilized for the midsoles. ENCAP is a polyurethane shell made with an EVA core that ensures a smooth and stable ride for the user.

The 420s were marketed then as sneakers that further protect the foot. The shoes’ design has not changed in 40 years, but they have undergone a few updates. The shoes’ first updates included an EVA wedge and midsoles that gave a higher degree of durability plus better stability and shock dispersion. The counter was beefed up to reduce the occurrence of injuries from too much overpronation.

The shoes also had a sway bar toe piece which increased the stability of the forefoot. This component lessens the chances of ligament, muscle, and tendon injuries.

The original 420 runners featured an extended saddle that promoted the natural gait cycle of the athlete. The shoes also used the brand’s proprietary Lunaris Pillow—these are Evazote and memory foam-based insoles that are able to mold to the unique contours of the wearer’s foot for a personalized fit. They were added as an extra measure for comfort and shock absorption.

The uppers of these shoes were made of a combination of suede and mesh, which gave it running-specific lightness.

New Balance 420 The new 420s-2

New Balance 420 sneaker collabs and unique releases

The New Balance 420 silhouette has been the subject of quite a few collaborations with an eclectic mix of co-collaborators ranging from a supermodel to a fabric-sourcing business.

In 2009, a year after the reissue of the 420s, New Balance teamed up with design agency and fabric sourcing company, DDC Lab, for a modern reimagining of the classic runners. The result was a deconstructed silhouette utilizing several materials that when put together sounded just a little bit bizarre. The shoes contained nylon Mectex PU, Italian suede, pigskin lining, and Wolverine waterproof leather. However, these somehow worked, and the result was a brilliant take on the retros, complete with cutout branding and soles in eye-catching shades.

New Balance 420 History

Within the same year of the New Balance x DDC Lab collab release, New Balance launched the retro runners again. This time bearing new materials such as see-through Schoeller fabric, dubbed the Schoeller 420s, and metallic nylon, called the Metal-Infused 420s. The shoes that utilized the Schoeller materials were available in three colorways, while the sneakers with metal-infused uppers were offered in two color schemes.

The brand was silent with the 420 silhouettes for a few years until the year 2012, which was the year of the Summer Olympic Games to be held in London. New Balance revisited the 420 along with the NB 574 and came out with the “Road to London” collection. The two iconic NB models were splashed with different lively variations of shades taken from the Union Jack.

New Balance 420 Add Info2

The year 2012 also marked the release of the K-Way collab on New Balance’s 420 shoes. K-way, a company that specializes in producing lightweight, packable jackets for the rainy British weather, took its waterproof nylon fabric and covered the 420s with it. It also made sure to keep the retro shoes in tonal form (with only the white NB branding on the sides for color contrast). Each of the four colorways came in the classic shades of the K-Way jacket.

For 2013, New Balance decided to team up with hipster backpack manufacturer, Herschel Supply Co. The Canadian company dressed one model in a red shade while keeping two others in neutral tones, although all three featured pretty paisley prints in their linings and Herschel-influenced details on the lace deubre. Caramel leather accents on the ‘N’ branding and on the heels provided all the contrast the kicks needed.

This same year, a New Balance 420 silhouette for women and men came out courtesy of the brand’s collaboration with supermodel Heidi Klum. Called the HKNB 420s, the unisex shoes featured a slightly slimmer profile with lightweight white suede and canvas uppers and coral linings and laces.

While the 420s by New Balance continued to receive a few new colorways, probably nothing could compare with the 2015 release in terms of uniqueness. With a spark of creativity, and maybe just a bit of weirdness as well, New Balance gave the model iridescent snakeskin uppers with translucent soles and sparkly black heels, and ‘N’ side panels.