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With roots dating back to more than a century to 1906, New Balance has grown from a small American shoe company into a globally-recognized athletic apparel and footwear brand. With such an expansive history, New Balance now boasts an enormous footwear catalog that includes everything from running shoes to hiking boots to daily-wear sneakers. So, while there’s absolutely no shortage of stellar NB shoes, there are a few models that stand out from the rest as the brand’s most iconic, noteworthy, and/or sought-after items. In an effort to shine a light on some of the company’s best pieces of footwear, we’ve rounded up this handpicked selection of our favorite New Balance shoes currently being sold on eBay.
Guaranteed Genuine
How eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee Works
Traditionally, purchasing premium shoes off of the online auction site has come with some risk, as fakes and knockoffs continue to permeate the market. Well-aware of this unfortunate reality, eBay has recently launched its footwear authenticity guarantee, hiring industry-leading expert third-party authenticators Sneaker Con to hand-inspect and authenticate every new pair of shoes from New Balance (plus 40 other leading footwear brands and designer labels) that are sold for $100 or more — as well as preowned shoes sold for $150 and up.
Offered completely free of charge — including free three-day shipping from the third-party authenticators —eBay’s authenticity guarantee was engineered to be as simple and effective as possible. After a buyer purchases a pair of shoes (that meet the service’s price limit), said shoes are shipped to a team of independent authenticators at Sneaker Con, who meticulously review each pair by hand, utilizing a multi-point inspection process. If the pair is determined to be authentic, the shoes will receive an NFC-enabled tag that provides specific detailed info on the item’s authenticity.
Unpacking Our Picks
Our Favorite New Balance Shoes On eBay
Now that you’ve got your head wrapped around how eBay’s authenticity guarantee works, let’s dive into our choices for our favorite pairs of New Balance footwear currently being offered on the online auction site.
New Balance 237
Released in early February of 2021, the New Balance 237 is a stylish sneaker model that takes ample inspiration from ‘70s era running shoes. Built atop a large-scale ripple herringbone outsole, the 237 features unbacked suede and mesh uppers adorned in oversized “N” logos that come paired with EVA midsoles, an exposed foam tongue, and an asymmetric rubber tip wrap.
New Balance 574
Sporting a hybrid road/trail design, New Balance’s 574 is a thoroughly iconic piece of footwear characterized by its fashion-forward appearance, durability, and comfort. The 574 features a combination of mesh and suede uppers that come decorated in a triple-stacked, color-contrasting “N” logo. Comfort and protection come from EVA foam-cushioned ENCAP midsole cushioning and a durable polyurethane rim. This model is also sold in an enormous variety of colorways.
New Balance X Racer T
Designed for maximum performance on the trails while still looking at home in the city, NB’s X Racer T offers incredible comfort and support thanks to the use of the brand’s ABZORB midsole technology and a cushioned footbed. Other noteworthy elements on these trail running shoes include uppers crafted from a combination of ripstop nylon and synthetic suede, a lace-up closure setup with recessed eyelets, an ultra-grippy rubber outsole, and a soft textile construction lining its interior.
New Balance CORDURA 997H
While the 997H maintains New Balance’s signature design language, the pair also brings with it an added degree of durability, replacing the standard model’s suede and mesh uppers with a more hardwearing amalgamation of suede and CORDURA nylon. It doesn’t end there, however, as the 997H also comes equipped with a midsole and outsole made from lightweight IMEVA.
New Balance Fresh Foam More v2
Hugely benefitting from the use of 3D printing, the New Balance Fresh Foam More v2 is a cutting-edge pair of road running shoes that features the brand’s adaptive Ultra Heel construction and Fresh Foam midsoles — an arrangement that affords remarkable levels of comfort and cushioning, while also boasting stellar energy return. The mesh uppers on these running shoes were also designed to maximize airflow.
New Balance Kawhi Essential
The signature shoe of the L.A. Clippers’ superstar small forward Kawhi Leonard, this pair of New Balance basketball shoes sports a set of mesh and leather uppers backed by Kinetic Stitch quarter panels that offer targeted support and stretch, as well as NB’s FuelCell foam midsoles and a full-length performance plate that was developed specifically for the Los Angeles-born two-time NBA champ. This version of the Kawhi Essential also comes cloaked in a blacked-out monochrome finish juxtaposed with metallic gold branding and trim.
New Balance XC-72
Putting a contemporary spin on New Balance’s signature design language, the XC-72 is a modern pair of sneakers with a vertically-split outsole and a squared toe that’s modeled after 1970s concept car designs. Partially constructed from recycled content, these shoes also feature a single-layer microfiber tongue, suede and mesh uppers, and a stability heel clip with the herringbone outsole pattern from NB’s 620 model.
New Balance x Tokyo Design Studio 574
A top-shelf version of New Balance’s already stylish 574 sneakers, this limited edition variant was born out of a collaboration between the Boston-based footwear brand and Tokyo Design Studio (better known simply as “TDS”). Distinguishing this TDS-spec model from the regular 574 are “N” logo deletes and a welted Vibram Ripple outsole, as well as more premium suede uppers — the latter of which are offered in multiple color options.
New Balance x Tokyo Design Studio Niobium Concept Convertible Boots
Released as part of a collaborative capsule collection between New Balance and Snow Peak back in August of 2020, the TDS Niobium Concept Convertible Boots are a more weatherproof and ruggedized version of New Balance’s MT801 trail running shoe, receiving updates such as NB’s eVent material and toe hooks that can be connected to a set of eVent-constructed gaiters — which were also part of the same capsule.
Todd Snyder x New Balance 992 10th Anniversary
Todd Snyder has previously taken part in numerous collabs with New Balance, though for its 10th anniversary — which was celebrated this year — the New York City-based fashion label teamed up once again with New Balance to deliver a top-shelf, limited-edition version of the brand’s iconic 992 sneakers. In addition to a unique NYC skyline-inspired colorway and “USA” tongue patches, this limited-edition 992 model also features “2011” and “2021” scripts adorning the backs of the heels.
Bonus: New Balance x Snow Peak Niobium Concept 2
Getting its name from the 41st element on the periodic table, this summer-focused pair of tactical hiking sandals feature Vibram Mega Grip outsoles paired with a Fresh Foam X midsole and closed-toe sandal-style uppers crafted from an amalgamation of nylon, leather, and synthetic mesh. Best of all, the Niobium Concept 2 is secured via a pair of New Balance-branded FIDLOCK buckles that are supplemented via a heel strap that can also be removed, allowing the shoe to be worn as a slip-on.
