Explaining the New Balance 9060
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By Stadium Goods |Explaining the New Balance 9060
A guide to the retro-futuristic New Balance sneaker’s inspiration, collaborations, sizing, and more.
Matt DeSciora
Where would “dad shoes” be without New Balance? While the brand didn’t necessarily start the trend, as many would agree the adidas Yeezy Boost 700 “Wave Runner” and the Balenciaga Triple S were the sneakers that sparked the original buzz behind the dad shoe look, New Balance has had an immeasurable impact on guiding the wave in recent years.
From collaboration with Aimé Leon Dore to bring back the 550 model in 2020, to re-launching its “Made in USA” line in 2021 and 2022, New Balance has made all the right moves to keep the dad shoe wave alive and well, many years after it seemingly came out of nowhere to usurp the sock-like sneaker trend in our culture.
One of the brand’s most impactful moves is debuting the New Balance 9060 in 2022. Inspired by the Y2K-era of sneakers as well as all-time classic NB models like the 991, the 9060 model features many dad shoe-like qualities, but with the futuristic vibe of performance running shoes from the early-to-mid 2000s. In a sense, the 9060 is the shoe that’s most responsible for shifting the direction of the dad shoe trend to the Y2K-style sneaker trend that’s blazing a trail through sneaker culture right now.
To give you a better idea of the New Balance 9060, here’s a quick and handy guide we put together featuring the model’s most essential information including top colorways, collaborations, and sizing.
New Balance 991, a major influence on the 9060
Inspiration
To know more about the New Balance 9060, one must get familiar with the model’s various inspirations, which include several popular sneakers from the 990 line. The 9060 features the “CR” heel support piece from the first 990 shoe and several design components from the 860v2 running shoe, like the in-motion lines of the upper and midsole. Elsewhere, the triangular, jeweled tongue patch is a reference to the shape of the visible ABZORB cushioning pod in the forefoot of the 991. The 9060 was designed to be a futuristic lifestyle shoe that honors the brand’s performance history, and it definitely does exactly that based on these elements.
Joe Freshgoods x New Balance 9060 “Inside Voices”
Collaborations
Just like any great sneaker, the New Balance 9060 has been tapped for a few notable collaborations. Chicago based designer Joe Freshgoods helped launch the sneaker with his “Inside Voices” collaboration in 2022. The other most high-profile, sought-after 9060 collaboration is from Los Angeles streetwear brand Bricks and Wood.
Sizing: How Does the New Balance 9060 Fit?
As many New Balance sneakers typically do, the 9060 fits true to size. That means you can select your standard sneaker size, and the size you usually take when wearing New Balance shoes, when purchasing the 9060.
Where New Balance’s Past, Present and Future Combine: The 9060
The New Balance 9060, inspired by the brand’s 990 and 860 series, offers a fresh take on familiar silhouettes. Its oversized “N” branding, exaggerated midsole, and overall chunky aesthetic also call to mind the two key silhouettes from the early days of the dad shoe trend: the Yeezy Boost 700 and the Balenciaga Triple S. In a way, the 9060 picks up where those models left off years ago while moving the dad shoe aesthetic into the new and exciting era of Y2K-era sneakers.