The best New Balance sneakers for men have come a long way. So let’s start at the beginning: In 1906, the New Balance Arch Support Company set up shop in Massachusetts, a state it still calls home today. In the decades that followed, the company gradually ditched its focus on prescription footwear, pivoted to performance running shoes, and transformed itself into a multi-billion dollar footwear juggernaut in the process. Sound unlikely? That’s only the half of it. Because somewhere down the line, New Balance also perfected a rare form of footwear alchemy, churning out chunky, geriatric-adjacent sneakers worn by, as the brand’s own tagline goes, “supermodels in London and dads in Ohio”—plus a growing cohort of downtown scenesters, jet-setting fashion insiders, and just about every famously stylish person between.

The last few years have marked a crucial turning point for the brand, cementing New Balance’s status as a major player in the footwear arena, bolstered by its newfound reputation as a purveyor of genuine cool-guy footwear—helped along by collaborations with Issey Miyake, Miu Miu, and most recently, those viral Junya Watanabe loafers. So what better way to cap off its historic run than with a guide to its most enduring silhouettes, a jam-packed list that (mostly) eschews collaborations in favor of the OG models you can actually buy—and helps to explain how a sleepy arch support company become one of the hottest sneaker brands on the planet.

The New Balance 990v4

When the 990v3 hit the market a little over a decade ago, New Balance was hardly the unlikely proprietor of cool it is today. It had just been roasted on the international stage in Crazy, Stupid, Love (by Ryan Gosling, no less) which, for a less resilient label, might have been a death sentence, cementing its status as nothing more than a geriatric standby. Instead, the debut of the 990v3 marked a major turning point for the brand, catalyzing a second act the brand is still enjoying.

In 2016, the brand slightly refined its design with the 990v4, then supercharged the style’s appeal with the help of some timely collaborations with the likes of Aimé Leon Dore, Joe Freshgoods and Auralee. Today, even as we’re up to the 990v6, it’s the the 990v4 that remains one of the most popular shoes the brand sells. It’s one of the best sneakers on the market, largely because it captures what makes New Balance such a powerhouse: it’s comfortable, reliable, deceptively stylish, and still assiduously crafted in the US.

The New Balance 2002R

When New Balance released the 2002R in 2010 it cost $250, rendering the made-in-USA runner a tough sell at the height of the recession. So when the brand brought the sneaker back a decade later as a street-first style, it came with a welcome twist: an atypically accessible price point. What’s more, 2024 seemed to be an extra-special year for the silhouette, highlighted through its JJJJound Gore-tex collaboration, and the birth of the 2002R mule protection pack.

The 990s might be the 2002R’s closest aesthetic relative, but dad shoe connoisseurs will note the latter’s more intricate upper paneling and distinct sole unit, a flourish that cribs freely from the early-aughts runners. It’s also worth saying that this is an unbelievably comfortable shoe, with a heavily padded collar and ABZORB foam rubber midsole.

The New Balance 530

How do you make a prototypical dad shoe feel even dadlier? If you’re New Balance, you introduce the 530, which ditched the brand’s legendary gray suede uppers in favor of pristine white mesh—lending this early-’90s classic a sporty-but-ready-to-mow-the-lawn energy. Vaunted footwear designer Salehe Bembury chose the style for his own New Balance collaboration, as did that little-known Italian designer… Miu Miu. While the latter’s take comes in at over $1,000, the other great joy of the original 530 silhouette is that it can still be snagged today for just $95.

The New Balance 993

To the naked eye, the 993 might not seem all that different from its older siblings. It isn’t—not really, at least. What distinguishes it from its predecessors are the details, a combination of flourishes culled from earlier silhouettes that add up to one of the best chunky runners in New Balance’s repertoire. Taken in aggregate, the 993 offers proof that sneaker brands don’t have to reinvent the wheel with every new release—a revised midsole here and a reshaped toe box there are more than enough to fix what ain’t broke, and the 993 is about as close as it gets to pure, flawless iteration.

The New Balance M1000

Here comes the chunk! Returning late last year, the New Balance M1000 presents a more unique silhouette than most of the other sneakers on this list. Embracing a tough, utilitarian aesthetic, the M1000 comes in a premium mesh and leather upper, and has also seduced the likes of Joe Freshgoods and Aimé Leon Dore, who recently released their take on the shape. But to be honest, the general release colorways get the job done on their own. If you’re looking for a sneaker to match your baggy sweatsuit, this is a lay-up.

The New Balance WRPD Runner

Now here is a funky-looking fellow. The WRPD runner was first seen in 2023 at Auralee’s celebrated Paris runway show, as models bounced down the runway in single-color versions of it. With its exaggerated proportions and fluid shape, the model embodies the rising trend of more sculptural footwear now being seen across the sneaker-verse. As for how it feels to wear, the WRPD Runner is made with lightweight, nitrogen-infused cushioning, breathable mesh, and grippy rubber down below. So, in a word: Good.

The New Balance 991 V2

First released in 2001, at the time the 991 set the standard for modern runners. Embraced as a lifestyle shoe today, in 2023 the brand released the V2 (with the help of Stone Island), before the silhouette quickly made its way into the main line. Today, the shoe is another collaboration favourite, as shown by retail juggernauts like Kith and Dover Street Market signing up to offer their take on the style. As for comfort, the 991 v2 is updated with a full-length FuelCell midsole, and the brand’s ABZORB SBS pods in the heels for all-day cushioning. This was a runner’s shoe, after all.

The New Balance 1906R

The 1906R first hit shelves in 2010, but it’s never felt more relevant. Thirteen years after its debut, silver-laden, mesh-adorned kicks are everywhere, and as folks rush to scoop up the latest pair of iPod-era trainers, the 1906R remains a heavyweight contender for the best of them all. It’s chunky, sporty and comes in a ton of colorways—the 1906R is a trainer with a big T, and with the sports-core trend going nowhere, neither will it.

The New Balance 550

Way back in 2020, Teddy Santis, fresh off his appointment as creative director of New Balance’s MADE in USA sub-line, struck gold when he resuscitated the 550, an all-but-forgotten gem from the brand’s archives. Quickly, the chunky, warm 550 became a fierce rival to the other great everyday leather sneakers—the Adidas Sambas, Reebok Club Cs—and even though they might seem a touch basic at this point, sometimes something is “basic” because it’s…really good.