American manufacturer of sports shoes and clothing. Home distinctive feature of the manufacturer is that all the products he creates are made at local (American) factories, while other companies have begun to massively transfer their production to Asian countries. About 70% of products carry a proud inscription "Made in the USA"(or "Made in UK", for Europe, since 1982). On the remaining 30%, the inscription is a little more modest. «Assembled in the USA»- this is in cases where components have to be imported from abroad.

The company was founded in 1906 by an English immigrant, William Riley. Then she was called New Balance Arch Support Company. The name comes from an invention by Riley, who developed a new support system for shoes. The idea was taken from wildlife - it was based on the design of a bird's paw, which, as you know, has three supports. phrase symbolized the excellent balance when walking, which provided the company's products.

In 1954, the company is acquired by a certain Paul Kidd (Paul Kidd). Together with his wife Eleanor (Eleanor), he decides to focus on sports shoes. The decision turned out to be very successful, the company's revenues begin to grow. Then the new name of the company appears - New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., which is still in use today.

1961 was marked by the appearance of the model trackster- the first sports shoes with grooved soles. Enough long time product sales did not go too well - periods of growth were followed by periods of stagnation. Until 1972, when during the sporting event known as the Boston Marathon (Boston Marathon), the company is not acquired by Jim Davis (Jim Davis). The new management benefited the company. Shoes are beginning to be recognized not only in the USA, but also in Europe. Now it can be found everywhere.

To date, the company produces the most diverse sports shoes designed for various kinds sports. A major customer is the US Army. Since 1998, the company has regularly hosted a non-commercial women-only event. girls on the run, which aims to help teenage girls from families in need to join the sport.

The company's headquarters is located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.).

Interesting fact:

Steve Jobs, founder Apple also became famous for the fact that last years life preferred only three things in clothes: sneakers, jeans Levi's and a turtleneck from St. Croix Collections .

From sneakers, he preferred the model 992 . By the way, there is information that before he preferred shoes from Adidas.

American manufacturer of sports shoes and clothing. The main distinguishing feature of New Balance is that all the products it creates are made in local (American) factories, while other companies have begun to massively transfer their production to Asian countries.

how it all began:

Initially, the company had a very mediocre attitude to sports.

In 1906, an immigrant from England, William Riley, founded a laboratory for the development and production of orthopedic shoes in Belmont (USA).

Surprisingly, the inspiration for Riley was an ordinary chicken.

Watching the chicken, he noticed that the chicken foot is very stable due to the three points of support.

This idea was implemented in the design support system his orthopedic shoes.

A special arch support created a support for the heel of the leg at three points.

The company producing such shoes received some recognition and became known as the New Balance Arch Company.

In 1934, Riley joined the armed forces, where he met Arthur Hall, who at that time distributed orthopedic shoes to police officers and other professions where there was a load on the foot.

As a result, Riley and Hall became partners. In 1938, the first running shoes for a local sports club, designed by Riley, were released.

AT 1940 year in it for the first time participate in competitions, after which the company begins to produce custom-made shoes for athletes, involved in not only running, but also baseball, basketball, tennis and boxing.

In 1950, the company already had its fans. New Balance has established itself as a manufacturer of high quality footwear. In 1954, the company changes ownership. The new owner is Paul Kidd (Paul Kidd), who was married to the daughter of Arthur Hall, ie. in fact, the reins of government were still in the family. Since 1954, New Balance began to produce exclusively sports shoes and became a serious player in the US market.

At that time, running and sports became fashionable in the USA. Therefore, the business of the company began to go more than successfully. So Poll Kidd decides to give the company its current name: New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.

In 1962, the brand New Balance has a very successful model of running shoes Trakster (Trackster). This model was the first to have a wavy outsole pattern (recall that nike also had a waffle sole).

In 1972, the company changed hands again. On the day of the Boston Marathon, Jim S. Davis becomes the head of the company. It is worth noting that at that time the entire company consisted of 6 people who sewed 30 pairs of Trackster shoes per day.

For 4 years of leadership, Jim Davis seriously develops the company.

So in 1976, a new model of New Balance 320 sneakers was released.

Runner's World magazine awards her first place among running shoes: "The New Balance M320 is recognized as the best model of the year for the introduction of such innovations as a high, tight heel counter, as well as replacing the leather tongue with a new one"

In 1978, more than 6 people work for the company. A New Balance store opens in England, and a factory in Ireland that manufactures New Balance products for the European market. In addition, the company, in addition to shoes, begins to produce sportswear.

In the period from 1992 to 1999, the company has been developing dynamically, it has the highest and most stable annual sales growth. So New Balance takes 4th place in the production of sports shoes (the first 3 places are obviously shared by nike, adidas and reebok).

In 2000, New Balance's footwear production reached 45 million pairs a year, with sales exceeding the one billion mark. The company's products are sold in 65 countries on all continents. The head office of the company moves to Boston.

Interesting fact:

Steve Jobs, founderApple, became famous for the fact that in the last years of his life he preferred only three things in clothes: sneakersnew balance, jeans Levi's and a turtleneck from St. Croix Collections.

From sneakers, he preferred the model992 . By the way, there is information thatnew balancehe preferred shoesAdidas.

New Balance began its history in 1906. The founder of the plant, William Wrightley, once drew attention to the most ordinary chicken, or rather, to her legs, and how she keeps on them. After all, it is known that the most stable figures are those that have three points of support at their base. Based on these facts, W. Wrightley designed a model of shoes in which arch supports were located that supported the foot in the correct position, imitating the principle of a chicken paw in shoes. Thus, the first orthopedic model appeared, which is in demand to this day.

New Balance sneakers are very popular among people who prefer a combination of such important parameters as excellent quality, a high level of convenience and comfort. The innovative technologies used by New Balance will not let your feet get tired, even when wearing these shoes for a long time.

Not unimportant is the fact that in terms of maintaining a high level of quality and using the most advanced technologies, New Balance conducts a competent financial policy, which allows it to be popular among athletes and ordinary youth, as well as among retirees.

It is worth mentioning right away that New Balance manufactures its products not only in the USA, but also in countries such as England, Vietnam and China. Sneakers made in these countries also meet all the requirements and standards of New Balance.

New Balance - let's talk about the details

All original New Balance shoes are constructed with just two lasts, the SL-1 and SL-2. The first of these is characterized by a dense heel, a moderate instep and a standard toe, it suits people with a narrow or medium foot and squeezes the foot more tightly. The second has a more spacious forefoot, more instep, and a tighter heel, making it suitable for medium to wide feet. In addition, there are two types of soles made using Encap and Abzorb technology.

The difference between them is significant. So, Encap is designed for people with a wide foot. The sole is elastic, springy and perfectly protects the foot from bumps pavement. This characteristic is suitable for off-road driving. In such shoes, the legs are not overloaded, and fatigue in them occurs much later.

The Encap sole in combination with a reinforced heel is recommended for people with orthopedic problems - valgus and varus, i.e. with a primary support on the outer or inner edge of the foot. The Abzorb outsole is softer and more pliable, with a smooth ride. It is a great help for people with injuries of the arch of the foot and ankle. This is due to the increased soft-spring cushioning of the sole and damping the impact of the foot on the ground while running.

Features of original and fake New Balance sneakers

Overall build quality

New Balance has both high-tech "complex" models and relatively "easy" retro sneakers to produce. Some models may be made in the UK and USA, some in Asia. However, in no case are crooked seams, sloppy stitching or glue sticking out of the sole unacceptable for the original. The general negligence of execution, the obvious "cheapness" of materials make it clear to us that this is a very crude fake. All logo embroidery for all editions of New Balance is always done carefully. All labels are easy to read. The lines are straight. Approximately like this.

materials

The model is made strictly from those materials that are laid down by technology. First of all, this concerns the materials of the sole. So, having coveted a low price, for example, New Balance 998, you can get “sneakers” not on the technologically advanced elastic Abzorb sole, but on a completely nameless heavy piece of rubber or polyurethane. There can be no question of any convenience when wearing such sneakers. In addition, the name of the technology by which the sole is made is always written on its side (for example, for 998 it is Abzorb, for 577 it is Encap). Uneven sloppy embroidery, as mentioned above, clearly indicates the non-original goods. We also see cloth language, which is not used in original model new Balance 998.

Logos and embroideries

All logos indicating the manufacturer and model from New Balance are applied to front side language. For example, if this is model 998, then it is written in the language - 998 new balance. All lettering is equal.

The model is never indicated on the back. If you see this, then you have a fake.

Also for English editions, the inscription "Made in UK" is embroidered in the language. Also in this case, the image of the flag of Great Britain can be applied to the tongue and back. However, if you see the English edition of New Balance without a flag, this does not mean that you have a fake in front of you. For example, in some editions of the 577 model, the flag is missing, while in front of you the sneakers are of the English assembly.

Also, the name of the model is duplicated on the back of the tongue on the label, along with the size in the American, English, European and sometimes Japanese size lines. The country of manufacture must be indicated on the label. The clearest evidence that we have “free creations” of Chinese shoemakers is the incorrect image of the logo, the addition of details that do not exist in the original products, and sometimes simply a distortion of the name of the original manufacturer.

Package

New Balance's packaging is standardized. As a rule, sports and inexpensive touring models are packaged in a blue and red box, while lifestile models are packaged in light-colored boxes made of unpainted cardboard with the words “achieve New Balance“.

For models made in the UK, the same box marked "made in England" can be used. At the moment, all lines can be packed in regular blue-red boxes. This is New Balance's most popular packaging. For some publications (for example, some models made in USA), this box can be used: On the side of the package, a sticker with a barcode is obligatory indicating the size in the US/UK/EUR grid, weight and model name. In addition, the barcode on the box must match the barcode on the label located on the back of the tongue.

Insole and tongue

The insole will help to distinguish the original New Balance from a fake. Most often, copies do not differ in special quality, they only have a shoe size. The original product is fundamentally different. There is no pair size on the insole, only the company logo should be printed on it. You can also distinguish the original New Balance from a fake by examining the inner “tongue” of the shoe. A small sticker should contain information about the size, the country in which the pair was made, the model number and the QR code. If you dedicate the label with ultraviolet light, the company logo will appear.

Sole

To distinguish the original New Balance from a fake, you must definitely inspect the sole. It should be of high quality, most often black. You should bend the sneakers, if they are soft and elastic, then most likely they are original products. When a pair does not bend, this indicates that a rough copy is in the hands. If you look at the heel, the original New Balance will have the label and NB badge sewn in. Most often, a fake is devoid of such trifles, or they are attached with glue, and the work itself is done carelessly.

Recently, we are increasingly confronted with fake New Balance shoes, some of which are quite difficult to "expose". Therefore, you probably wondered more than once: how to distinguish original New Balance sneakers from a fake?

The New Balance team has come up with a surefire way to identify the authenticity of our sneakers. You can do this even at home using an ultraviolet flashlight or lamp: You need to shine ultraviolet light on inner part"tongue" and the New Balance logos should be highlighted.

Thus, you are now protected from fakes! Buy the original and you will be 100% satisfied with the purchase! 🙂

Attention: on sneakers made in England, the logo does not glow due to the peculiarities of production at the New Balance factory in Flimby - here the label is applied with paint. But in the near future, methods for determining "English originals" from fakes will definitely be developed.

Where to buy the original?

In order to 100% rid yourself of problems with fakes, it is best to purchase New Balance sneakers (and other brands too) in online stores specializing in such a product. In principle, all of the above recommendations relate to a situation where the buyer saw a product at a good price from a private seller and is tormented by doubts. In this case, it is worth considering in detail the photos of the product. Also, do not be shy to ask for real photos of the lot, because. the description may be standard, and the photographs may be from the manufacturer's website. In any case, if you are not sure about the product and the seller, it is better to refuse the purchase and purchase this product in a trusted store. Here are some of them.

• http://www.newbalance.com Official website of the brand. The store only ships within the US. However, people successfully order there to the addresses of mailforwarders companies. In addition, only on the official website you can order customized New Balance for yourself, “painted” by you personally in the designer on the website. This option is currently available for models 574, 998 and 993.
• www.pickyourshoes.com The largest online sneaker store in the USA. Largest selection of sizes and colors. If you are looking for new items, then you should look first of all just here. New Balance made in USA are placed in a separate category. The store has direct delivery by EMS. Although, in some cases, it may be cheaper to send an order to an intermediary.
• www.size.co.uk One of the most famous British sneaker shops. There is direct (and very inexpensive) shipping. However, the store does not deduct VAT.
• www.endclothing.co.uk Also the most popular British store with excellent choice new balance. Very good prices during discounts, automatic VAT deduction and fast express delivery.

As for sellers on Ebay, you can find quite worthy New Balance sneakers there, and it is on this site that you should first of all look if the buyer is interested in some archival edition that is already difficult to buy in stores.

Nicholas Maxwell

I can add that the distance between the seams on the letter N of the originals can be measured with a ruler, it is the same. Fakes usually have everything crooked and askew.

Critical Strike

The main thing: glue smudges, the integrity of the coating (any, but especially suede), appearance(evenly stitched tongue) + technologies used: thick heel, soft sole, look under the insole so that there is no incomprehensible garbage there .. And one more thing, I don’t know for sure whether that pair of 577FMN that I ordered was left (but rather yes), I didn’t take it, since this model should have been produced at Flimbi in England (by the way, according to all the documents it was like that, these stickers are all like family and passport things), but the barcode (from 6 ) was the USA-Canada .. it was very tense, in theory, it should not be so. I also think that there should not be extra inscriptions on the box (especially hieroglyphs, if the intended thing is made in England \ USA \ Canada. If I'm wrong about something, correct me, everyone will only get better from this.

Lipsmackers

Look at the price level in American online stores, and you will understand whether the original or not. Although even the original prices are very different, my husband has 2 or 3 pairs of this brand, one up to $ 100, the second almost 250.

Anonymous_1038

Less than 100 dollars is definitely not the original, but fakes are now no worse than the originals, they are pleasant to the touch, and they are also excellent in wear, the labels come with emblems that you can’t distinguish, often the manufacturer comes across Vietnam.

findings

Distinctive features of New Balance

• First, a model of this color must be presented on the official website of the manufacturer.
• Secondly, the strip on the sole should be even and symmetrical. The inscription ENCAP - in capital letters, is clearly visible. The rubber on the back is dense, well glued. Gaps, crevices, etc. not allowed.
• New Balance lettering on the heel is clear and lined. The letters should not be connected by threads to each other - each separately.
• The sticker on the inside of the tongue must be present. BUT serial number on it must match the barcode on the box.
• The sticker must glow under ultraviolet light, with the exception of sneakers that were made in England.
• New Balance sneakers are sewn in factories in Indonesia, Vietnam, China, USA, UK.
• Real New Balance are distinguished by the presence of information about the size and place of production.
• A low price and a dubious seller are a guarantee of acquiring a fake.
• A sign of a fake is the presence of crooked seams, a drop of glue, all kinds of irregularities and damage.
• Original New Balance products are odorless.
• The New Balance brand features a tight, non-slip tread with rubber heel guards and a branded logo.
• All labels on original products are applied complicated ways– embroidery, embossing, etc.

Today, New Balance is a popular American brand of sports shoes and clothing. Unlike many competitors, New Balance manufactures its products in the US, resisting the temptation to move production to cheaper Asian countries. The history of New Balance began in 1906 in Belmont, USA, but at that time this company had nothing to do with sports. William Riley (an immigrant from the UK) began to work on the creation of orthopedic shoes. The model for a convenient design was the chicken foot: it is very stable due to three points of support.

Inspiration from nature and the first step into the world of sports

Riley applied his observation in the new arch support by making three points of support for the heel. Having established the release of shoes with its innovation, the company began a slow but steady progress towards worldwide fame under the name of New Balance Arch Company.

In 1934 Riley joined the military and met Arthur Hall. The latter was engaged in the distribution of orthopedic shoes, so the young people had a mutually beneficial idea. So Riley and Hall became partners in the business, and four years later, in 1938, the first shoes were produced for the local sports club.

Just two years later, in 1940, the New Balance Arch Company shoes were worn for athletic competitions in running, after which the company began to receive orders for the manufacture of shoes not only for runners, but also for wrestlers, baseball players, basketball players, tennis players.

fashion sport

In 1950, the New Balance Arch Company already had a reputation for making quality, comfortable athletic shoes. Since 1954, the management of the company has passed to the husband of Arthur Hall's daughter, Paul Kidd. Since that time, the company has ceased to deal with orthopedic shoes and concentrated on the production of sports shoes. In the 1950s, a craze began in the United States in a healthy way life and running, which allowed the company to only improve its business. Half Kid renames brand to New Balance Athletic Shoe; The company bears this name to this day.

In 1962, New Balance released the successful Trackster running shoe, which was the first to use a sole with a wavy outsole pattern. After 10 years, Jim Davis becomes the head of the company, who expanded production, because at the time of his arrival, only 6 people worked, who produced about 30 pairs of shoes a day.

Production expansion

In 1976, New Balance released another successful 320. The heel-locking heel counter and nylon tongue (previously leather) proved to be small changes that made all the difference. Runner's World named the New Balance 320 the best running shoe ever. In 1978, New Balance opened a store in the UK, and a factory was opened in Ireland to manufacture products for customers in Europe. At the same time, New Balance launched sportswear.

In the 90s, New Balance developed quite successfully, ranking fourth among sports shoe manufacturers. The first three places were occupied by Nike, thanks not only to their qualities, but also to an active advertising campaign.

2000s

By the turn of the 21st century, New Balance shoe production reached 45 million pairs a year. Shoppers in 65 countries were able to play sports and wear New Balance sneakers. During the days of Apple's popularity, the legendary Steve Jobs wore New Balance sneakers with equally legendary Levi's jeans and a simple black St. Croix Collections. The style of a talented businessman has served as an example for millions of people who prefer convenience and quality to a fashionable appearance.

New Balance sneakers have been known to the consumer for more than a century and reproaches are very rarely heard against them, since the shoes are 100% consistent with the requirements for wearing comfort and convenience. This can only be said in relation to original sneakers, praises do not apply to fakes.

The popularity of New Balance has led to the fact that cunning underground manufacturers "sculpt" a fake that costs less, but does not meet even a third of the requirements. This raises the question of how to distinguish New Balance from a fake when buying and not give your money for shoes that will cause more inconvenience than comfort? You can distinguish the original, and we will tell you how to do it without long examinations.

It is important to know

To begin with, it is worthwhile to understand that New Balance is not only made in the USA. Sneakers are produced in England and Asian countries, for example, Vietnam and China, but they do it under license, respectively, original shoes are produced there. This is to the fact that when you see the country of manufacture in China, you don’t need to immediately conclude that it’s a fake, no matter how trite the real New Balance can be released there.

Looking for differences

New Balance respects itself and its customers, so the path to their hearts begins with packaging. On the cardboard box there must be a brand logo, as well as a sticker indicating the model, size and country of production. The box is made in blue and red colors, and the sneakers in it are wrapped in wrapping paper. If you get a New Balance from a box of unknown origin without recognizable identification marks, then doubts should appear at this stage.

Yes, no one sells a fake in original boxes, so take a close look at the packaging and draw your first conclusions.

Appearance

Now we study the appearance of sneakers. Regardless of the model, all the seams on the shoes should be clear and neat - there should not be any hanging threads that the seller breaks in front of your eyes. The original has stitching and gluing at the junction of the upper material and the sole, so the seam is pressed against the base of the sole and stitching threads are not visible. In the original, “accidentally” the glue does not get on the top material. If the seams are crooked, and there are glue spots on the material, this is not the original.

We go further in order to distinguish the New Balance original from a 100% fake. On all New Balance models, on the inside of the tongue there is information about this particular pair and the manufacturer. The patch (it can be glued on) shows the size of the pair, its serial number and country of manufacture, plus the NB logo is also present on the piece of paper.

The logo should also be on the insoles and soles, if at least somewhere there is no logo, this is counterfeit. Making the insole different models different, but the rule of verification works everywhere - honeycombs of the sole frame should not be felt through the insole. The logo on the outer part of the sole is located in the heel area, it looks like the letters NB and may be in the tone of the sole or in other colors.

An important point is the quality of the sole, because you will run in sneakers, and not store them in a window. Picking up shoes, feel free to bend the sole to the maximum - in the original, the shape is restored for a couple of seconds, the rough rubber of a fake can remain half-bent for a long time.

Using these methods, you can 99% distinguish New Balance 574 or another model from a fake, but we want a 100% guarantee, so another test is used. It was developed by the NB company itself in order to strike at the underground manufacturers of counterfeit goods. This test was first invented by banknote manufacturers, but now it has spread, and many brands protect their goods in this way.

UV flashlight to the rescue

You will need a UV flashlight or lamp. At home, you can use both the one and the other, take a flashlight of ultraviolet illumination to the store to check. In addition to a flashlight, you will need darkness, but in a store that does not practice selling fakes, they will find you a dark place for a minute without problems.

Take a flashlight, turn the tongue with information about the sneakers and the manufacturer inside out, and illuminate it in the dark with ultraviolet light. On the original, the logo will be visible, on the fake it is not. This is a new feature from New Balance, but it works on all models, regardless of the country of manufacture of the sneaker.

Using these methods, you can easily distinguish the original NB from a fake, just do not let the seller hang pasta on your ears when selling. Some try to sell a fake, explaining the lack of a logo on the sole and label by the features of the model - these are lies, the logo is always and everywhere.

A lot of examples of original shoes and fakes with a description

Was it helpful? tell your friends

sp-force-hide ( display: none;).sp-form ( display: block; background: #ffffff; padding: 15px; width: 100%; max-width: 100%; border-radius: 8px; -moz- border-radius: 8px; -webkit-border-radius: 8px; border-color: #dddddd; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; background -repeat: no-repeat; background-position: center; background-size: auto;).sp-form .sp-form-fields-wrapper ( margin: 0 auto; width: 740px;).sp-form .sp- form-control ( background: #ffffff; border-color: #cccccc; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; font-size: 15px; padding-left: 8.75px; padding-right: 8.75px; border- radius: 4px; -moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; height: 35px; width: 100%;).sp-form .sp-field label ( color: #444444; font-size : 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;).sp-form .sp-button ( border-radius: 4px; -moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; background -color: #0089bf; color: #ffffff; width: auto; font-weight: bold;) .sp-form .sp-button-container (text-align: left;)

Once a week we send the most important and interesting from the world of foreign shopping.