ASICS and New Balance are two footwear companies that any sneakerhead in the world would vouch for. They make some of the most comfortable and sought after sneakers in the world and use some of the craziest materials as well as inspirations when it comes to colorways. Don’t get too excited though as none of their popular collabs with famous sneaker boutiques or limited editions are up for grabs. However, their general releases (or GR’s) have finally made their way into the Indian market. One would’ve thought it was impossible to have a 1600, 1500 or a 999 hit our famous online shopping sites. Same could be said about the Gel Kayano, Gel Lyte III, Gel Respector and Gel Lyte V’s by ASICS. To our surprise, they are now available in a handful of colorways.
Even though this is not enough, it’s a start. Both the brands have offerings in the casual segment apart from their long presence in the cricket world, a game India and Indians just can’t seem to have enough of. Now that these silhouettes are getting eyeballed by thousands of you, let’s dig out a few nice ones. As usual, we let the ladies have a go first.
New Balance 620
A running classic made for the ladies, the 620’s suede construction combined with a mesh toebox, usage of pastel colors and a matching outsole make it a hybrid with a lot of casual wear potential. Available currently on Jabong in Red, Blue and Grey, the shoe has simplicity and comfort at its core while retaining their street credibility.
New Balance 565
This old-school style ML565 is yet another athletic sneaker from the house of New Balance. The Suede upper with padded tongue and collar along with a soft textile lining and removable cushioned insole combined with a flexible midsole can be used for a jog in the park or your favorite pair of denims. The rubber traction outsole and toe bumper ensure comfort, safety and stability. Also available in black at Jabong.
New Balance 530 Bionic Boom
Enter hip, stylish, casual, classic and insert some adjectives of your choice here. This 90’s classic runner was rebooted by New Balance with an all new look and brought into the future with a new monochromatic look inspired by robotics. Pops of bold color in Sonar & Azalea along with grey accents make this a neck breaker. It is available on Jabong in 3 more colors which are perfect for the Indian summer. You can rock it on the street or take it to the park and get sweaty.
New Balance 373
A tribute to its retro running heritage, these women’s 373 trainers bring an athletic look with a lifestyle mindset that’s prime for styling up the streets. A suede upper with a mesh toebox and a textile polka dot inner, the 373 sits on an EVA midsole for supreme cushioning. With a rubber outsole for hard-wearing tread, finished with the iconic New Balance branding to the side, you can rock these with a pair of shorts for an awesome look. Available at Jabong in 2 colors.
ASICS Gel Lyte III Rose Gold Pack (Slight White Rose Gold)
The brighter half of the Rose Gold pack, I was somewhat surprised to see this one in the listings. The iconic running silhouette celebrated its 25th anniversary with golden accents on the heel and lateral side branding. The suede upper sits upon white midsoles and a grey speckled outsole, finished with classic details like the iconic padded split tongue and waxed laces. Available at Jabong
ASICS Gel Lyte V Rose Gold Pack (Black Gold)
You cannot discuss light without talking about darkness, so here we are discussing the other half of the rose gold pack. This Gel Lyte V is different from its suede slight-white counterpart in terms of materials. This one uses nubuck leather with gold accents to the heel while everything else pretty much remains the same. The same speckled overlay on the heel as well as outsole along with flat waxed laces. Available on Jabong
There are a few more gems hidden on www.jabong.com if you know where and how to look. The New Balance 999 in Navy and Grey, Asics Gel Lyte III in grey and Gel Lyte III NS in White, New Balance 515 and the Asics GT-II in red and navy.
Stay tuned for part 2 where we highlight some nice kicks for men from the two brands. In the meantime, comment below and let us know what you think of our picks. Hit us up on IG/Twitter: @_thatshoeguy_