New Balance Re-Enters the Camp Slip-On Chat with an Ultra-Minimalist Japanese Trail Sneaker Reissue

Camping-friendly slip-ons have been having a bit of a moment this year. It makes perfect sense, too: having comfy slippers to swap to after a long day of hiking and adventuring can really kick the relaxation up a notch.

Yet, while brands like Crocs are going hard on ultra-cozy kicks, it seems an iconic shoe brand has taken a slightly different approach. Instead of going chunky and unwieldy, the trail-ready New Balance Tokyo Design Studio MT10Ts embrace ultra-minimalism and streetwear-inspired styling.

New Balance

Reinterpreting a reinterpretation

So, there are a few layers to this shoe. First, this is not a wholly new silhouette. The MT10T has seen a couple of iterations — like this one with design firm Aimé Leon Dore, which came out earlier this year.

However, this style actually goes back even further, if you look at the sneaker it’s based on. The MT10T is a reimagining of the New Balance MT10, which was introduced over a decade ago.

New Balance

Interestingly, the MT10 was, itself, a reinterpretation of an even older shoe, the original Minimus Trail 10. Like I said: layers. However, there is an overarching pattern.

If you look at each iteration (or reinterpretation) of this shoe, there’s one factor in common: each one is more minimalist than the rest. And the MT10T is easily the most minimalist of them all.

Yet, it remains a quite capable shoe…

New Balance

Keep a low profile

Like others before it, the Tokyo Design Studio’s MT10 was inspired by classic slip-ons, including moccasins, ballet flats, loafers and Mary Janes. In fact, it sports a highly non-traditional lacing system, which operates more like a bolo tie than typical laces.

That means the upper — crafted from fine nubuck leather in either dark blue or brown — is about as minimalist as possible. In fact, it goes a step further, as it’s unlined. Yet it doesn’t skimp, either, boasting a reinforced collar and a smooth transition into the outsole.

New Balance

Below that unique upper, the sneaker has a trail-friendly wraparound Vibram outsole, which offers reinforcements on the toes, heels and around the balls of the feet. This offers a bit more protection and stability than the shoe might not otherwise have without sacrificing its minimalism.

More importantly, despite the overall low profile of the MT10T, the underside of the outsole has some highly capable, all-terrain treads. After all, it is still an outdoor sneaker, so it needs to be able to handle uneven footing and inclement conditions.

This is minimalism done right, without sacrificing capability.

New Balance

Available now

The New Balance Tokyo Design Studio MT10T sneakers are now available on the brand’s site in brown or dark blue for $140 per pair, but some sizes are already sold out.

New Balance

New Balance Tokyo Design Studio MT10T

• $140 at New Balance

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