New Balance’s Latest Retro Dad Shoes Take Throwback Style to Another Level

For its latest installment in the Iconic Influences series, New Balance revisits a classic color scheme for the Made in UK 991v2.

White and teal New Balance 991 sneaker with mesh panels and beige sole against a light blue background.

Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Ethan Brehm

Published May 14, 2026

·

Updated May 14, 2026

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

It took New Balance 22 years to update the 991, but the running-turned-dad shoe didn’t lose its iconic appeal when the v2 debuted in 2023.

While the Abzorb cushioning was upgraded to a full-length FuelCell, the 991v2 kept the “Made in UK” provenance and only made minor tweaks to the aesthetic that included a cleaner overall looks and smoother transitions between upper panels.

Pair of white and teal New Balance sneakers with beige midsoles and black outsoles on a white background. — The new 991v2 brings the color scheme from the 1530 launch models in 2019.

It’s safe to say that the 991v2 is a contender for the most streetwear-friendly New Balance in the catalog, but this latest variant might make it a retro king.

Some backstory

Back in 2019, New Balance celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 1500 with the brand-new 1530 model.

The original 1500 helped define the modern “Made in UK” aesthetic and the 1530 remixed the ‘80s styling with more modern tech found in the 99X lineup.

It launched in two different colorways, “Balsam-Total” and “Eclipse-Gray,” chosen for their retro feel.

Pair of white and teal New Balance 991 sneakers on a wooden chair. — These sneakers look straight out of the ’80s and ’90s.

White and teal New Balance V2 sneaker with beige sole on wooden surface. — The v2 is similar to the v1 but has a cleaner silhouette.

For its latest installment in the Iconic Influences series, New Balance revisits those colors on the Made in UK 991v2.

Pair of New Balance V2 running shoes in teal mesh and white leather with white laces, viewed from above. — The wider toe box on the 911v2 lets the Balsam tone dominate more.

Color me nostalgic

This time around, the sneakers lean into the turquoise-toned Balsam much more, thanks to the broader mesh toe box.

But the hue can also be found heavily on the tongue and collar. The majority of the nubuck leather is in navy-like Total Eclipse and various shades of gray, including on the reflective “N” logo at the side.

The intentionally yellowed soles look like you found these in an old shoebox.

New Balance

Pushing these dad shoes firmly into throwback territory, and perhaps the most divisive element, are the intentionally-yellowed soles, made to look like you found these in an old shoebox in your closet. The color fades into a less aggressive tone toward the front of the foot.

New Balance certainly has its fair share of retro-inspired releases, but this one might be truest to that concept.

Black and gray rubber shoe sole with "FuelCell" and "Ndurance" branding. — You still get the same comfortable rubber outsole and FuelCell cushioning inside.

Availability and pricing

Priced at $170, this old-school pair of Made in UK 991v2 drops May 21 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Sign up on New Balance’s website to be notified.

White and navy New Balance 991 sneaker with beige midsole and black outsole.

New Balance Made in UK 991v2 Iconic Influences

$270 at New Balance

About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.