Home / Style / Sneakers

New Balance Just Gave This Mainstay Sneaker a Tough, Military-Born Upgrade

This extra-tough variant of the 1906R takes traditional waterproofing to the next level.

Close-up of an olive green New Balance sneaker featuring mesh and synthetic materials, with detailed stitching and the "N" logo on the side. The shoe has matching green laces and a padded collar. The background is a solid muted teal color.New Balance

By Jack Seemer

Published

·

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

New Balance has toyed with the concept of a military-grade sneaker for the better part of a year.

Rumors of a 1906M began swirling in late 2024, with fans of the brand speculating that the “M” stood for military.

It wasn’t totally baseless — the brand has a history of manufacturing sneakers for the Department of Defense — but the shoe never materialized.

Pair of olive green New Balance 992 sneakers featuring suede and mesh panels, dark gray laces, white and gray "N" logos on the sides, and a white and brown cushioned sole with black outsoles.
Recent colorways of the 990v6 and 992 (pictured) were military-inspired but only in appearance.
New Balance

The closest we got were military-inspired colorways of the 992 and 990v6, which saw the classic designs take on hues that didn’t get cute about the source of their influence — “Dark Camo” and “Covert Green.”

Now, however, we’re one step closer a true military-grade New Balance, one that goes beyond surface-level aesthetics.

Olive green New Balance athletic shoe featuring mesh and synthetic overlays, a cushioned sole with visible cushioning technology, and the signature "N" logo on the side. The shoe has a lace-up design and a rugged outsole for traction.
The 1906R levels up its rank with the addition of Primaloft insulation.
New Balance

Warm welcome

Soon, the stalwart 1906R will gear up for winter with a trifecta of new variants — each one equipped with Primaloft insulation.

Though common in civilian outdoor products, such as jackets and sleeping bags, Primaloft was an US Army-born innovation developed in the 1980s.

Side view of a dark gray New Balance 1906R sneaker featuring a mesh and synthetic upper, black midsole with "N-ERGY" branding, and a padded collar. The shoe has black laces and the New Balance "N" logo with "NLock" text on the side. There is also a small red tag with "Premium" text near the heel.
Primaloft dates back to the 1980s, when the US Military developed it as a synthetic alternative to down.
New Balance
Sole of an olive green New Balance shoe with a textured tread pattern featuring hexagonal and diamond shapes, black grooves, and a small red oval detail near the arch.
Even without Primaloft, the 1906R is one of New Balance’s toughest and most technical everyday sneakers.
New Balance

Since then it’s made its way into hundreds of brands’ catalogs, where it serves as a synthetic alternative to traditional down with one major advantage: it can still keep you warm when wet.

Utilized here across the upper of the 1906R in conjunction with a ripstop face fabric, Primaloft has essentially turned the technical everyday sneaker into a true winter warrior that takes traditional waterproofing to the next level.

Dark gray athletic shoe with mesh and synthetic overlays, featuring a large "N" logo on the side with the word "Nlock" on it, and a black textured sole.
Primaloft is packed in throughout the upper, which also features a new ripstop face fabric.
New Balance
Black New Balance 1906R running shoe with mesh and synthetic upper, featuring black laces, a cushioned collar, and a textured sole with visible cushioning technology. The shoe has a prominent "N" logo on the side and red accents near the heel.
The new 1906R sneakers comes in three colors: olive green, dark gray and black (pictured).
New Balance

Availability and pricing

Staying in line with the established theme, this version of the 1906R is set to release in three military-adjacent colorways: black, “Dark Olive” and “Castlerock” gray.

It’s expected to drop later this fall with a retail price of $155 via New Balance’s official website and at select retail partners.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

Read More