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New Balance’s Best Budget Sneaker Looks Deceptively Premium After a Stealthy Redesign

Now clad in all black, the heritage-inspired 471 lets its dark side take over.

Black leather sneaker with black laces and a large embossed "N" logo on the side.New Balance
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By Jack Seemer

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What’s old is new again.

Still less than a year into its run, the New Balance 471 nails the retro aesthetic, thanks to its interplay of mesh and suede, ’70s-era panel work and a large “N” logo on the side.

Best of all, it arrived in 2025 with a budget-friendly price tag, clocking in for $110, with discounts bringing it down to just $90.

Pair of black leather sneakers with black laces and textured black rubber soles.
An all-black makeover gives the 471 a deceptively luxe appearance.
New Balance

However, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the latest variant as a luxe sneaker in the brand’s Made in USA family.

Appearing first on various New Balance websites in Asia and Oceania, the 471 steps into stealth mode with a monochromatic makeover.

Pair of black New Balance sneakers with black laces and gray insoles featuring the New Balance logo.
The “Fang” toebox is a reference to the ’70s-era 320 model.
New Balance

Beyond that, the shoe also drops the mesh and suede combination for a faux-leather upper across its various layers, giving it a sleek appearance to match the streamlined silhouette.

Black leather sneaker with black sole and tonal stitching, side view showing embossed logo.
New Balance dropped the mesh-and-suede combination of the original for faux leather fashioned out of recycled nylon.
New Balance

While New Balance’s choice of nylon may indeed disappoint material purists, the decision does have at least one obvious upside.

This rendition of the 471 retains the model’s bargain-bin price tag, carrying the same MSRP as existing variants.

Pair of black leather sneakers shown from the back on a white background.
The unfinished tongue retains the vintage feel of the original.
New Balance
Black rubber shoe sole with zigzag tread pattern and "new balance" text embossed repeatedly.
Like other variants, the shoe features an EVA midsole with herringbone-patterned outsole.
New Balance

Availability and pricing

Already available overseas in select markets, such as Japan and Australia, the all-black New Balance 471 is expected to arrive soon in the US for $110.

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.

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