The story of New Balance and the company’s humble beginnings is an unconventional one. As William J. Riley surveyed the chickens running around the backyard of his Boston home, he became interested in their feet. He noticed that their feet seemed to be perfectly balanced. He noted this balance to the three-point anatomy of the chicken’s foot.

When designing footwear, the industry tends to focus on vertical design, which means starting with the top and working down to the sole. The chickens inspired Riley to start with the underfoot and work his way up. This resulted in the Trackster model, a shoe that was the first to feature the ripple sole design that is more popular today.

The Trackster, the company’s first piece of footwear, also allowed customers to customize their fit by choosing different widths. This was another first in the world of running shoes. Thus, the New Balance Arch Support Company was born. Since its inception, the company has had a number of sneaker styles, but perhaps two of the most popular are the 515 and the 574. 

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515

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Part of the New Balance Classic collection, the 515 is a low top running kick. It is a vintage-inspired silhouette with a low profile with contemporary elements. Although intended to be marketed and sold as a lifestyle sneaker, the 515 works great for wearing during your daily routine and errands as well as for low-impact athletic activities. This shoe has been described as having superb comfort and, to quote one reviewer, is like “walking on a cloud.”

The Achilles heel and collar entrance are padded for extra comfort while the outsole consists of a durable rubber that supplies stability and grip. It also has a wide toe box that allows the wearer to use an orthopedic footbed insert for additional support if needed. The NB 515 has some of the brighter colorways in the New Balance collection.