Looking for New Balance’s Latest Dad Shoe? Check the Trails
New Balance wants you to take a hike. The king of dad shoes is hitting the trails with the Tektrel, a sneaker that’s techier than the elderly silhouettes New Balance is known for.
With a cube-like build, the Tektrel wears a mesh upper with adjustable bungee laces and a rugged outsole that will grip even the bumpiest terrain. Despite its performance-ready detailing, New Balance’s dad shoe steeze still shines through, thanks to its muted color scheme — a purposefully bland hallmark of practical paternal wear. Function over fashion, as they say.
It's no secret that trendy hiking gear has been dominating sneakers for a while now, and the prices can get Grand Canyon steep. To see New Balance offer a functional and stylish trail sneaker for under $100 feels like a breath of fresh air.
For context, similar trail sneakers like Salomon's XT-4 OG and Saucony's Trigon Ultra retail for about $200 and $260 respectively. The Tektrel, on the other hand, is available online for $90.
This isn’t the first time New Balance has thrown its dad cap into the trail sneaker ring.
The brand’s recent Ice Studios collab is a hiking shoe through and through, but its maximalist color palette makes it almost too pretty to wear during outdoor activities. The revamped New Balance 610 GTX is another technically sublime trail sneaker kitted with GORE-TEX lining and a grippy midsole.
When it comes to technically sound hiking gear, New Balance knows ball.
