Men’s Fitness UK – October 2019

NEW BALANCE 990V5

£180, newbalance.co.uk

Dubbed the ‘Ultimate Dad Shoe’,

the original New Balance 990 was a

game-changer for the brand. Making

its debut in 1982 purely as a running

shoe, its then-hefty $100 price saw

it become one of the most sought-

after trainers of its time. Its superb

performance on the track meant the

asking price was justied and, naturally,

the 990 became iconic in the footwear

market and never looked back. e

following decades saw the 99x series’

(as it became known) reputation for

innovative technology, cushioning,

performance and timeless appeal garner

a cult following with not only the

hardcore runner, but footwear fashion

enthusiasts. Almost 40 years on from

its original release, the fth iteration of

the 990 is still just as sought after.

e initial aim with the 990 was

to provide the ideal balance between

exibility and support – something NB

achieved through a series of processes,

one of which involved creating the

upper with a technique known as

'slip-lasting'. is required nishing

the shoe with a single seam and then

steaming it into shape. Underfoot,

the 990’s midsole was embedded with

a polyurethane footbed coined the

‘Motion Control Device’ – which is

found in many trainers to this day.

It was made for running way back

when, but the comfort, shape and

aesthetics still make it a solid option

either on the run or on the town.

“When the brand

unveiled the initial

Ultra Boost, it

claimed it was

‘e Greatest

Running Shoe

Ever’”

ADIDAS ULTRABOOST 19

£159.95, adidas.co.uk

adidas knows all about good-looking gym shoes, and the Ultraboost 19 is hands down one of the best crossovers available.

When the brand unveiled the initial Ultra Boost in 2015, it claimed it was ‘e Greatest Running Shoe Ever’ – a bold

statement, even with the brand’s rich history of producing great footwear. While it was condent the shoe would surpass

other performance options, what adidas didn’t know was that its impact would reach far beyond activewear and spill over

into the world of fashion. It was worn by ‘sneakerheads’ globally.

Born from a long line of adidas Ultraboosts (the clue’s in the ‘19’) the UB19 features a list of revolutionised silhouette

benets inspired by, and redesigned for, a new era of running and tness. Granted, its hefty sole means it’s not a shoe you

should be squatting in, but for running, rowing or benching it does a ne job. e colourway looks bang on the money

when it comes to transitional style, too, and goes with almost anything outside of the gym. Lightweight, sleek and stylish

• what more do you want?