Who says the concept of a minimal shoe should be confined to running? Much like compression clothing, minimal footwear now represents relaxation and recovery as much as it does competition.
With a scant 4mm drop the New Balance NewSky certainly qualifies as a minimalist shoe, whether it’s worn about the house or as an everyday shoe. At four to five oz. you may decide to throw away your favorite house slippers, and who could blame you? They have a decidedly fun and yet urban look.
NewSky also boasts an eco-friendly design, using 73 percent less material than the average New Balance running shoe, and even makes extensive use of post-consumer recycled materials. The shoe’s upper is fabricated using 95 percent post-consumer recycled PET bottles, and the outsole is held in place with a layer of water-based glue. On average, each pair of NewSkys uses the equivalent of eight 20-ounce PET bottles.
A visually stark contrast to the Vibram Five Fingers fad, New Sky represents a stylish alternative to those seeking to chillax while preserving the charm of good-form running shoe.