New Balance 311 Sneakers for Men

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Strut a '70s Style With New Balance 311 Athletic Shoes

New Balance 311 Blue Shoe

The 1970s brought the rise of the dad shoe, inspired by the trend of dads running for exercise. This style continues today with many '70s-inspired sneakers, including the New Balance 311.

What inspired the New Balance 311 fashion sneakers?

New Balance began taking care of people’s feet in 1906, offering orthotics to workers who spent long hours on their feet. In the 1950s, the company shifted to making performance running shoes when ownership changed hands to the founder’s daughter and her husband.

It was under this leadership that New Balance introduced the Trackster, their first running shoe.

New Balance 311 White Shoe

Jim Davis bought the company in 1972, making the shoes more widely available. Around the same time, running became popular in the United States, especially among fathers. This led to the dad shoe trend of retro sneakers inspired by the running shoe dads used to wear.

The 311 casual sneakers are one of the New Balance lines inspired by these popular running shoes. Unlike the original heavy, chunky running shoes, these are sleek, light, and comfortable to wear.

How do the New Balance 311s differ from the Tracksters?

The Trackster inspired many New Balance innovations. Most notable for the time was the rippled rubber outsole, which gave runners more grip while running.

This rippled sole was only the start of the innovations that eventually made their way to the New Balance 311s. The brand moved away from the stiff leather uppers found in 1960s-era shoes. They started using a combination of suede and mesh uppers, providing comfort and breathability.

The construction of the midsole has also changed greatly, providing more stability and cushioning. The 311s include an EVA midsole and comfort-cushioning insert, making them fashion sneakers you can wear all day.

One thing that has not changed with this model is the rippled outsole. While the specific design of the outsole is different, this approach to providing traction on multiple surfaces remains.

New Balance 311 Athletic Shoe

Are the New Balance 311s running or lifestyle sneakers?

Most of New Balance’s shoes are inspired by the love of running. However, not all of their shoes are designed to be performance models. The 311s are certainly '70s-inspired sneakers but are not in the modern class of running shoes.

The modern performance runners offer specific technological advancements to aid your stride as you run. These advancements include the ENCAP midsole, Rollbar, and Stabilicore. However, they do include features for comfortable casual sneakers for everyday wear.

New Balance 311 Grey Shoe

The first is the EVA midsole. EVA stands for ethylene-vinyl acetate, which is a synthetic cushioning material. Later models of the 311 have used the Cush+ technology, which is described as New Balance’s lightest and softest cushioning system.

The initial release of the 311 included the common suede and mesh uppers, providing support and breathability. However, New Balance did release some all-leather models for those seeking classy casual sneakers.

How do New Balance 311 retro sneakers fit and feel?

The New Balance 311 models tend to run true to size, so your normal size should fit properly. See the manufacturer's site for details.

The shoes are also comfortable for all-day wear due to the cushioning technology New Balance employed. As fashion sneakers, they will keep your feet styled and comfortable.

Content provided for informational purposes only. eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by New Balance.

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