New Balance’s fresh XC-72 is a casual shoe that seemingly draws in equal parts from retro runners and hiking footwear, and now it’s surfaced in a sporty blue and yellow colorway. Following up the XC-72’s multi-color debut and teasers of a Casablanca collaboration, this new style furthers New Balance’s lifestyle efforts and stands as a successor to other popular models like the 327, 237 and 57/40.Suede and mesh are the primary materials present on the upper, with the former appearing on the midfoot while the latter covers toeboxes, eyestays and heels. Oceanic blue shades ranging from light blue-green to a medium blue and a bright sport blue appear across the entirety of this assemblage, while yellow streaks down from the tongue and throat to split the toebox overlay in two. There’s also a dash of black suede to be seen on the heel, and branding is handled by a large N logo on the midfoot plus smaller tongue detailing. A rubberized heel clip adds stability to the top half, while down below midsoles are sleek towards the forefoot but wide and square towards the heel, where they extend well beyond the back of the upper. Outsoles feature bold detailing of their own: half of each is black nubbed tread reminiscent of New Balance’s 327, while the other half is an aggressively toothed trail pattern on gum rubber. These two dueling pieces are split by the above-mentioned streak of yellow that runs down from the toebox.Look for the New Balance XC-72 in blue and yellow to release at retailers like BSTN come August 20. The MSRP is set at $130 USD.If you prefer a more classic New Balance look, be sure to check out this silver-accented take on the 991.Click here to view full gallery at HYPEBEAST
