New Balance MT580 Snowboard Boot & 686 Office Visit
by Eugene Kan, April 30, 2009
Bobby Hundreds takes us on another office visit as he hits up headquarters of California’s 686. The independently owned and operated company headed by our good-friend Mike West features some great artistic works with their custom jackets relating back to their participation in the realm of technical outerwear. Also spotted was a look into the brand’s upcoming New Balance snowboard boot collaboration based on the MT580.
I wear 686 outerwear so I was excited when they decided to make boots. Snowboard companies have been making boots that are modeled after sneakers for years. Forum seems to make a Jordan like boot every year. Adidas is Solomon. Gravis is Burton. Let people like what they like. The computers that everyone uses to post their comments are made in the same countries as those Nikes. You are a fool if you think any company that makes consumer products is in it for anything other than money…
I See how everyone Likes these Boots and it’s Great. The New Balance Boots are hot. New Balance has been really up on their game for a while, it’s just that Japan was hogging everything until lately when 580’s and some other styles were finally allowed to be released into the US Market.
I also don’t see how everyone is hating on Nike’s. Yeah It’s True that they are Riding a Huge wave and People are buying them just because they are Dunks or Af1’s, but there are also a lot of people who actually like the Retro Flights and Forces that Nike Puts out as well. Not as popular to the new young kids now, cuz they are all brainwashed but to us in the 28 to 38 year range, we all love the styles that are re-retro-ing, cuz thats what we wore back in the days.
Combinations and Fusions of sneakers does seem kinda lame, but I do admit there are some that I really like too. 1/2 Cents are pretty much Fire. Sharkleys Kinda Dope (Barkley 94 and Rodmans). FP’s are Fire (Old School Fun Police KG, JK, and TH) IF you don’t know those Initials, then you don’t know Fun Police. The Kiddies wouldn’t know this, but would just buy it because they see the heads who know about it buyin it. I see this trend all the time and It’s a disappointment.
My Mentality of copping an old pair of MJ’s Versus a 17 year old kid Coppin a pair is different.
To them its a new Style, but to me its memories. Thinkin if I wear these I can play like Jordan or Even elevate and Dunk. “It’s gotta be the Shoes!”
The New Era of Kids need to be recultured and that’s what’s lost in our present.
These will probably be Japan only anyway
New Balance is not trippin. those are sick and they’re smart for adding 686, people who actually know the sport, as a collob. nike should have done the same.
Anyone that buys into the Nike hype is a sheeple. They are followers, that can’t make decisions for themselves. This is apparent in most of their lifestyle choices. NB is just another shoe brand doing their thing. Heres a good point though. I ask all the Nike heads, when was the last time you bought a pair of Nikes that weren’t made by someone in a 3rd world country? I can answer it for you, NEVER! Nike doesn’t make shoes where people are paid real living wages. Why? Because Nike has to uphold large profit margins to keep the hype machine rolling. NB on the other hand has almost no advertising what so ever. They also make their high end shoes in the US or UK, where they pay craftsmen good money to make an excellent product. So when you spend $120 on a sweet pair of newbies, you are paying for someone to continue a craft they love, shoe making. When you pay $150 for a pair of AF1s you pay for more ads, more hype, and more bullshit. But if you’re into ads and bullshit, go for it, just try not to look stupid with your nikes on that everyone else is wearing.
BTW I really want a pair of the black 580s when they are out. Gotta love the purple marble sole.
What I’m saying is that most of the market is like lemmings to a cliff. If Nike does it, it’s automatically cool. If NB, adidas, Vans, DC, Gravis anyone else tries the same thing it’s lame, or “they’re only out to make money…” I mean seriously, how many more versions of Dunks and AF1’s can we take? Now a flywire dunk? Please. Dunk Cortez, AF1 ACG what “original’ concept will Nike dream up next. You people are victims. There are so many other brands that are creating original ideas and concepts that you diss because your eyes are shut. Only open to Nike. Stop being victims. Where do think the Nike people are getting their ideas? Where are all of the people who protested Nike coming into SB? Where are you now? Probably saying how “dope” those Blazers are or rocking that fresh “new” Dunk SB or waiting in line for the year’s worst release….Yeezy. Hypocrites and wannabe’s.
too bad those boots weigh like 10 pounds each
they look sick
I am a hypebeast. I think that these are cool and i love anything with loud colors because I am a deuche bag.
I think that its dope the sneaker culture is collaborating with the snowculture. im a sneaker head and i love snowboarding. its good to know i could be just as fresh on the mountain as i am in the city.
those NewBalance snowboarding boots are dope compared to everything else out
i have the second last jacket its dope
You guys are trippin’. This is exactly what those posers at Nike did with their snowboarding Dunks that everyone fell all over themselves loving. Same stupid idea, it’s just that Nike knew that most lame uninspired non-creative Nike heads would fall for it….and you did! WAKE UP!
Talk about hi-top!
Those boots look like the new TK Pro Model
New Balance is trippin’.