New Balance Mixes Sneaker and Sandal for Hybrid Shandal
Part running sneaker, part sandal, entirely unique.
New Balance has combined sneaker and sandal to create the Shandal, a hybrid silhouette that mixes a running sneaker build with sandal-style sensibilities. Offering a lightweight, stripped-back, attention-demanding summertime look, the Shandal is an avant-garde amalgamation of two vastly divergent footwear styles.
Uppers apply a joyful jumble of materials and colors. Dressed in red, black, yellow and white, they’re split between synthetics and translucent TPE on the midfoot, plus signature mesh on the forefoot and heel. Lockdown is provided by a simple strap system that wraps over the top of the foot and is secured by a Velcro anchor. On its medial side, this strap serves up three stacked New Balance logos, on the lateral side it adds “Test Run” branding that nods to the design’s conceptual nature.
Although the toebox is fully closed, the heel and midfoot are left partially open in strap sandal form. Midsoles are all performance sneaker, using FuelCell technology — the same cushioning setup present on Kawhi Leonard‘s OMN1S and KAWHI — with a split grey/white color scheme and final New Balance spellout hit.
The New Balance Shandal is available now on the New Balance webstore, and is priced at $100 USD.
Need more NB? Check out the 990v5 Made in USA in a military-style “Covert Green” colorway.
