New Balance XC72 review

Who should buy the New Balance XC72

Besides fans who adore unique-styled sneakers, buy the New Balance XC-72 if:

• You are looking for city kicks that have reliable traction on various surfaces
• Excellent comfort is your priority in a sneaker
• You prefer chrome-free suede sneakers to save the environment

Who should not buy

According to verified buyers, the New Balance XC72 is not for people with wide feet, and not for those who prefer wearing shoes without socks. The New Balance 327 and the New Balance 574 are great alternatives.

Inspired by the past, built for the future

The XC-72 takes most of its design cues from a 70's archived running model called the UXC72V1. Many stylish sneaker fans are pleased with its progressive, fashion-forward aesthetic that looks familiar yet very refreshing, retro but significantly ahead of time.

The NB XC72 brings superb comfort

Sneakerheads have nothing but praise when it comes to the comfort brought by the NB XC72, saying that it feels comfortable on the feet and perfect for all-day wear. This is brought by the sneaker's upper which is constructed out of high-quality suedes, leathers, and mesh panels.

No heel slippage

Thanks to its hard-plastic heel cap paired with forefoot mudguards, a lot of verified buyers mentioned that the NB XC72 holds their foot in place.

Not suitable for wide feet

Several buyers recommend going true to size or half size up, due to the sneaker being narrow. Many complained that the XC72 does not stretch around the forefoot, so it is recommended for people with wide feet to try them in-store to get the exact fit.

Hard ground traction design

Many wearers who like to walk praise the shoe as it grips the floor well. This is brought by the split outsole which is inspired by the New Balance 327 and the angular protrusions from the XC15. 

Its two distinctive outsole patterns uniquely angled midsoles, and extended rubber design from the outsole add oomph to the traditional low-cut design while enhancing its overall grip.

Excellent cushioning for cozy all-day wear

Although it doesn't have any modern cushioning, many attested that this pair feels more comfortable than they expect. Like its New Balance siblings, it felt significantly cozy even when worn all day.

New Balance's signature premium quality

Many admire the New Balance XC72's overall comfort due to its premium quality materials. Its upper is finished off with soft leather, durable knit mesh and chrome-free pigskin suede. No visible glue stains or unfinished stitches are seen on any part of the shoe.

The overall profile of the New Balance XC72

New Balance has released their latest sneaker from the shifted line - the New Balance XC72. This retro-futuristic sneaker is the successor to the immensely successful New Balance 327. Designed with the same concept in mind, the sneaker merges various retro New Balance running shoes with modern features to form an entirely new silhouette while looking back at their heritage.

How to style the New Balance XC72

According to sneaker fanatics, styling the New Balance XC72 is pretty easy. With its incredibly bold silhouette, the New Balance has kept the colorways pretty simple and muted. Many mentioned that it pairs well with pants and a shirt or dressed down with a hoodie and sweatpants. While some commented that it is best paired with a wider set of pants just like the New Balance 327.

History of the New Balance XC72

After all-time favorites from the New Balance 99x series and classics like 574 were the stars of New Balance's catalogue, the brand started to put different numbers on their board in the past years. Next to the New Balance 550, shoes from the Shifted collection caught the eyes of New Balance fans around the globe. According to their product manager, the collection's core principle is to describe the future through the eyes of the past and vice versa. This idea of retro-futurism also informs the bold New Balance XC72. 

Nice to know about the New Balance XC72

• The lateral part design of the split sole is derived from the XC15's gripper tread, while the medial part design is borrowed from the 375s.
• The toe's squared design is influenced by concept car designs from the 70s.
• The shoe's heel cup features an outsole tread pattern that came from the NB 620's herringbone soles.