New Balance outlet

We hear this a lot, and it’s a fair question! Rest assured, every single New Balance product you find on Lounge by Zalando is 100% authentic and brand new. As part of the wider Zalando group, we have a trusted reputation to uphold. We source all our items directly from New Balance or their certified retail partners, guaranteeing you receive the genuine quality and style you expect, just at a price you don’t.

An excellent choice—the 574 is a true classic! Iconic models like the New Balance 574 are exactly the sort of exciting finds our members love. They do feature in our sales, but as our promotions run for a limited time and stock is limited, the most sought-after styles sell out extremely quickly. For the best chance of success, having a strategy is crucial. We strongly recommend signing up for our free newsletter. You’ll receive advance notice of when the next New Balance promotion launches, so you can be among the first in line when the search begins.

It all comes down to our clever business model, which is quite different from a traditional shop. We don't keep a large, costly inventory. Instead, we organise short-term "flash sale" events directly with our brand partners. We display the collection, and only after the 3-5 day promotion ends do we place a bulk order for what our members have bought. This removes significant costs related to warehousing and logistics, and we pass those considerable savings directly on to you. It’s how we provide that exciting 'insider deal' feeling on premium brands like New Balance.

The numbering system may appear cryptic, but it's actually a guide to the shoe's intended purpose and technological level. Although there are exceptions, the general rule is: the higher the number, the more advanced the technology and the more premium the materials.

Why are New Balance trainers often referred to as "dad shoes," and how did that become a fashion statement?

The trend emerged when fashion cycles shifted towards celebrating authenticity and "normcore"—a style that finds liberation in the unpretentious. The New Balance trainer became a symbol of this: a well-made, comfortable, and unpretentious product. The brand famously embraced this duality with the slogan, "Worn by supermodels in London and dads in Ohio," perfectly capturing its unique position as both a high-fashion staple and an everyday classic.

It really comes down to their obsession with fit and comfort. For decades, New Balance has focused on creating shoes that accommodate the natural shape of the human foot. They are one of the few brands that offer a wide variety of shoe widths, recognising that not everyone has a "standard" foot size. This precise fit, combined with their advanced cushioning technologies, provides the support and relief needed for long hours of standing and walking.

Think of Fresh Foam as the brand’s signature technology for plush, smooth comfort. It’s a single, continuous piece of foam engineered using pressure-mapping data from real athletes. The geometric shapes you see on the midsole’s sidewall aren’t just for appearance; they are a direct result of that data, indicating precisely where the shoe needs more cushioning or more stability. It’s an intelligent way to provide a soft ride without adding extra weight.

They’re designed for two different sensations. If Fresh Foam is for comfort, FuelCell is all about performance and energy return 🚀. It’s a high-rebound foam, often made with nitrogen-infused materials, that gives you a snappy, propulsive feel with every step. This is the technology you’ll find in their top-tier running and racing shoes, designed to help you feel faster.

ENCAP is a classic New Balance innovation that provides stability and durability. It’s a hybrid system. At its core is a soft EVA foam for cushioning, which is then surrounded (or “encapsulated”) by a robust polyurethane rim. This design offers the best of both worlds: softness underfoot with a firm, supportive structure around the edges, which is why their heritage trainers are renowned for their long-lasting support.