New Balance Drop a Trio of GORP-Guzzling 703s
The 703 is a little-known model from the brand’s trail and hiking categories, but the Japanese arm of the company is looking to change that with this new trio of all-terrain palettes.
Originally released in the year 2000, the 703 has traceable lineage to earlier NB icons like the , especially via its multi-layered uppers and rugged soles. Where these differ is the contemporary choice to go with tonal colourways and contrasting black midsoles for stealthier vibes.
It’s in these tonal renditions that the 703 hides a lot of its interesting design cues. For example, the lacing system alternates between speed loops and traditional eyelets, which are staggered to effectively tighten the foot. This alternation happens with the upper materials too, using durable synthetic for high-wear areas, while lightweight mesh maintains breathability. Underfoot contains no bells and whistles; there’s only a slab of moulded foam for straightforward cushioning.
In fact, fancy details are kept to a minimum, because everything has been included for functionality, rather than style. The small heel pull tab, rope laces, and reinforcement stitching are all necessities of use. That said, the script ‘All Terrain’ font on the heel is a nice aesthetic touch.
‘Khaki’, ‘Grey’, and ‘Black’ editions are available now directly from New Balance Japan.