Research Mess
Honestly, I saw those bright New Balance Pride shoes online and my first thought was “all talk”. Companies slap rainbows on stuff for one month then ghost, right? Felt phony. Started digging. Like, actually digging. Messed around on their site, read their corporate responsibility pages – boring stuff, I know. Realized they donate actual cash money to legit LGBTQ+ groups like GLAAD and The Trevor Project. Not just crumbs either, significant chunks. Kept finding partnerships with local queer community orgs year-round, not just June. That flipped the script for me.
Deciding to Shell Out
Okay, so the cause part felt solid. But these are shoes. Gotta work. I’m not made of cash, needed versatile kicks. Found the 327 model in the Pride collection – classic silhouette, knew they comfy already. Saved up a couple paychecks, honestly. Went for the multicolor knit pair. Seeing the progress flag colors woven right in, not just printed? Felt… different.
Getting & Greasing Them
Ordered online, straight from NB. Box showed up with a booklet inside explaining the specific partnerships and where the donations go – no vague “support” nonsense. Shoved my feet in immediately. Same New Balance comfort, that squishy sole I love. First real test was running errands downtown. Frankly speaking, turned heads. Got a “love the kicks!” nod from someone outside a coffee shop, felt unexpectedly good.
- Comfort Level: Same awesome NB feel. Walked miles, no blisters.
- Durability Check: After weeks of pavement-pounding? Still bright, no loose threads.
- Reactions: More positive shoutouts than I expected. Starts conversations.
More Than Just Looks
Here’s the real talk: Wearing them now feels like walking the walk. Literally. Every step in these is a small thing, but knowing where the money went sits right. It’s not a “June-only” thing for me anymore. They became my go-to sneaker. See someone else rocking them? Instant little nod of recognition. Feels like being part of something bigger while just doing my grocery run. Worth every penny – for the cause AND the shoe itself.
